Lesson CLXXX

Puffballs

Leading thought—The puffballs are fungi that grow from the threads, or mycelium, which permeate the ground or other matter, on which the puffballs grow. The puffballs are the fruiting organs, and “smoke” which issues from them is largely made up of spores, which are carried off by the wind and sown and planted.

Method—Ask the pupils to bring to school any of the globular or pear-shaped fungi in the early stages when they are white, taking pains to bring them on the soil or wood on which they are growing.

Observations—1. Where did you find the puffball? On what was it growing? Were there many growing in company? Remove the puffball, and examine the place where it stood with a lens to find the matted and crisscrossed fungus threads.

2. What is the size and shape of the puffball? Is its surface smooth or warty? What is its color inside and outside?

3. Have you ever found the giant puffball, which may become four inches to four feet through? Where was it growing? Have you ever eaten this puffball sliced and fried? Do you know by the looks of the meat when it is fit to eat?

4. If the puffball is ripe, what is its color outside and in? What is the color of its “smoke?” Does the smoke come out through the broken covering of the puffball, or are there one or more special openings to allow it to escape?

5. Puff some of the “smoke” on white paper and examine it with a lens. What do you think this dust is? Of what use is it to the puffball?

6. Have you ever found what are called earth-stars, which look like little puffballs set in star-shaped cups? If you find these note the following things:

• a. Of what is the star-shaped base made? Was it always there?
• b. Let this star saucer become very dry; how does it act?
• c. Wet it; and how does it behave then?
• d. Where and how does the spore dust escape from the earth-stars?

7. For what medicinal purpose is the “smoke” of the puffball sometimes used?