It’s About Time: Illinois Now Has An Official State…Mushroom

Well, if you're going to do something, go big. That appears to be exactly what Illinois has done with the announcement of a new official state mushroom, Calvatia gigantea, also known as the Giant Puffball mushroom.

If you've never heard of the Giant Puffball mushroom, you probably think that this might be some kind of a joke, but it's definitely not a joke. It's a real mushroom, and now it's joined the family of official Illinois...um...stuff, I guess.

By the way, the Giant Puffball mushroom you see in the photo is not unusual in size. The largest Giant Puffball mushroom (that we know of, anyway) was 5 feet in diameter and weighed over 50 pounds! Think of a volleyball or soccer ball that's completely made of spores, and edible.

I'm sure that the fact that the Giant Puffball mushroom somewhat resembles the figure of our governor had nothing to do with its new official status.

The Idea That Became Senate Bill 3514 (Making The Giant Puffball Mushroom Our State Mushroom) Came From Prairie School Of DuPage in Wheaton...If You're Looking To Blame Thank Someone

The kids at Prairie School started the initiative back in November of last year when they began studying and conducting research, followed by them participating in the governmental processes of taking an idea all the way to becoming an actual law.

According to the governor's office, the Giant Puffball mushroom "can be found all across grassy areas statewide and is known for its size, sometimes reaching nearly 20 inches wide. While most of the fungus remains hidden underground, the giant puffball’s large, round, white fruiting body is what people commonly see."

Did I mention that you can eat these things?

I'm Sure That You Already Know All About The Big List Of Official Illinois Things And Everything On It, But Just In Case...

Let's just give you a quick refresher course:

• Illinois State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
• Illinois State Bird: The Northern Cardinal
• Illinois State Fish: Bluegill
• Illinois State Flower: Violet
• Illinois State Tree: White Oak
• Illinois State Amphibian: Eastern Tiger Salamander
• Illinois State Reptile: The Painted Turtle
• Illinois State Snake: Eastern Milksnake
• Illinois State Fossil: The Tully Monster
• Illinois State Insect: Monarch Butterfly
• Illinois State Snack: Popcorn
• Illinois State Fruit: GoldRush Apple
• Illinois State Pie: Pumpkin
• Illinois State Grain: Corn
• Illinois State Vegetable: Sweet Corn
• Illinois State Wildflower: Milkweed
• Illinois State Pet: Shelter Dogs and Shelter Cats
• Illinois State Dance: Square Dance
• Illinois State Mushroom: Giant Puffball

Here's how you go about cooking a Giant Puffball mushroom: