Guide to the Mushrooms 183 



inclics liigh. sessile, with tiny roots at base, cov- 

 ered with minute scales which give a roughened ap- 

 pearance to the skin, growing in clusters; cream- 

 white, then dingy brown. 



Spores. — Smooth, round, contained witliin the 

 "pear-shaped" sac of the plant and emitted at ma- 

 turity in a powder or "smoke from the moutli of the 

 sac. 



Odor. — Slightly acrid. 



Taste. — Slightly acrid. 



Habitat. — On stumps and decaying wood, very 

 common evervwhere, Julv to November. Found in 

 all sections of the United States. 



Edible. 



SCLERODERMA vulgare (Fr.) from the 



Latin vulgaris, common. 



Plant. — Somewhat globose, but inclined to be ir- 

 regular in shape. 



Outer skin. — Hard, composed of brownish yel- 

 low warts. 



Inner 77iass. — In which the spores are collected 

 in heaps, separated by white thread-like fibres ; 

 whole appearance of inner mass black and solid; 

 cuts like a potato. 



Spores. — Black, globose, warted. 



Stem. — Wanting. 



Odor. — Earthy. 



