Gastromycetes 



Bovista. Peridium i 2 in. in diameter. I have never succeeded in obtaining 

 an American specimen of this species ; my description is drawn up from 

 European specimens. Morgan. 



Pennsylvania, Mcllvaine. B. nigrescens is a first-class puff-ball. 



B. plum'bea Pers. lead-colored. Peridium ,%-iM in. in diameter, 

 depressed-globose, with a fibrous mycelium. Cortex a thin, smooth, 

 white continuous coat, loosening at maturity and shelling off, except 

 sometimes a small portion about the base; inner peridium thin, tough, 

 smooth, lead-colored, dehiscent at the apex by a round or oblong 

 aperture. Mass of spores and capillitium soft, lax, ochraceous or oli- 

 vaceous, then purplish-brown, the threads .81.0 mm. in extent, three 

 to five times branched, the main stem 12 16/* thick, the ultimate 

 branches long, straight and tapering to a fine point. Spores oval, even, 

 6 7x5 6/A, with long hyaline pedicels. 



Growing on the ground, in meadows and pastures. Morgan. 



Indiana, in abandoned brick-yard, H. I. Miller; West Virginia, New 

 Jersey, Pennsylvania. Common on ground in open places. Solitary 

 or in groups. Spring to autumn; after rains, Mcllvaine. 



Edible. Trelease, BadJiam. 



The botanic difference between a Lycoperdon and a Bovista does 

 not affect the Mycophagist. He can not distinguish the difference when 

 cooked. B. plumbea is given in Cooke and in Massee as Lycoperdon 

 plumbeum. Bovista plumbea is a first-class edible. 



B. mi'nor Morg. (Plate CLXXIX, p. 610.) Peridium subglobose, 

 deeply sunk in the soil and connected with it by a filamentous mycelium, 

 which issues from every part of the surface. Cortex thickish, rough 

 and irregular from the adherent soil, fragile, falling away at maturity, 

 except sometimes a small portion about the base; inner peridium thin, 

 smooth, flaccid, reddish-brown, dehiscent by a regular apical mouth. 

 Mass of spores and capillitium olivaceous, then reddish-brown ; the 

 threads curled and flexuous, with an expanse of 1.0-1.5 mm., two to 

 four times branched, the main stem io-i5/i thick, the ultimate 

 branches very long and tapering to a fine point. Spores globose or 

 slightly oval, even, 3.5-4. $p- in diameter, with long hyaline pedicels. 



Growing in damp shaded situations. Ohio, Morgan; Nebraska, 

 Webber. Peridium %-% of an inch in diameter. A species well 



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