thick. =Pileus= 1½ in. in height. This species vitiates the genus
Dictyophora and it can not very well be placed in Ithyphallus.
Growing in woods and fields about rotting stumps and logs. _Morgan._
South Carolina, _Ravenel_; Ohio, _Morgan_; New York, _Peck_.
II.—ITHYPHAL´LUS Fischer. (_Gr_—erect; _Gr_—phallus.)
Stipe without an indusium or veil dependent from its apex. _Morgan._
=P. impudi´cus= Linn. (Plate CLVIII.) =Volva= globose or ovoid, white or
pinkish; segments 2 or 3. =Stem= cylindric, tapering at each end,
cellulose, without a veil. =Pileus= conic-campanulate; the surface
reticulate pitted after deliquescence, the apex smooth, at first closed,
at length perforate. =Spores= elliptic-oblong, 4–5×2µ.
Growing on the ground in woods.
=Plant= 6–8 in. high. =Volva= 2 in. in diameter. =Stem= 1¼ in. thick.
=Pileus= 2 in. in height.
By the elongation of the stem the thin membrane which separates the
stipe from the pileus is torn into shreds and the pileus is thus
liberated from the stipe except at the apex. _Morgan._
West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Summer and autumn. _McIlvaine._
P. impudicus makes itself known wherever it grows. The stench of the
full-grown plant is aggravatingly offensive, attracting blow-flies in
quantities, and the carrion beetle Necrophorus Americanus. It is common
over the United States, in woods, open fence corners, along road-sides,
but a favorite abode is in kitchen yards and under wooden steps, where,
when mature, it will compel the household to seek it in self-defense. It
is a beautiful plant.
When in the egg-shape it is white or light dull-green, semi-gelatinous,
tenacious and elastic. As many as a dozen sometimes grow in a bunch,
each from a peculiar white, cord-like root or mycelium. They look, when
young, like bubbles of some thick substance. In this condition they are
very good when fried. They demand to be eaten at this time, if at any.
GENUS II.—=MUTI´NUS= Fr.
=Stipe= hollow within, the wall composed of a single layer of
round-celled tissue. =Pileus= wholly adnate to the summit of the stipe,
the gleba occupying its outer surface. _Morgan._
Distinguished from Ithyphallus by the cap being adnate to the
receptacle.
(Plate CLIX.)
[Illustration:
MUTINUS CANINUS.
(After Massee and Morgan.)
]
=M. cani´nus= Fr. (_Phallus caninus_ Berk.; _Phallus inodorus_ Sow.)
=Receptacle= elongato-fusiform, cellular, white or rosy. =Pileus= short,
subacute, rugulose, red. =Spores= cylindrical, involved in green mucus,
3–5×2µ.
In woods and bushy places. Sporophore from ½-¾ in. before the volva is
ruptured. When fully evolved 3–4 in. high. Sometimes scentless, at
others with a distinct odor, but never so strong and disagreeable as in
Ithyphallus impudicus. _Massee._
=Spores= elliptic, 6×4µ _Morgan_; 3–5×2µ _Massee_.
New England, _Frost_; New York, _Warne_; West Virginia, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, _McIlvaine_.
This species is common. Few old woods are without it. It is conspicuous
in color among the brown of the forest carpet. The plant has not the
mal-odor of its relations, but is not pleasant. In the egg shape it is
gelatinous, tenacious, rather firm, edible and good when sliced and
fried.
=M. bovi´nus= Morg. =Volva= oblong-ovoid, pinkish, segments 2 or 3.
=Stem= cylindric, tapering gradually to the apex, white or pinkish
below, bright red above. =Pileus= indeterminate, conic-acuminate,
perforate at the apex. =Spores= elliptic-oblong, 4–5×2µ.
=Plant= 4–7 in. in height, the stem ¾ of an in. in thickness, the volva
not much thicker and 1–1½ in. in height; the pileus occupies 1–2 in. of
the pointed apex, but is not definitely limited below. This plant has
the strong disagreeable odor of other Phalloids.
Growing in rich soil in cultivated grounds and in woods. _Morgan._
Common in mixed woods, West Virginia, Pennsylvania. Smell strong, but
not so offensive as P. impudicus. Edible in the egg-shape.
=M. brevis= B. and C.—short. =Volva= globose or ovoid, segments 2 or 3.
=Stem= bright red, coarsely cribrose, attenuated below. =Pileus=
somewhat broadly clavate, sometimes conical, but always more or less
obtuse, perforate at the apex.
=Plant= 2–3 in. high. =Stem= 4–5 lines thick, the volva ¾ of an in. in
diameter, the pileus sometimes half as long as the stem.
Growing on the ground in fields and gardens. _Morgan._
North Carolina, _Curtis_; South Carolina, _Ravenel_; New England,
_Wright_; New York, _Howe_, _Gerard_, _Peck_.
