Calvatia cyathiformis

Calvatia cyathiformis
On a lawn near Cooktown, Queensland, Australia
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Agaricaceae
Genus: Calvatia
Species:
C. cyathiformis
Binomial name
Calvatia cyathiformis
(Bosc) Morgan. J. Cincinnati Soc. Nat. Hist. 12: 168 (1890)
Glebal hymenium
No distinct cap
Hymenium attachment is not applicable
Lacks a stipe
Spore print is purple to purple-brown
Ecology is saprotrophic
Edibility is edible or inedible

Calvatia cyathiformis, or purple-spored puffball, is a large saprobic species of Calvatia. This terrestrial puffball has purplish or purple-brown spores, which distinguish it from other large Agaricales. It is found in North America and Australia, mostly in prairie or grassland environments. It is reportedly edible when young.