Gastromycetes 



Scieroderma. able, white or pale-brown, often becoming pink when cut. Dehiscing 

 by decay of upper portion of peridium. Massee. 



Scieroderma vulgare is one of our most common and plentiful toad- 

 stools. Its hard, rough, warty, light brown knobs, single or clustered, 

 growing along brook-banks or under trees, generally choosing hard 

 ground, are known to all who observe Nature's curiosities. When quite 

 young they are white inside. As they enlarge the center darkens and 

 this purplish color finally develops into a grayish-purplish-black which 

 extends throughout the interior and gives it a granular appearance. 

 The fungus is solid, cutting like a potato. Its smell is strong; also its 

 taste when raw. Sliced and well-cooked the species is good, even after 

 it has become purplish, but if a single one is wilted it will embitter a 

 whole dish. Or if it is not very well stewed or fried it remains strong. 

 In no condition is it injurious. Specimens must be pared, and the base 

 well cut away. 



S. bovis'ta Fr. Subsessile, often irregular, peridium thin, pliant, 

 almost smooth; tramal walls floccose, yellow, mass of spores olive- 

 brown, spores globose, warted, 1013/4. 



Sandy soil under trees, etc. From 1-2 in. across. Distinguished 

 by the thin, almost smooth peridium, and the yellow tramal walls. 

 Massee. 



West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On ground under trees. 

 June to November. Mcllvaine. 



Not rough like S. vulgare and S. verrucosum, nor as solid. Same 

 habit, same edible qualities when young. It is not good after it begins 

 to change color. 



S. verruco'sum Pers. verr^tcos^^s, covered with warts (vermca). 

 Peridium thin above, ochraceous or dingy brown, covered with minute 

 warts, subglobose, continued downward as a more or less elongated 

 stem-like base. Spores umber in the mass; trama whitish. 



Spores globose, warted, io-13/u.. 



On the ground, under trees, etc. Peridium 1-3 in. across. Stem 

 % 2 in. long, thick, flatly pitted, sometimes almost sessile, when it 

 approaches S. vulgare, but is distinguished by the thin peridium and 

 absence of purple tinge in the immature spore mass. Massee. 



616 



