Calvatia cyathiformis
J. Cincinnati Soc. Nat. Hist. 12(4): 168. 1890.
Common Name: Purple-spored puffball
Scattered to gregarious, occasionally in fairy rings in pastures and other grassy areas. Fairly common in the fall, rather rare in the winter.
Edible and reputed to be quite good when young and white inside. We have not tried it.
The purplish spore mass of the mature puffball make this species easy to identify.
Bates, S.T. (2004). Arizona members of the Geastraceae and Lycoperdaceae (Basidiomycota, Fungi). Masters Thesis. Arizona State University: Tempe, AZ. 445 p.
Calonge, F.D. (1998). Flora Mycologica Iberica. Vol. 3. Gasteromycetes, I. Lycoperdales, Nidulariales, Phallales, Sclerodermatales, Tulostomatales. J. Cramer: Berlin, Germany. 271 p.
Coker, W.C. & Couch, J.N. (1974). The Gasteromycetes of the Eastern United States and Canada. Dover Publications, Inc: New York, NY. 201 p.
Smith, A.H. (1951). Puffballs and Their Allies in Michigan. University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor, MI. 131 p.
Zeller, S.M. (1947). More notes on Gasteromycetes. Mycologia 39: 282-312.
Zeller, S.M. & Smith, A.H. (1964). The genus Calvatia in North America. Lloydia 27: 148-180.
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