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EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS OF CANADA
ground and with the inside of the cup smooth. C. olla Pers. has a smooth cup
but has smaller spores than C. stercoreus.
Crucibulum levis (DC) Kambly & Lee is another species belonging in
this group. It has whitish peridioles and the wall of the fructification consists of
only one layer rather than three as in Cyathus. It is usually found on old wood
also.
It has been demonstrated that these fruiting bodies of the bird's-nest
fungi are adapted to dispersal of the spores by rain. The force of rain drops
splashing against the inside of the cup is sufficient to drive the peridioles out
for some considerable distance and the spores are freed by the gradual decay
and wearing away of the wall of the peridiole. This is referred to as the splash-
cup method of spore dispersal.
GEASTRUM TRIPLEX Jungh. Edible
Figure 374, page 281
Earth Star
FRUITING BODY 1-2 in. in diameter at the widest part, more or less bulb-
shaped, acute at the apex, not stalked, brown or reddish brown, the outer coat
splitting at the apex into 4-6 rather uniform segments or rays, spreading back
to form a star shape and often splitting into two layers of which the inner
remains as a sort of cup around the spore case, spore case sessile, thin and
papery, opening by a conical pore which is different in texture from the rest of
the spore case, smooth but somewhat fringed, usually seated in a shght depres-
sion. SPORES brown, globose, warted, 3.5-4.5 m*
Singly or gregarious on the ground in open woods. July-Nov.
There are several species of Geastrum commonly known as 'earth stars'
but this is one of the larger and more common species. It is reported to be
edible when young but seems to be pretty hard and tough.
CALVATIA GIGANTEA Pers. Edible
Figures 404, 405, page 292
Giant Puffball
FRUITING BODY morc or less globose, 8-20 in. or more in diameter,
attached to the ground by a short, cord-Hke rhizomorph, surface smooth,
soft-leathery, white to creamy yellow or finally brownish, white within when
young, firm, fleshy, slowly becoming yellowish to oHvaceous, finally rusty
ochraceous and powdery, spores globose, minutely spiny, 3.5-4.5 m-
Singly to gregarious in woods, pastures or fields. Aug.-Sept.
The giant puffball is one of the best-known and most widely used edible
fungi. The large size, white color, and chamois-Hke outer skin are distinguish-
ing features. Specimens intended for food should be cut open to make sure that
they are white and homogeneous inside and not infested by worms.
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