Part 53

As the name implies, this species is gigantic. It is the largest of all fungi. It has attained the diameter of three feet in this country, but is reported larger in Europe. I have found it in West Virginia weighing nine pounds, but one is reported as found in Gordon Park weighing forty-seven pounds. I have often followed the advice of Vittadini and sliced a meal for my family from growing individuals. The cut surface contracts and dries. The plant seems to be deprived of its power to further ripen. It can thus be cut for many days. It has other than food uses in its dry form—as a sponge, as tinder, as a color, as a styptic in hemorrhage; the Finns make a remedy of it for diarrhea in calves, and it is burned under bee-hives to stupefy bees.

It, as well as L. cyathiforme, is an admirable and delicate fungus.

=C. pachyder´ma= Pk. _Gr_—thick-skinned. =Peridium= very large, globose or obovoid, often irregular, with a thick cord-like root; cortex thin, smooth, whitish, persistent, drying up into polygonal areolæ which are white in the center with a brown border; inner peridium very thick but fragile, with a separable membranaceous lining, after maturity gradually breaking up into fragments and falling away. Subgleba obsolete; mass of spores and capillitium greenish-yellow then olive-brown; the threads very long, occasionally septate, branched, mostly thinner than the spores. =Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 5–6µ in diameter, sometimes with a minute pedicel.

Growing on the ground. Arizona, _Pringle_; Dakota, _Miss Nellie Crouch_. =Peridium= 4–8 in. in diameter. Remarkable for its thick peridium, which becomes white spotted and areolate. _Morgan._

I have not seen this species.

II.—CYATHIFORMES.

Peridium large, top-shaped, with a stout thick base; subgleba limited and concave above, persistent.

=C. cyathifor´mis= Bosc.—cup-shaped. (_L. cyathiforme_ Bosc.) (Plate CLXII, p. 584.) =Peridium= 3–6 in. in diameter, globose or depressed-globose, smooth or minutely floccose or scaly, whitish cinereous brown or pinkish brown, often cracking into areas in the upper part, commonly with a short, thick, stem-like base; capillitium and spores purple-brown, these and the upper part of the peridium falling away and disappearing when old, leaving a cup-shaped base with a ragged margin. =Spores= globose, rough, purple-brown, 5–6.5µ broad. _Peck_, 48th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

Common over United States. Indiana, _H.I. Miller_; West Virginia, New Jersey. On open grassy ground. July to October. _McIlvaine._

Often a queer, ragged, cup-shaped, purplish mass is noticed protruding from the ground, looking as if the upper half had been cut off horizontally. This is the mature C. cyathiformis, or rather, what is left of it. The upper half has blown away and is spreading its spores elsewhere.

A first-class Lycoperdon, meaty and of excellent flavor. When it occurs, it is usually in plenty. On the great parade ground at Mt. Gretna, Pa., it annually appears in large quantities. Cows are fond of it, and it is this fungus which is currently believed among farmers to affect milk. I have watched cows pawing it to pieces and eating portions of it.

=C. fra´gilis= Vitt.—fragile. =Peridium= obovoid, plicate below, with a short-pointed base and a cord-like root. Cortex a smooth continuous layer, very thin and fragile, separable, white or grayish, becoming brownish and tinged with violet and purple, commonly areolate above; inner peridium thin, violet to purple, velvety, extremely fragile, after maturity the upper part soon breaking up into fragments and falling away. Subgleba occupying but a small portion of the peridium, cup-shaped above, persistent; mass of spores and capillitium from violet to pale purple; the threads very long, mostly thinner than the spores, scarcely branched. =Spores= globose, minutely warted, 4–5.5µ in diameter, sessile.

Growing on the open prairies. Wisconsin, _Brown_; Iowa, _McBride_; Nebraska, Wyoming, _Webber_; Kansas, _Cragin_; California, _Harkness_. =Peridium= 1½-3 in. in diameter. _Morgan._

Not seen by writer. Doubtless edible.

=C. sigilla´ta= Cragin—adorned with figures. =Peridium= large, depressed above, narrowed below into a stem-like base. Cortex very thin and fragile, white, easily abraded; inner peridium subcoriaceous, with a fragile rust-color brown lining, marked off above into polygonal areas by lines of depression, at length breaking up into fragments and falling away. Mass of spores and capillitium violet to dark-purple. =Spores= globose, even, 3.5–4.5µ in diameter, with a long pedicel.

