Calvatia cyathiformis

Description

Calvatia cyathiformis is a large edible saprobic species of Calvatia. This puffball has purple-brown spores, which distinguish it from other large Agaricales. It is found mostly in prairie or grasslands of North America, Australia, and probably elsewhere. The sterile base of C. cyathiformis often winters and becomes vase-shaped, sometimes retaining spores.

It grows mainly on forest soils and meadows from June to the end of November.

The spore mass turns from white to yellow to dull purple or purple-brown at maturity. It is said to be edible until the flesh begins to turn to a tan color.

While this puffball does not have a strong flavor of its own, it is still quite good, and its ability to absorb flavors makes it a rewarding find.

Common names: Purple-Spored Puffball, Lilafarbener Stäubling (German).

Mushroom Identification

1. Fruiting Body

   8–17 cm high and 8–20 cm wide when mature; ball-shaped when young, but soon developing a thick basal portion that is slightly more narrow than the upper portion; at maturity usually shaped like an inverted pear or a loaf of bread.

2. Outer Surface

   Tan to pale brown; the pigment breaking up into small, mosaic-like scales; eventually becoming very pale brown to grayish or nearly white, with a vague mosaic of sections punctuated by brownish dots; dry; the skin 1–2 mm thick.

3. Interior

   White and firm when young; soon becoming two-chambered texturally, with the basal portion distinct from the upper portion; upper portion becoming yellowish and finally deep brownish purple as it matures and turns into spore dust; basal portion turning yellowish, then olive with age.

4. Over-Mature Specimens

   After the top ruptures and the spore mass is dispersed, the sterile base can remain, cup-like, with a ragged upper edge, for weeks.

5. Odor and Taste

   Not distinctive.

6. Spore Dust

   Purple.

7. Habitat

   Saprobic; growing alone, scattered, gregariously, or in fairy rings in grass (lawns, golf courses, parks, pastures, etc.); summer and fall; widely distributed in North America, but possibly absent on the West Coast.

8. Microscopic Features

   Spores 3–6 µm (including ornamentation); globose; covered with spines 0.5–1 µm long; hyaline in KOH; brownish in Melzer's reagent. Capillitial threads 2–5 µm wide; walls about 0.5 µm thick; hyaline in KOH; smooth or very minutely pitted; a little narrowed at septa.

Look-Alikes

1. Calvatia fragilis

   Has the same outer appearance as its bigger counterpart; even the interior flesh of both mushrooms can sometimes look and taste the same. The only characteristic in which they differ is the spores. C. fragilis has brown spores whereas C. cyathiformis has purple ones.

2. Lycoperdon utriforme

   Another edible mushroom with round and white caps is similar to puffball mushrooms and comes from the same family of fungi. The main difference is a pear-shaped fruit body and brown spore dust.

3. Scleroderma citrinum

   The differences between the two species are difficult to identify for inexperienced mushroom hunters. The white and smooth caps of both mushrooms fuel confusion. However, S. citrinum has firmer flesh and darker gleba as compared to Calvatia. Mature S. citrinum can also be distinguished from Calvatia as they open into two to release spores. Also, the absence of stem in S. citrinum is another characteristic that makes it stand out.

History

Calvatia cyathiformis was scientifically described by A.P. Morgan and effectively published in 1890. The name Calvatia cyathiformis is of type combination. Calvatia cyathiformis has the status legitimate.

The scientific classification of Calvatia cyathiformis is Fungi, Dikarya, Basidiomycota, Agaricomycotina, Agaricomycetes, Agaricomycetidae, Agaricales, Agaricaceae, Calvatia. For further information, please see A.P. Morgan (1890, p. 168).

Synonyms

1. Calvatia fragilis (Quél.) Morgan, 1890

2. Calvatia cyathiformis (Bosc) Morgan (1890), Journal of the Cincinnati Society of natural history, 12(4), p. 168

3. Calvatia lilacina var. chilensis(Spegazzini) Spegazzini (1926), Boletín de la Academia nacional de ciencias en Córdoba, 29, p. 143

4. Calvatia pseudolilacina (Spegazzini) Spegazzini (1919), Boletín de la Academia nacional de ciencias en Córdoba, 23(3-4), p. 438

5. Lycoperdon chilense Spegazzini (1910), Revista de la Facultad de agronomía y veterinaría, Universidad nacional de La Plata, serie 2, 6(1), p. 12

6. Lycoperdon cyathiforme Bosc (1811), Magazin der Gesellschaft naturforschender freunde zu Berlin, 5, p. 87 (Basionyme)

7. Lycoperdon fragile Vittad., 1843

8. Lycoperdon novae-zelandiae Lév. 1846

9. Lycoperdon pseudolilacinum Spegazzini (1884), Anales de la Sociedad científica Argentina, 17(2), p. 85

10. Utraria fragilis Quél., 1886

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Carlo Brescia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photo 2 - Author: Justin (Tmethyl) (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 3 - Author: John Hill (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 4 - Author: Amanita77 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 5 - Author: Justin (Tmethyl) (CC BY-SA 3.0)