Giant puffball

This football-sized fungus can be seen in autumn, sometimes growing on grass verges.

Species information

Ystadegau

Width: typically 10-80cm

Statws cadwraethol

Not threatened

Pryd i'w gweld

July to November

Ynghylch

The giant puffball is a large fungus, often around the size of a football. It grows on grass verges, field and woodland edges, and amongst rank vegetation. Giant puffballs are saprotrophic, which means they feed on dead organic matter - an important recycling service for decaying plants and other detritus. They usually grow in small clusters, but sometimes form 'fairy rings'. A single giant puffball can produce trillions of spores. They escape through tears in the leathery skin, dispersing on the wind.

Sut i'w hadnabod

A very large, often roughly spherical white fungus, with thick leathery skin. The skin becomes browner as it ages. It tends to be around the size of a football, but can grow much larger.