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EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS OF CANADA
LYCOPERDON PERLATUM Pers. Edible
Figure 375, page 281 ; Figures 406, 407, page 292
FRUITING BODY 1-2 1/2 in. high, Vi-IVa
in. thick at the widest part, typically
top-shaped to pear-shaped, or irregular in shape from crowding with a tapering
or nearly cylindric, stem-like base, sometimes wrinkled or folded toward the
base, white at first, becoming buff or brownish, surface covered with many
cone-shaped, whitish spines, some longer, some shorter, which disappear as
the plant matures, leaving net-like markings on the surface, entirely white
within when young, spores produced only in the upper part which becomes
yellowish to olive-brown and powdery, basal part remaining sterile, the tissue
containing small chambers, spores olive-brown, globose, minutely spiny,
3.5-4.5 ju in diameter.
Singly, gregarious, or cespitose on rich soil, or sometimes on rotten wood.
June-Nov.
This is one of our commonest puffballs. The shape and the cone-shaped
spines that leave a network of scars when they fall off are the chief distinguish-
ing characters. It has long been known as Lycoperdon gemmatum Batsch but
L. perlatum is the correct name.
LYCOPERDON PYRIFORME Pers. Edible
Figure 408, page 293
FRUITING BODY %-2 in. high, %-l Yi in. thick at the widest part, typically
somewhat pear-shaped to subglobose, narrowed below and attached by white
rhizomorphs, pale brownish to tawny brown or rusty brown, sometimes
yellowish, surface furfuraceous, scaly or with short spines, sometimes areolate,
the outer coat eventually wearing away and exposing the smooth inner coat,
white within at first, becoming olivaceous to olive-brown and powdery as the
spores mature, basal part sterile, tissue containing small chambers, spores
olive-brown, globose, smooth, 3-4 /x-
Usually cespitose to gregarious around old logs, stumps, sawdust piles.
June-Nov.
This is a very common and widely distributed puffball. It is not very large
but is usually found in considerable abundance. The old fruit bodies often
persist through the winter and may be found the following spring but, of
course, they are only edible when young and white within. The color, shape,
and occurrence on rotten wood are distinguishing characters.
252
Figures 352-361
352. Polyporus betulinus. 353. P. ovinus.
354. P. resinosus. 355. P. sulphureiis.
356. P. squamosus. "iSl . P. squamosus.
358. Hydnum coralloides. 359. H. repandum.
360. H. septentrionale. 361. Clavaria botrytis.