MUSHROOMS. 



457 



twenty-five inches. Mr. Orr's specimen 

 was an exceptionally fine one, and had a 

 diameter of about sixteen inches. Dr. Cur- 

 tis calls it the " Southdown of Mushrooms," 

 and states that it has a delicacy of flavor 

 that makes it superior to any omelette he 

 ever tasted. He also claims that it is so 

 easily digested as to adapt itself to the most 



Fig. 1938. A Giant Puff Ball. 



delicate stomach. I can corroborate this 

 opinion by persoual experience. Mrs. 

 Hussey, of England, gives the following 

 recipe tor cooking : First remove the outer 

 skin ; cut in slices half an inch thick ; have 

 ready some chopped herbs, pepper and salt ; 

 dip the slices in the yolk of an ^^^ and 

 sprinkle the herbs upon them ; fry in fresh 

 butter and eat immediately. 



Some mycologists have recommended 

 cutting off" a slice horizontally every day, 

 using great care not to disturb the growth 

 or induce decay. In this way it may last 

 for a veek. 



Lycoperdon cyatheforme, or Cup Shaped 

 PufF Ball. This is the next largest of the 

 puff balls. Its diameter is ordinarily from 

 three to six inches. It gets the name, 

 cyatheforme, or cup-shaped, because the 

 upper part of the peridium falls away when 



mature, leaving a cup-shaped base with 

 ragged margin, which may continue through 

 the winter. 



Lycoperdon pyriforme — Pear Shaped PufF 

 Ball. This has a short stem-like base and 

 is often found in dense clusters on the 

 trunks of fallen trees. 



Lycoperdon gemmatum — Warted Puff" 

 Ball. This is nearly spherical in shape, 

 usually the basal portion is narrower than 

 the upper. The surface is covered with 

 small, irregular warts. When these fall off 

 the peridium presents a dotted or reticulated 

 appearance. This species is quite common 

 in our college lawn. Sometimes several 

 appear crowded together on the ground. 

 The height is from one and a half to two 

 inches. 



Lycoperdon saccatum is smaller than 

 preceding and without any semblance of 

 stem. 



The only species of the genus Bovista 

 that I have time to describe is the little lead- 

 colored Bovista, known as Bovista plumbea. 

 This is quite common. It differs from the 

 Lycoperdon in its more perfectly globular 

 shape and in the more tough and smooth 

 rind in the mature plant. The peridium 

 opens by a small aperture at the top for 

 the dissemination of the spores. When 

 squeezed the spores will escape from the 

 opening and appear like a little puff of 

 smoke. 



In conclusion I would say that the larger 

 puff balls are much finer in quality than the 

 smaller, and that no puff ball is fit to eat 

 when it shows yellowish or brownish streaks 

 through it or has become w-ater\- in the 

 interior. It may be added that the dusty 

 spores of the mature puff ball are often used 

 to arrest hemorrhage from wounds. 



J. J. Hare, 

 Ontario Ladies' College, Whitby, Ont. 