Growing on the open prairie. Kansas, _Cragin_. =Peridium= 4–5 in. in diameter. The species is well marked by the even pedicellate spores. _Morgan._

=C. cæla´ta= Bull.—carved in relief. (_L. cæla´tum_ Bull.; _L. bovista_ Pers.) =Peridium= large, obovoid or top-shaped, depressed above, with a stout thick base and a cord-like root. Cortex a thickish floccose layer, with coarse warts or spines above, whitish then ochraceous or finally brown, at length breaking up into areola which are more or less persistent; inner peridium thick but fragile, thinner about the apex, where it finally ruptures, forming a large irregular lacerate aperture. Subgleba occupying nearly half the peridium, cup-shaped above and a long time persistent; mass of spores and capillitium compact, farinaceous, greenish-yellow or olivaceous, becoming pale to dark-brown; the threads very much branched, the primary branches two or three times as thick as the spores, very brittle, soon breaking up into fragments. =Spores= globose, even, 4–4.5µ in diameter, sessile or sometimes with a short or minute pedicel.

Growing on the ground in fields and woods.

=Peridium= 3–5 in. in diameter, sometimes larger. _Morgan._

Wisconsin, _Brown_; Minnesota, _Johnson_; Kansas, _Kellerman_; L. cælatum, New York, edible, _Peck_, 23d Rep.; Indiana, good, _H.I. Miller_. Common, West Virginia, wooded lanes, _McIlvaine_.

An excellent species.

=C. hiema´lis= Bull.—belonging to winter. =Peridium= obovoid or top-shaped, depressed above, with a stout thick base and a cord-like root. Cortex a thin furfuraceous coat, with stout convergent spines above, whitish or gray, becoming yellowish and reddish, after maturity gradually falling away from the upper part; inner peridium thin, submembranaceous, pallid or brownish, dehiscent at the apex by an irregular lacerate mouth. Subgleba occupying nearly half the peridium, cup-shaped above and a long time persistent; mass of spores and capillitium soft, lax, greenish-yellow then brownish-olivaceous; the threads very long, much branched, the primary branches about as thick as the spores, the ultimate ones long, slender and tapering. =Spores= globose, even, 3.5–4.5µ in diameter, with a short or minute pedicel.

Growing on the ground in fields and pastures. =Peridium= 2–4 in. in diameter and 3–5 in. in height. I find this species referred to North America in Saccardo’s Sylloge. It is Lycoperdon cælatum of Fries S. M. Possibly the L. cælatum of Curtis’s catalogue may be this species. _Morgan._

Not seen by writer.

(Plate CLXIII.)

=C. craniifor´mis= Schw.—_cranion_, a skull. =Peridium= very large, obovoid or turbinate, depressed above, the base thick and stout, with a cord-like root. Cortex a smooth continuous layer, very thin and fragile, easily peeling off, pallid or grayish, sometimes with a reddish tinge, often becoming folded in areas; the inner peridium thin, ochraceous to bright brown, velvety, extremely fragile, after maturity the upper part breaking up into fragments and falling away. Subgleba occupying about one-half of the peridium, cup-shaped above and a long time persistent; mass of spores and capillitium greenish-yellow then ochraceous or dirty olivaceous; the threads very long, about as thick as the spores, branched. =Spores= globose, even, 3–3.5µ in diameter, with a minute pedicel.

Growing on the ground in woods. =Peridium= commonly 3–6 in. in diameter and 4–5 in. in height, but much larger specimens are sometimes met with. This species abounds in the woods of southern Ohio, growing in great patches of numerous individuals. I do not know that the edible qualities of this species have been tested. _Morgan._

Chester county, Pa. Springton Hills. On ground in mixed woods. August to October. _McIlvaine._

Not a frequent species with us. I have seen it only in the locality named. The substance is very like that of L. pyriforme. When white it has a strong but pleasant odor, and in this condition it is an excellent fungus. The slightest change to yellow makes it bitter.

=C. rubro-fla´va= Cragin—reddish-yellow. =Peridium= obconic, tapering gradually downward to the rooting mycelium. Cortex a very thin furfuraceous or granulose coat, with a few short, scattered spinules above; inner peridium thin and fragile, at first whitish, soon becoming orange-red to orange-brown in color, after maturity the upper part breaking up into fragments and falling away. Subgleba occupying about a third part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium reddish-ocher then olivaceous-orange; the threads very long, rather thicker than the spores, branched. =Spores= globose, even, 3–3.5µ in diameter, sometimes with a minute pedicel.

