Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea). Easily, of all the many mushrooms that I have seen growing along the trails I hike, this species of mushroom is the coolest one I have ever seen. They look to me like something that has arrived from outer space, sitting there observing the humans of Earth. It also brings to mind the 1958 movie, The Blob.
“Giant” in the name of this mushroom is certainly appropriate. Notice my sunglasses in the bottom right of this photo for scale. Most often growing to a diameter of 4 to 20 inches, sometimes even to 35 inches, and on occasion one will be seen with a diameter of 60 inches.
And in this photo, my phone is there for scale.
Giant Puffballs were long thought to be in the saprobic category of fungi which grows on dead organic matter. They are now considered to be mycorrhizal fungi which forms a connection, most often with trees. Each of these entities gaining benefit from the other exchanging moisture and carbohydrates, for minerals and other nutrients.
One incredible species of mushroom.
This blog gives no information about the edibility or toxicity of any of the mushrooms that are written about.