In the remaining genera, Clathrus, Simblum, Laternea, no species have
been reported as tested.
FAMILY II.—=LYCOPERDA´CEÆ.=
Peridium sessile, usually with a more or less thickened base or
sometimes stipitate, at maturity filled with a dusty mass of mingled
threads and spores.
This order contains many of our most delicious and important food
species. The characteristics of all genera are given. In several of them
no species are reported edible, but it is more than probable that all
are. The genera are therefore given in this table, but are omitted in
place to save room. The omitted genera are Nos. 1, Polyplocium; 2,
Batarrea; 3, Myriostoma; 5, Astreus; 6, Mitremyces.
TABLE OF GENERA OF LYCOPERDACEÆ.
I.—=VOLVATÆ.=
Outer peridium a thick, firm, persistent coat, bursting irregularly or
splitting from the apex downward into segments.
(_a_) _Inner peridium stipitate, the outer remaining as a volva at the
base of the stipe._
1. POLYPLOCIUM.
Inner peridium pileate, with aculeiform processes underneath; threads of
the capillitium slender, hyaline, scarcely branched.
2. BATARREA.
Inner peridium circumscissile, the upper part coming off like a lid;
threads of the capillitium with spiral markings.
(_b_) _Inner peridium sessile, the outer splitting into segments which
become reflexed._
3. MYRIOSTOMA.
Inner peridium dehiscent above by many mouths; columella —--; threads of
the capillitium simple, tapering to each extremity.
4. GEASTER. Page 580.
Inner peridium dehiscent at the apex by a single mouth; columella
present; threads of the capillitium simple, tapering to each extremity.
5. ASTRÆUS.
Inner peridium membranaceous; dehiscent at the apex by a single mouth;
columella none; threads of the capillitium very long, much branched and
interwoven.
6. MITREMYCES.
Inner peridium cartilaginous, dehiscent at the apex by a stellate
fissure; columella none; threads of the capillitium very long, much
branched and interwoven.
II.—=CORTICATÆ.=
Outer peridium (cortex) a soft, fragile, more or less deciduous layer,
often with external projections in the shape of warts, spines or scales.
(_c_) _Peridium stipitate._
7. TYLOSTOMA. Page 582.
Peridium membranaceous, dehiscent by a regular apical mouth; threads of
the capillitium very long, much branched and interwoven.
(_d_) _Peridium sessile, but with a more or less thickened base._
8. CALVATIA. Page 582.
Peridium large, globose or turbinate, breaking up into fragments from
above downward, and gradually falling away; threads of the capillitium
very long, much branched and interwoven.
9. LYCOPERDON. Page 589.
Peridium small, globose, obovoid or turbinate, membranaceous, dehiscent
by a regular apical mouth, threads of the capillitium long, slender,
simple or branched.
10. BOVISTELLA. Page 608.
Peridium subglobose, membranaceous, dehiscent by a regular apical mouth;
threads of the capillitium free, short, several times dichotomously
branched.
(_e_) _Peridium sessile, without any thickened base._
11. CATASTOMA. Page 609.
Peridium globose, subcoriaceous, dehiscent by a basal aperture; threads
of the capillitium free, short, simple, or scarcely branched.
12. BOVISTA. Page 610.
Peridium subglobose, membranaceous, dehiscent by an apical mouth, or
opening irregularly; threads of the capillitium free, short, several
times dichotomously branched.
13. MYCENASTRUM. Page 613.
Peridium subglobose, very thick, coriaceous, the upper part finally
breaking up into irregular lobes or fragments; threads of the
capillitium free, short, with a few short branches and scattered
prickles. _Morgan._
GENUS IV.—=GEA´STER= Mich.
_Gr_—the earth; _Gr_—star.
Mycelium filamentous or fibrous, much branched and interwoven with the
soil. Peridium subglobose, composed of two distinct persistent coats;
outer peridium thick, fleshy-coriaceous, at first closely investing the
inner, but discrete (distinct) at maturity splitting from the apex
downward into several segments which become reflexed; inner peridium
thin, membranaceous then papyraceous (like parchment), sessile or with a
short pedicel, dehiscent at the apex by a single mouth. Capillitium
taking its origin from the inner surface of the peridium and also from a
distinct central columella, which arises from its base; threads simple,
long, slender, thickest in the middle and tapering to each extremity,
fixed at one end and free at the other. =Spores= small, globose,
minutely warted, brown. _Morgan._
(Plate CLX.)
[Illustration:
GEASTER HYGROMETRICUS.
Natural size. (After Morgan.)