Growing on the ground. Kansas, _Cragin_, _Kellerman_. =Peridium= 1½-3 in. in height with a breach of 1–2 in. The peculiar orange or rather reddish-ocher color with which the whole plant is pervaded at maturity is very remarkable. _Morgan._

III.—STIPITATÆ.

Peridium depressed, globose above, abruptly contracted below into a long stem-like base; subgleba not definitely limited above, continuous with the capillitium, persistent.

=C. sacca´ta= (Vahl.) Fr.—_saccus_, a bag or pouch. Medium size, 2–4 in. high, 1–2 in. broad. =Peridium= depressed-globose or somewhat lentiform, supported by a long stem-like base, furfuraceous with minute persistent mealy or granular warts or spinules, often plicate beneath, white or creamy-white, at maturity becoming brown or olive-brown, subshining and very thin or membranous, breaking up into irregular fragments which sometimes adhere to the capillitium for a considerable time, the stem-like base cylindrical or narrowed downward, sometimes thick; capillitium rather dense, subpersistent, and with the spores dingy-olive or dingy-brown, sometimes verging toward purplish-brown. =Spores= rough, 4–5µ in diameter. Edible.

Low mossy grounds and bushy swamps, especially under alders. Sandlake, Center and Adirondack mountains. August to October. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

West Virginia, 1881–1885; Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina. Frequent, thin moist woods. July to November. _McIlvaine._

C. saccata, the long-stemmed puff-ball, is a common and pleasing species. Shape, color, feel, combine to make it attractive. It is one of the very best we have. When white inside and otherwise in good condition it is delicious.

(Plate CLXIV.)

=C. ela´ta= Massee. =Peridium= globose or depressed-globose above, plicate below and abruptly contracted into a long stem-like base; the base slender, cylindric or tapering downward, sometimes pitted; mycelium fibrous and filamentous. Cortex a very thin coat of minute persistent spinules or granules; inner peridium white or cream-colored, becoming brown or olivaceous, very thin and fragile, after maturity the upper part soon breaking up into fragments and falling away. Subgleba occupying the stem-like base, a long time persistent; mass of spores and capillitium brown or brownish-olivaceous; the threads very long, branched, the main stem as thick as the spores, the branches more slender. =Spores= globose, even or very minutely warted, 4–5µ in diameter with a short or minute pedicel.

Growing among mosses in low grounds and bushy places. New England, _Humphrey_; New York, _Peck_. =Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter and 3–6 in. in height, the stem-like base ½-¾ of an inch in thickness. This American form of Lycoperdon saccatum has lately been separated from it, and named, figured and described as Lycoperdon elatum by George Massee. _Morgan._

Edible.

GENUS IX.—=LYCOPER´DON= Tourn.

Mycelium fibrous, rooting from the base. =Peridium= small, globose, obovoid or turbinate, with a more or less thickened base; cortex a subpersistent coat of soft spines, scales, warts or granules; inner peridium thin, membranaceous becoming papyraceous, dehiscent by a regular apical mouth. _Morgan._

When the plant sits (without stem) directly upon the ground or wood it is _sessile_. The outer layer of the two parts of its covering is the _exterior peridium_ (sometimes spoken of as _cortex_). This frequently breaks up into scales, spines, bristles, minute flocculent or powdery masses, and these vary in size and in many species disappear as the plant matures. These are of determining value in several species of Lycoperdaceæ. Plants with coarse, long spines are _echinate_ because they bristle. When the spines incline together and form a point they are _stellate_. Various formations of this outside covering are also called _warts_. The inner rind or skin is the true _peridium_.

The mass of thread-like filaments which fills the interior of the plant is called the _capillitium_. The filaments are deftly interlaced. At times filaments springing from the base do not interlace with the others; these are called _columellæ_. These filaments bear the spores—the dust which puffs out in such quantity and gives the common name to the plant—puff-ball—and its Mephistophelian one—The Devil’s Snuff-box. In some species the filaments at the base of the plant are _sterile_—they do not bear spores. These filaments are more contracted and form the neck, stem or _subgleba_. The _gleba_ is the upper interior of the plant, in which the spores are contained. See plate CLVI.

_Dehiscent_ is said of an organ which opens of itself at maturity. A plant is dehiscent at the discharging point of its spores. If this is at the summit it is _apically dehiscent_.

