474 15RITISII I'UNGI 



Calvatia 



Peridiuni \\all brittle, the upper portion breaking away irregu- 

 larly ; sterile base well developed ; capillilium dense, threads long 

 and intermixed. 



Readily separated from Lycopcrdon by the upper portion of the 

 wall breaking away in irregular patches, instead of having a definite 

 apical opening for the escape of the spores. 



C. gigantea (PI. XXXV, fig. 4). — Peridium globose or sub de- 

 pressed, often puckered or phcate at the base, white ; wall thick, 

 somewhat downy, becoming smooth and fragile, breaking away 

 above and leaving a wide, irregular opening ; sterile base spongy ; 

 mass of spores yellow, then olive, finally brownish oli\-e ; sterile 

 base spongy, sometimes not very evident ; capillitium threads 

 dark-coloured, irregularly branched, long and intertwining. 



Size very variable, ranging from 4 in. to a foot in diameter. 

 Specimens are said to have been met with a yard in diameter. 

 When young the flesh is pure white, and at this stage is delicious 

 eating. Gradually the flesh assumes a faint yellow tinge, deepening 

 to canary-yellow, and in the dry powdery condition to a brownish 

 olive-colour. 



Among grass in pastures, meadows, etc. 



C. ccelata. — Peridium subglobose or top-shaped, often depressed, 

 covered with large floccose warts, usually split into shreds at the 

 base, upper portion breaking away, leaving only the sterile base 

 remaining ; spore-mass olive ; capillitium composed of stout 

 coloured threads. 



Varying from 1-4 in. across ; stem stout, variable, often almost 

 absent. 



Fields, roadsides, woods, etc. 



C. saccata. — Peridium subglobose, usually more or less depressed, 

 sometimes plicate below, with small spinulose warts that become 

 smaller downwards, the upper portion breaking away irregularly ; 

 sterile base well developed, porous, passing downwards into a long, 

 stout, stem-like base ; mass of spores oli\'e, becoming olive-brown 

 or umber ; capillitium dense. 



From 2-5 in. high ; peridium thin, becoming smooth. Ycxy large 

 specimens sometimes occur. 



Among moss in open woods, etc. 



QUELETIA 



Peridium subglobose, without a mouth, the wall breaking up 

 irregularly when mature. Stem elongated, with coarse, spreading 

 squamules. 



Somewhat resembling a puffball, on a long, coarsely scaly, stout 

 stem. 



