PUFFBALLS 



i-'7 



cylindric, hollow or with ;i cnitral cure; spores QlohosQ, rust-colorud, 4-3/t. The 

 name refers to the raised mouth. 



Frcciueiit in sand)' fields; edi!)ilit\- not known. 



('.\I.VA'IM.\ 



This genus is distinj^uished from I- y c o p e r d o n and 1! ovist a hv the lack 

 of a mouth or opciiiuLi;, through which the spores escape. The inner wall breaks 

 away in fragments, leaving in most species a sterile, stalk-like base. This genus 

 contains the largest and best of our puffballs. All the species are found on the 

 tiround, often in fair\- riiiiis. and all arc edible. The name refers to the smooth wall. 



I'lGUKl': yf. CALVAriA GIGAXTEA 



Key to the Species 



1. Cap very large, without a stalk-like base 



2. Cap large, with a stalk-like base 



a. Spore mass brown or olive-brown 



b. Spore mass lilac- or purple brown 



C. gigaiitca 



C. caelata 



C. cyathifonnis 



Calvatia gigantea Giant Puffball 



Cap very large, 25-50 cm. wide, white or whitish, ^-ellowish or brownish in age. 

 smooth, or somewhat roughened by scales or cracks, more or less globose ; spores 

 olive or olive-brown, globose, smooth. 4^. The name refers to the great size. 