]
G. minimus, when found by the writer, was not tested because not found
in condition. It is a plant beautiful in its oddity. Its seven to nine
outer segments of skin loosen at the bottom, spring up, raising the oval
body of the plant with them, turn their points down and balance on the
lower points, and look, in miniature, just as would two sectional orange
peels spread at their loose points if one was rested, point to point,
upon the other. This hoisting of the spore-bearing part aloft, that it
may better eject its spores to the wind, does not seem to have been
noted by Professor Morgan. Specimens sent to Professor Peck by the
writer beautifully illustrated this enterprise of the plant.
=G. hygrome´tricus= Pers. (Plate CLX, 2 figs., p. 580.) Peridium
depressed-globose, the cuticle deciduous with the mycelium; outer
peridium deeply parted, the segments 7–20, strongly hygrometric, acute
at the apex; inner peridium depressed-globose, sessile, reticulate,
pitted, whitish becoming gray or brownish; the mouth an irregularly
lacerate aperture. Threads of the capillitium rather thinner than the
spores, hyaline. =Spores= globose, minutely warted, brown, 8–11µ in. in
diameter.
Growing in fields and woods in sandy soil. A very common species found
everywhere in the world. Inner peridium ¾-1 in. in diameter, the
segments expanding to a breadth of 2–3 in. The inner layer of the outer
peridium is cartilaginous-gelatinous, hard and rigid when dry, swelling
greatly and flexible when wet though constantly becoming more and more
cracked and fissured, it retains its hygroscopic qualities a long time,
and the outer peridium remains lying on the soil, stellate in shape,
spreading out its rays in moist weather and bending them inward in dry.
_Morgan._
Mr. Morgan made a new genus—Astræus, in which he placed this species. It
is so widely known as Geaster hygrometricus that to avoid confusion it
is placed in its old genus.
This natural barometer, spreading its stellate covering on the soil
about it when the air is laden with moisture, and closing it around its
puffy body when humidity is absent, is odd and interesting. The entire
genus is more or less gifted with this weather-wise quality. The species
is very common, but seldom found in number. Once, in the West Virginia
mountains, 1882, I found a large patch of it, and was able to collect
from it enough young ones to test its edibility. It is difficult to find
before it bursts its outer coat. When young it is, when cooked, soft and
creamy inside. The outer part is tough and semi-glutinous but of
pleasant texture. It has not a marked flavor, but makes a succulent
dish.
[Illustration]
II.—=CORTICATÆ.=
GENUS VII.—=TYLOS´TOMA= Pers.
_Gr_—a knob.
(Plate CLXI.)
[Illustration:
TYLOSTOMA
MEYENIANUM.
(After Morgan.)
]
Plants growing on the ground, oftenest in dry and sandy regions. The
genus is readily distinguished from all others of the Lycoperdaceæ by
the entire peridium being mounted upon the apex of the stem. _Morgan._
The genus contains but few species. Those I have found were not in
condition to test. There is no report upon the edibility of any.
GENUS VIII.—=CALVA´TIA= Fr.
Mycelium fibrous, usually thick and cord-like, rooting from the base.
=Peridium= large, globose and nearly sessile, or turbinate with a
well-developed base; cortex a very thin adherent layer, often smooth and
continuous, sometimes composed of minute spinules or granules; inner
peridium a loosely woven and very fragile covering, after maturity
breaking up into fragments from above downward and gradually falling
away. Subgleba cellulose, mostly definitely limited and concave above,
persistent; mass of spores and capillitium dense, compact, persistent a
long time and slowly dissipating after the fracture of the peridium; the
threads very long, slender, much branched and interwoven. =Spores=
small, globose, usually sessile or with only a minute pedicel. _Morgan._
Puffballs of the largest size, growing on the ground in fields and
woods. _Morgan._
I.—SESSILES.
Peridium very large, without a distinct base; subgleba nearly obsolete,
the mass of spores and capillitium quite filling the interior.
=C. gigantea= Batsch.—gigantic. (_L. bovista_ Linn.; _L. maximum_
Schaeff.; _L. giganteum_ Batsch.) Very large, 10–20 in. in diameter,
obconic or depressed-globose, nearly or quite sessile, white or whitish,
becoming discolored by age, smooth or slightly roughened by weak spinose
or minute floccose warts, sometimes cracking in areas; capillitium and
spores yellowish-green to dingy-olive. =Spores= smooth, 4µ in. in
diameter. Edible. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
=Spores= globose, even or sometimes minutely warted, 3.5–4.5 in. in
diameter, often with a minute pedicel. _Morgan._
Common over the states. Growing on the ground in grassy places in fields
and woods. August to October.
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.
[Illustration:
Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist. PLATE CLXII.
CALVATIA CYATHIFORMIS.
(Lycoperdon Cyathiforme.)
]
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.)
[Illustration:
CALVATIA CRANIIFORMIS.
(After Morgan.)
]
=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.