Stalked Puffball-in-aspic Calostoma cinnabarina Desv.Stalked Puffball-in-aspic. Fruit body a round, bright red spore sac, covered with a thick clear jelly and raised up on a spongy red stem. Spore sac has an outer wall which splits apart, leaving bright red fragments in the jelly at the base of the fungus; the inner spore sac is pale yellow dusted with a bright red powdery coating, 1-2cm across with a bright cinnabar-red apical opening in the shape of a cross. Protruding from the ground at first, it will slowly be raised up on a sponge-like short stem, 15-30 x 10-15mm, pale cinnabar red. Spores elliptical, pitted, creamy yellow, 14-20 x 6-9µ. Habitat on soil, especially stream banks, pathsides. Found throughout eastern and southeastern North America. Season April-May, September-October. Edibility not known. Comment This remarkable species is very easily distinguished, looking rather like a small red tomato surrounded by jelly and red pips.