178 TVild Flowers East of the Rockies 



CALVATIA gigantea (Batch.) 



"Giant piifF-ball." 



Plant. — 10 to 20 inches in diameter^ globose^ with 

 a root-like base^ opening at upper part^ rather reg- 

 ularly. 



Outer skin. — Smooth, sometimes cracked in areas, 

 whitish. 



Inner skin. — Fragile, thread-like, white then 

 greenish-yellow, finally black, adhering to outer 

 skin. 



Spores and threads fill the inside of the globe- 

 shaped mushroom. Spores very numerous, globose, 

 even, but sometimes minutely warted ; greenish-yel- 

 low then brown, emitted from the opening in the 

 plant in "smoke." 



Odor. — Earthy. 



Taste. — Mild when white through, bitter when of 

 any other color. 



Habitat. — On ground in pastures, along road- 

 sides, common, August to October. Common in all 

 sections of the United States. 



Edible. — When white throughout. One of the 

 very best mushrooms. 



CALVATIA cyathiformis (Bosc.) 



Plant 3 to 6 inches in diameter, pear-shaped 

 with a cup-shaped, rooting base that remains af- 



