Gastromycetes 



Lycoperdon. branches long, slender and tapering. Spores globose, minutely warted, 

 4-5~5-5/ A in diameter. 



Pei'idium 1-2/2 in. in diameter and 1-2 in. in height. 



The fresh specimens of this plant have a strong and not unpleasant 

 fragrance. 



Growing in low grounds, in fields and woods. September, October. 



L. pulcherrimum is frequent, but not abundant. It ranks with second- 

 class puff-balls. It is good when young and fresh. 



L. COnstella'tlim 



LYCOPERDON CONSTEL- 



LATUM. 



(After Peck.) 



Fr. grouped. Peridilim subglobose or ob- 

 ovate, sometimes depressed, 10-18 lines broad, 

 echinate with rather long stout crowded brown 

 spines which are either straight curved or stel- 

 lately united and which at length fall off and 

 leave the surface reticulate with brown lines ; 

 capillitium and spores brown or purplish-brown, 

 columella present. Spores rough, $-6.$p- in 

 diameter. 



Ground in dense shades and groves. Oneida, 

 Warne. Rare. Autumn. Peck, $2d Rep. N. 

 Y. State Bot. 



Cortex composed of long, slender convergent spines ; denuded 



peridium smooth . 



L. hirtum Mart. hairy. Peridilim broadly turbinate, depressed 

 above, contracted below into a short, thick, tapering or pointed base, 

 with a cord-like root. Cortex a dense coat of soft spines, long, slender 

 and convergent above, becoming shorter downward, gray or brownish 

 in color; these finally fall away, leaving the inner peridium with a 

 brown or purplish-brown, smooth, shining surface. Subgleba occupy- 

 ing from one-third to one-half of the peridium ; mass of spores and 

 capillitium olivaceous, then brownish-purple; the threads branched, the 

 main stem about as thick as the spores, with slender, tapering branches. 

 Spores globose, distinctly warted, 5-6^ in diameter. 



Growing on the ground in woods. Peridilim 1-2 Yz in. in diameter 

 and i^ 2 in. in height. This species in this country heretofore has 

 been included with L. atropurpureum. I have followed Mr. Massee in 



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