Mushroom Identification 1

            
Calvatia Cyanthiformis 

Puffball Mushroom

 

Name: Calvatia Cyanthiformis
Common name: Purple spored puffball

 Family:  Lycoperdaceae

Collection Date:10/22/16

Habitat: Terrestrial. Mostly found in prairie or grassland in North America.

Location: James H. Barrow Field Station

Description:Mature mushroom. Active spores that release upon touch. Peridium is thick. Inside is chocolate brown color.

Key used: David Arora, 1986, Mushrooms Demystified

 

Keying Steps: 

1. Determined to be basidiomycota.

2. Due to pear shape, spores bound inside; determine it was a puffball.

3. Skin not exposed and fruiting body not splitting into starlike rays.

4. Spore mass not containing peridioles and if so, they are larger than a grain of sand. 

5. Spores located in single large chamber (spore case).

6. Powdery spore case.

7. Not underground, fruiting body not thick skinned. 

8. Spore mass not containing prominent veins or cords running through it. 

9. Sterile base present.

10. Fruiting body small to large, rupturing irregularly or through tears or general disintegration. 

Calvatia 

1. Sterile base present but small often not chambered

2. No large warts.

3. Not stained yellow on surface of fruiting body.

4. No reddish spots when fresh.

5. Spore mass purple, commonly found on grass. 

Calvatia Cyanthiformis 

 

Figure 1: Gleba under dissecting scope. Notice small spores clustered into gleba. Typical of a puffball.

 

Figure 2: Fruiting body of puffball mushroom. Notice dark purple-brown color, pear shape and coloration indicative of mature body.