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 

 capillitium 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. 





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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, 

 fleshy-coriaceous layer (exoperidium), which at maturity splits 

 from the apex into several segments; the inner coat is more or less 

 jjarchmentlike, either sessile or short stalked, and opens by an 

 apical mouth. The spores are usually dark brown and mixed with 

 capillitium. 



