Lycoperdaceae 



globose, even, 4~5/* in diameter, sessile or with only a minute Bovista. 

 pedicel. 



Growing on the ground in woods. 



Peridium iH-2% in. in diameter. 



This Bovista is remarkably tough, it maintains its shape firmly and 

 persists a long time ; it breaks away from its root and rolls about over 

 the old leaves before the wind, even till the following season. Morgan. 



West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, in fields and woods on 

 ground. June to October. Mcllvaine. 



Edible. Trelease. 



When young and fresh it is excellent. 



B. Monta'na Morg. Peridium subglobose with a cord-like root. 

 Cortex a thin white continuous layer, breaking up at maturity into a 

 mealy or furfuraceous coat, which soon falls away; inner peridium thin, 

 flaccid, becoming brown, smooth and shining, dehiscent by an irregular 

 torn aperture about the apex. Mass of spores and capillitium soft, lax, 

 at first ochraceous or pale-brown, finally purplish-brown; the threads 

 curled and flexuous, very large, with an expanse of 1.25-1.75 mm., 

 four to seven times branched, the main stem 1520/1* in thickness, 

 the ultimate branches long and tapering. Spores globose, even, 4.5 

 5.5/1* in diameter, often with a minute pedicel. 



Growing on the ground. Rocky mountains. Jones. Peridium \% 

 2'in. in diameter. This differs from B. pila in being soft, flaccid, and 

 soon collapsing; it, no doubt, is not so persistent. Microscopically it 

 is readily distinguished by its much larger threads. Morgan. 



B. nigres'cens (Vitt.) Pers. blackish. Peridium subglobose, with 

 a fibrous mycelium. Cortex a thin, smooth, white continuous layer, at 

 maturity breaking up into scales, which soon disappear; inner peridium 

 thin, flaccid, becoming dark-brown, smooth and shining, dehiscent at 

 the apex by a lacerate mouth. Mass of spores and capillitium soft, lax, 

 at first ochraceous or olivaceous, at length purplish-brown; the threads 

 flexuous, about. i mm. in extent, three to five times branched, the main 

 stem 12-iS/A thick, the ultimate branches tapering. Spores globose or 

 oval, even, 56/1* in diameter, with long hyaline pedicels. 



Growing in old pastures, in fields and woods. Canada, Saccardo; 

 Pennsylvania, Schweinltz ; North Carolina, Curtis; Ohio, Lea; Cali- 

 fornia, Harkncss. 



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