Gastromycetes 



(Plate CLXXVIa.) 



GENUS X. BOVISTEL'LA Morg. 



Bovistella. Mycelium cord-like, rooting from the base. Peridium subglobose, 



with a well-developed base; cortex a dense 

 floccose subpersistent coat ; inner peridium 

 thin, membranaceous, dehiscent by a regular 

 apical mouth. Subgleba cellulose, cup-shaped 

 above and definitely limited, persistent; cap- 

 illitium originating within the tissue of the 

 gleba; the threads free, short, several times 

 dichotomously (two-forked) branched, the 

 main stem thicker than the diameter of the 

 spores, the branches tapering. Spores small, 

 globose or oval, even, pedicellate. 



A puff-ball of moderate size, growing in 

 fields and open woods. Morgan. 



SECTION BOVISTELLA 

 OHIENSIS. 



Showing cellulose and defi- 

 nitely limited subgleba and 

 the free threads of the capil- 

 litium. (From Morgan.) 



(Plate CLXXVII.) 



B. Ohien'sis Ellis and Morg. Peridium globose or broadly obovoid, 

 sometimes much depressed, plicate under- 

 neath, with a thick cord-like root. Cortex a 

 dense floccose coat, sometimes segregated 

 into soft warts or spines, white or grayish in 

 color; this dries up into a thick buff-colored 

 or dirty ochraceous layer, which gradually 

 falls away, leaving a smooth, shining, pale- 

 brown or yellowish surface to the inner perid- 

 ium. Subgleba broad, ample, occupying 

 one-half the peridium, a long time persistent; 

 mass of spores and capillitium lax, friable, 

 clay-color to pale-brown; the threads .6-. 8 

 mm. in extent, three to five times branched, 

 the main stem 6-8 p- in thickness, the branches 



tapering. Spores globose or oval, even, 4-5^ in length by 3.5-4A* in 

 breadth, with long hyaline persistent pedicels. 



Growing on the ground in old pastures, in fields and open woods. 

 Morgan. 



This species of puff-ball is made the type of the new genus Bovistella 

 by Mr. Morgan. 



608 



BOVISTELLA OHIENSIS. 

 Natural size. 



