Calvatia craniiformis (Schwein.) Fr.

Filed As

Gasteroid agarics
Calvatia craniiformis (Schwein.) Fr.

Collector(s)

J. E. Walsh 56, 29 Sep 2007

Location

United States of America. Missouri. Saint Charles Co. Jones, Confluence Pointe State Park.

Habitat

bottomland - river. Moisture conditions: extremely dry. soil - sandy.

Description

spore length: 2.5 - 4.5 microns; spore width: 2.5 - 3 microns; spore shape: round with a short blunt peg; spore texture: smooth; spore color: n/d; spore print color: yellow-brown. In St. Louis County, this species grows mostly in semi-open areas in oak-hickory-cedar woods, and on rich humus soil of bottom land forests. They grow to large size and have a very conspicuous skull-like shape. When sectioned in half, the bottom half of the mushroom is clearly seen as a sterile cup-like structure with few or no spores. The fresh mushroom is white inside, and I have eaten it fried in batter like pancakes or French toast. It seems slightly acrid, not really pleasant. Spores are a rich yellow-brown color. Under a microscope, can clearly see that several (not all) of the spores are round, smooth, and a few have a tiny ''spike-like'' stump ''that is easy to see once the observer knows what to look for.'' The mature specimen over-winters, and produces dense clouds of yellow-brown spores when stepped upon. A.k.a. Skull-shaped puffball. Close examination by Dr. Methven (see annotation above) combined with the 2015 DNA analysis confirmed that this specimen is Calvatia craniformis.

Identifiers

NY Barcode: 03817699

Occurrence ID: abce613c-268b-4785-9ad5-546ed8e08ab6

Feedback

Send comments on this specimen record