The descriptions herein given of American representatives of European species are in many instances those of A.P. Morgan, who has made special study of this genus, and those of Professor C.H. Peck, whose interstate experience acquaints him with every varying form. Mr. Morgan has kindly given permission to use his text and drawings.

No one has yet had reason to doubt the harmlessness of any puff-ball. There are a few I have not eaten, but believing that these will be proven edible, descriptions of all species occurring in America are given.

There are first and second-class puff-balls. Usually the small species are slightly strong, and if a shade of yellow appears upon breaking any puff-ball, it will be more or less bitter and will spoil a whole dish. The larger species are milder. The flavor of puff-balls appears to be issued to them as a ration. It is all there in a little fellow, and in a big one it is simply spread through more substance.

Lafayette B. Mendel in Am. Jour. of Physiology, March, 1898, gives the nitrogenous compounds in L. bovista as:

Nitrogen soluble in gastric juice 3.13 Digestible protein nitrogen 3.13 Indigestible protein nitrogen 2.70 Protein nitrogen 5.79 Extractive nitrogen 2.40 Total nitrogen 8.19

TABLE OF THE SPECIES OF LYCOPERDON.

I.—PURPLE-SPORED SERIES.

Mature spores purplish-brown.

_a._ Cortex consisting of very long convergent spines. Page 591.

_b._ Cortex composed of long slender convergent spines. Page 592.

_c._ Cortex composed of minute spinules. Page 594.

_d._ Cortex a furfuraceous persistent coat. Page 595.

_e._ Cortex a smooth, continuous layer, becoming areolate. Page 597.

II.—OLIVE-SPORED SERIES.

Mature spores usually brownish-olivaceous.

_A._ PERIDIUM OBOVOID OR TURBINATE, THE SUBGLEBA WELL DEVELOPED.

_f._ Cortex of long spines mingled with shorter ones, the former at length fall away, leaving a reticulate surface to the inner peridium. Page 598.

_g._ Cortex of stout spines which fall away and leave a tomentose or furfuraceous surface to the inner peridium. Page 599.

_h._ Cortex of long spines, curved and convergent at the apex, which fall away and leave a smooth surface to the inner peridium. Page 600.

_i._ Cortex of minute spinules and granules or furfuraceous scales. Terrestrial. Page 602.

_k._ Cortex of minute spinules, scales or granules. Lignatile. Page 603.

_B._ PERIDIUM VERY SMALL, GLOBOSE, THE SUBGLEBA NEARLY OBSOLETE.

_l_. Cortex a thin coat of minute spinules, scales or granules. Page 604.

_Morgan._

I.—PURPLE-SPORED SERIES.

(_a_) _Cortex consisting of very long convergent spines; denuded peridium smooth._

=L. echina´tum= Pers.—prickly. (_L. Peck´ii_ Morg.) (Plate CLVI, fig. 2, p. 568.) =Peridium= ¾-1½ in. broad, subglobose, generally narrowed below into a short stem-like base, whitish brownish or pinkish-brown, echinate above with rather stout spines, which at length fall off and leave the surface smooth; toward the base spinulose or furfuraceous; capillitium and spores dingy-olive. =Spores= minutely rough, 4µ in diameter.

Ground and decaying wood in woods. Albany, Forestburg and Adirondack mountains. August to October.

The whole plant is generally obovate, pyriform or turbinate, and the spines are larger and more or less curved at and near the apex, diminishing in size toward the base where they are more persistent. In the immature condition it is difficult to distinguish it from L. pedicellatum; but when mature its smooth peridium and spores destitute of pedicels separate it. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

L. echinatum appears to be common to all the states. August to frost. It is frequent but not abundant. Raw the taste is slight. Cooked it is tender and of good flavor.

=L. pulcher´rimum= B. and C. (_L. Frost´ii_ Pk.) =Peridium= usually obovoid, sometimes subturbinate, with a short stout base; the mycelium forming a thick cord-like root. Cortex consisting of very long white spines, converging and often coherent at the apex; the spines at length fall away from the upper part of the peridium, leaving the inner peridium with a smooth purplish-brown shining surface, sometimes faintly reticulated. Subgleba occupying about a third part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium at first olivaceous, then brownish-purple; the threads much branched, the main stem thicker than the spores, the branches long, slender and tapering. =Spores= globose, minutely warted, 4.5–5.5µ in diameter.

