MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 127 
evidence. While the Hydnaceae are found more or less 
abundantly in certain parts of the country upon decaying 
trees or logs in moist woods and meadows, they are not 
frequently obtained in this region. No injurious forms 
occur in this family and certain species are relished by some. 
Members of the Clavariaceae are superficially not unlike 
certain of the Hydnaceae. These mushrooms are often club- 
like, much branched or coral-like in; habit. They are mostly 
terrestrial species, often forming large clusters very attract- 
ive to the collector. There are no suspicious species and 
the more delicate branched forms are utilized. 
LYCOPERDACEAE 
The puff-balls differ materially in form and structure 
from other Basidiomycetes, and there can be no difficulty in 
recognizing them. They are usually spheroidal or ovoidal 
in form and when young almost invariably white and 
solid throughout. At maturity most of the tissues of the 
entire plant break up into a mass of colored spores and at 
this stage they take on the puff-ball or snuff-box condition, 
familiar in pastures, fields, and woods. There are a few 
small species with brown or black flesh which are not to 
be eaten, but as long as they are white and solid the puff- 
balls are all edible. When past their prime, as shown by 
the darkening of the interior, and infested with bacteria 
and insects, they should be discarded. Aside from Agaricus 
campestris and Coprinus, no other mushrooms are so much 
collected and eaten in the United States as the puff-balls. 
While not so pleasing in flavor as Agaricus, they are quite 
palatable and may be eaten without fear. A common form 
found in pastures, lawns, and meadows is from two to five 
inches in diameter, with a white or somewhat brownish or 
urplish colored exterior. The giant puff-ball is not in- 
Preguently 10-18 inches in diameter, of a cue white or 
cream color, appearing usually about the edges of woods 
or in meadows. Besides these two forms other smaller ones 
are frequent in woods. 
From the preceding discussion it is obvious that little or 
no difficulty will be gl alegre in avoiding suspicious forms 
in certain families, while in others one must proceed with 
the greatest caution in order to eliminate positively dan- 
gerous species. Fresh specimens of puff-balls with white 
meat, properly cooked, are wholesome and of good flavor, 
without any possibility of danger. Branched and toothed 
forms belonging to the Hydnaceae and the Clavariaceae are 
above suspicion but often not so delicate in texture or flavor. 
