SOME COMMON MUSHROOMS AND HOW TO KNOW THEM 55 
CALVATIA CYATHIFORMIS. CUP PUFFBALL. (EDIBLE) 
In this species the plant is globose or turbinate and depressed above, with 
a thick, somewhat stemlike base and cordlike root; the cortex is whitish 
gray or brown, Sometimes with a pinkish-purple tinge, thin, fragile, areolate 
in the upper part, which, after maturity, soon breaks up and falls away, 
leaving a cup-shaped base with a ragged margin attached to the ground; the 
eapillitium and spores are at first violet, becoming dark purple brown. The 
plant is 3 to 6 inches in diameter. 
This species is common on open grassy ground in pastures, fields, and 
lawns. It is edible and of fine flavor. 
CALVATIA GIGANTEA. GIANT PUFFBALL. (EDIBLE) 
(Fig. 47) 
The giant puffball is globose or obovoid in shape, nearly sessile, plicate at the 
base, with cordlike mycelial strands. The cortex is at first white and smooth, 
becoming yellowish or brown, sometimes slightly roughened by minute warts 
or cracking in areas; the inner peridium is thin and fragile; the capillitium 
and spores are yellowish green to dingy olive when mature. 
FIGURE 47.—Calvatia gigantea. (Edible) 
Individuals of this species often attain an enormous size, the specimen shown 
in Figure 47 measuring 5 feet 1 inch in circumference. The usual size, how- 
ever, varies from 10 to 20 inches in diameter. 
This is an excellent edible species of wide geographic range, growing very 
abundantly on lawns, pastures, and meadows. 
GEASTER (EARTH STARS) 
In the genus Geaster the peridium consists of three persistent 
coats. The two outer coats generally adhere and form the thick, 
fieshy-coriaceous layer (exoperidium), which at maturity splits 
from the apex into several segments; the inner coat is more or less 
parchmenthke, either sessile or short stalked, and opens by an 
apical mouth. The spores are usually dark brown and mixed with 
capillitium. 