=Peridium= 1–2½ in. in diameter and 1–2 in. in height.

The fresh specimens of this plant have a strong and not unpleasant fragrance.

Growing in low grounds, in fields and woods. September, October.

L. pulcherrimum is frequent, but not abundant. It ranks with second-class puff-balls. It is good when young and fresh.

(Plate CLXV.)

=L. constella´tum= Fr.—grouped. =Peridium= subglobose or obovate, sometimes depressed, 10–18 lines broad, echinate with rather long stout crowded brown spines which are either straight curved or stellately united and which at length fall off and leave the surface reticulate with brown lines; capillitium and spores brown or purplish-brown, columella present. =Spores= rough, 5–6.5µ in diameter.

Ground in dense shades and groves. Oneida, _Warne_. Rare. Autumn. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

(_b_) _Cortex composed of long, slender convergent spines; denuded peridium smooth._

=L. hirtum= Mart.—hairy. =Peridium= broadly turbinate, depressed above, contracted below into a short, thick, tapering or pointed base, with a cord-like root. Cortex a dense coat of soft spines, long, slender and convergent above, becoming shorter downward, gray or brownish in color; these finally fall away, leaving the inner peridium with a brown or purplish-brown, smooth, shining surface. Subgleba occupying from one-third to one-half of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium olivaceous, then brownish-purple; the threads branched, the main stem about as thick as the spores, with slender, tapering branches. =Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 5–6µ in diameter.

Growing on the ground in woods. =Peridium= 1–2½ in. in diameter and 1½-2 in. in height. This species in this country heretofore has been included with L. atropurpureum. I have followed Mr. Massee in keeping them separate. This is perhaps L. bicolor W. and C., of the Pacific Coast Catalogue. _Morgan._

New York, _Peck_, 46th Rep.; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Ground in woods. August to October. _McIlvaine._

It is edible. Good when young and fresh.

=L. atropurpur´eum= Vitt.—_ater_, black; _purpureus_, purple—of the spores. =Peridium= globose depressed-globose or obovate, 6–30 lines broad, generally narrowed below into a short stem-like base, white cinereous or brownish, mealy-spinulose, hairy-spinulose, echinate or stellately echinate, when denuded smooth and subshining; capillitium and spores finally purplish-brown, columella present. =Spores= rough, 5–6µ in diameter.

Sandy pastures, woods and bushy places. Common. August to October.

This appears to be one of the most polymorphous species we have. It is so variable that I have been obliged to modify the usual description very much, in order to include forms which are quite diverse, yet which appear to me to run together in such a way that I am unable to draw any satisfactory line of distinction between them.

There are three principal varieties which I have referred to this species. The first is usually 1–2 in. broad, sessile, or with a very short stem, nearly smooth, being mealy or pruinose, and having a few minute, weak, scattered spinules or scales. Its color is generally whitish or white slightly clouded with brown. It grows in sandy pastures and cleared lands, and is probably the nearest of the three in its resemblance to the type.

I regard the second and third as worthy of a name and designate and define them as follows:

Var. _hirtel´lum_. =Peridium= hairy-spinulose with erect or curved sometimes stellately united spinules, which are often of a blackish color.

Ground and decaying vegetable matter in woods.

Var. _stella´re_. =Peridium= echinate or stellately echinate with rather stout easily deciduous spines.

Ground in woods and bushy places.

In this species the capillitium and spores are at first greenish-yellow, olive-tinted or brownish; but when fully mature they are purple-tinted. Some care will, therefore, be necessary, lest the last variety be confused with the Echinate Puff-ball, L. echinatum. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.

=Spores= 6–7µ _Massee_; globose, distinctly warted, 5.5–6µ, _Morgan_.

Ohio, West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On ground in woods. August to October. _McIlvaine._

L. atropurpureum is frequent, not abundant. It is edible, good.

(_c_) _Cortex composed of minute spinules; denuded peridium smooth._

=L. cu´pricum= Bon.—coppery. =Peridium= obconic, depressed above and tapering downward, the base plicate, with a fibrous mycelium. Cortex gray or flesh-color, composed of minute spinules circularly arranged and convergent and coherent at the apex; these dry up, becoming dark purplish in color, and finally fall away from the smooth, shining, copper-colored surface of the inner peridium. Subgleba occupying nearly a third part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium, at length purplish-brown; the threads branched, the main stem thinner than the spores, with long, tapering branches. =Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 6–7µ in diameter.