[1] According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Calvatia gigantea typically grows up to 20–50 centimetres (8–19+1⁄2 in) wide and high.

[5][6] The fruiting body of a puffball mushroom develops within a few weeks and soon begins to decompose and rot (at which point it is dangerous to eat).

Unlike most mushrooms, all the spores of the giant puffball are created inside the fruiting body; large specimens can easily contain several trillion.

The latter are distinguished by a much firmer, elastic fruiting body, and having an interior that becomes dark purplish-black with white reticulation early in development.

[5][6] The Lovesick Lake Native Women's Association explains that an overripe puffball "will fall apart when touched or if cut open" and should be discarded.

[12] Authors Hui-Yeng Y. Yap, Mohammad Farhan Ariffeen Rosli, et al. found evidence to suggest that C. gigantea was "traditionally used by American Indians, Nigerian and German folks" for this purpose.