Huge mushroom around Kamloops - what is it? Edible?

[Ltbullken]

I was out for a mountain bike ride (keeping in shape for an anticipated mountain deer hunt this fall!) the other day and came across this mushroom in the hills. I used my water bottle as a size reference. The bottle is 9 1/2 " tall. Would any mushroom fans out there know what this is and if it is edible? I'll try to attach the image to this - that is always problematic!! :???:
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=19638&cat=500

[Ltbullken]

Here it is:

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/mushroom1.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=19638&size=big&cat=500)

[igojuone]

You can eat most anything, I'd check to see if it's poisonous or not.

[Steeleco]

We found a dozen or so of those over the MLWE and didn't know what they were either. Forgot to look in my filed book. Let you know what I find!

Found these pages?
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/calvatia_booniana.html
http://www.coloradomushrooms.com/mushroom.php?id=14

[srupp]

hmmm not brain nor morel mushroom..

DO NOT EAT ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE NOT 175% ABSLOUTLEY CERTAIN WHAT IT IS.....

steven

Hmmm I have a BC mushroom book somewhere...

srr

[Steeleco]

If you've a copy of "The new savory wild mushroom" there's some good info on pg 191.

Wish now I'd picked some!

[BimmerBob]

It looks from the picture like Scleroderma Citrinum, S. Aurantium or "Common Earthball" and if that is the case it is slightly poisonous.

But... I must say, even with a book, mushrooms confuse the H out of me. What was the interior of it like if you cut it open?

Wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scleroderma_citrinum

[goatdancer]

Is that a giant puffball? Is it solid white inside?

[Roots]

From your picture it looks like a Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea) - they're edible, but ONLY if the inside is still white (immature). If it's yellow or brownish on the inside, DO NOT EAT, as the spores have already formed and and doing so will give you considerable gastrointestinal distress. But, double check with a good reference book (http://www.amazon.ca/All-That-Rain-Promises-More/dp/0898153883/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278274479&sr=8-1) so you can decide on your own...

Giant Puffball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvatia_gigantea)

[Mr. Dean]

looks like a medium sized puff. If so, its good to go as long as it hasn't darkened up on the inside. Good when done up as a 'hamburger', when sliced and grilled.

[MichelD]

Giant puffballs. Either Boone's or Warted, it is hard to tell.

Kind of bland but pretty good sauteed with bacon bits.

[sawmill]

Puffer for sure but just in case get your buddy to eat some first the keep an eye on him for a while.

[Chuck]

As kids , we loved to find them when they were ripe. Then stomp on them a watch the smoke billow out. Lol. Probably not the thing to do, should we breathe in that smoke (spores) who knows.

[joeyscbr]

it looks like the puffball you can eat it i did for years you find them on the edges of farmers fields when you pick them don't up root them they will grow back bigger next year:-D

[Maestro]

From your picture it looks like a Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea) - they're edible, but ONLY if the inside is still white (immature). If it's yellow or brownish on the inside, DO NOT EAT, as the spores have already formed and and doing so will give you considerable gastrointestinal distress. But, double check with a good reference book (http://www.amazon.ca/All-That-Rain-Promises-More/dp/0898153883/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278274479&sr=8-1) so you can decide on your own...

Giant Puffball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvatia_gigantea)

Agree with Roots.

[behemoth]

definately a puffball, eat it if its fresh

[Ddog]

yup,,puffball,,,and it is edible, yup picked several last year the size of soccer balls

[3kills]

puffball for sure i rmember when my dad found some really big ones years ago we ate them they were good. the ones he found were over 2 pounds

[OutdoorDiscoveries]

It's probably a Giant Western Puffball. (I wouldn't call that huge compared to some other mushrooms and some GW Puffballs can get wayyyy bigger!)
But, if you decide to eat wild mushrooms in BC it's very important to know how to properly use a field guide for this region. Believe me, I've been
guiding Mushroom Safaris for over a thousand people over 15 years and I've heard lots of stories of poisonings, deaths and bad advice
from "expert" neighbors (who eats wild mushrooms) from my participants.

[wolverine]

You're shitting me right? You aren't really considering chowing down on that thing especially based on what someone on the internet tells you? Can I have your guns after??:mrgreen:

[JCVD]

Pretty easy to tell it's a giant puffball. Much easier to identify than the small ones which have some poisonous lookalikes.

[Ditch Pig]

if you are not 100% sure what it is . don't eat it. pick one and take it into town for someone to identify