Lycoperdacece 



GENUS IX. LYCOPER'DON Tourn. 



Mycelium fibrous, rooting from the base. Peridium small, globose, Lycoperdon. 

 obovoid or turbinate, with a more or less thickened base; cortex a sub- 

 persistent coat of soft spines, scales, warts or granules; inner peridium 

 thin, membranaceous becoming papyraceous, dehiscent by a regular 

 apical mouth. Morgan. 



When the plant sits (without stem) directly upon the ground or 

 wood it is sessile. The outer layer of the two parts of its covering is 

 the exterior peridium (sometimes spoken of as cortex] . This frequently 

 breaks up into scales, spines, bristles, minute flocculent or powdery 

 masses, and these vary in size and in many species disappear as the 

 plant matures. These are of determining value in several species of 

 Lycoperdaceae, Plants with coarse, long spines are echinate because 

 they bristle. When the spines incline together and form a point they 

 are stellate. Various formations of this outside covering are also called 

 warts. The inner rind or skin is the true peridium. 



The mass of thread-like filaments which fills the interior of the plant 

 is called the capillitium. The filaments are deftly interlaced. At times 

 filaments springing from the base do not interlace with the others ; these 

 are called columellce. These filaments bear the spores the dust which 

 puffs out in such quantity and gives the common name to the plant 

 puff-ball and its Mephistophelean one The Devil's Snuff-box. In 

 some species the filaments at the base of the plant are sterile they do 

 not bear spores. These filaments are more contracted and form the 

 neck, stem or subgleba. The gleba is the upper interior of the plant, 

 in which the spores are contained. See plate CLVI. 



Dehiscent is said of an organ which opens of itself at maturity. A 

 plant is dehiscent at the discharging point of its spores. If this is at 

 the summit it is apically dehiscent. 



The descriptions herein given of American representatives of European 

 species are in many instances those of A. P. Morgan, who has made 

 special study of this genus, and those of Professor C. H. Peck, whose 

 interstate experience acquaints him with every varying form. Mr. Mor- 

 gan has kindly given permission to use his text and drawings. 



No one has yet had reason to doubt the harmlessness of any puff- 

 ball. There are a few I have not eaten, but believing that these will be 

 proven edible, descriptions of all species occurring in America are given. 



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