Eaa) 
VII. An Efay towards an Hiffory of the Britifh Stellated Lycoperdons : 
being an Account of Juch Species as bave been found in the Neighbour- 
hood of Bungay, in Sufolk. By Thomas Fenkinfon Woodward, Efq. 
PS. 
Read April 5, 1791. 
INTRODUCTION. 
HE Stellated Lycoperdons are undoubtedly to be confidered 
as fome of the moft curious plants in the whole order of 
Fungi, both as to their external appearance, and their mode of 
vegetation. And as the author of this Effay has been in the habit 
of making obfervations upon them for feveral years, and has had 
an opportunity of thoroughly examining them in all the ftages of — 
their growth; the ftellatum Linn. and its fuppofed varieties being 
very common, and the other fpecies by no means uncommon in 
this neighbourhood; he thinks an account of his obfervations 
may not be unacceptable to the Linnean Society: the more efpe- 
cially as he hopes to be able to throw fome new light upon the fub- 
ject of thefe curious, and, in general, fcarce plants; and to correct 
Íome errors which have been made public relating to them. 
I. It appears very extraordinary that thefe plants fhould have 
been totally overlooked by the older authors, no notice being taken 
of any of them in Bauhin's Pinax; though the common puff-ball 
(Lycoperdon bovifta Linn.) is there mentioned. Tournefort, Inft. 
R. H. 563, mentions one fpecies, quoted from Boccone's Mufeum, 
and has figured it t. 331; but this figure reprefents an old and 
decayed 
