Calvatia cyathiformis (Bosc) Morgan
J. Cincinnati Soc. Nat. Hist. 12(4): 168. 1890.

Common Name: Purple-spored puffball

• Habitat

  Scattered to gregarious, occasionally in fairy rings in pastures and other grassy areas. Fairly common in the fall, rather rare in the winter.

• Edibility

  Edible and reputed to be quite good when young and white inside. We have not tried it.

• Comments

  The purplish spore mass of the mature puffball make this species easy to identify.

• References

  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.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
• Darvin DeShazer: Calvatia cyathiformis (CP)
• Darvin DeShazer: Calvatia cyathiformis (CP)
• Darvin DeShazer: Calvatia cyathiformis (CP)
• Darvin DeShazer: Calvatia cyathiformis (CP)
• Michael Wood: Calvatia cyathiformis (CP)
• MushroomExpert.com: Calvatia cyathiformis (D & CP)
• Indiana Mushrooms: Calvatia cyathiformis (CP)
• AmericanMushrooms.com: Calvatia cyathiformis (CP)
• Arora (1986): p. 687 ( & CP)
• Lincoff: p. 822 (D), pl. 653 (CP)
• Miller: sp. 358 (D& CP)
• Miller & Miller: p. 459 (D & CP)
• Orr & Orr: p. 112 (D)
• Phillips: p. 282 (D & CP)



(D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)