Lycoperdon LYCOPERDACE^E 475 



threads of capillitium mostly unbranched, slender, 4-5 /x thick, 

 ends tapering, very slightly coloured yellow-brown. The 

 lacunose sterile base not projecting into the Gl. as a Col. 



On the ground among hazel bushes, if X ij in. Whitish outer wall ot 

 peridium peeling off in large flakes as in species of Bovista, exposing the 

 brown, minutely granulated inner Pe. 



2073. L. hiemale Bull, (from its time of growth, winter, hicms) a b c. 

 Pyriform, rarely almost sessile and globoso-depressed. PC. mem- 

 branous, flaccid, white then grey, yellowish or rufescent, stoma 

 irregularly lacerate. Cap. and Spores smoky-yellow to olive- 

 brownish. Sterile base well developed, at first verrucoso- 

 aculeate, elastic-tough with a thick bark. 



Fields, downs, amongst dead leaves. Sept. -Jan. 2^ x 3^ in. 



2074. L. eselatum Bull, (from the large conical warts of the peridium 



as if embossed or carved in bas-relief; ccelum, a sculptor's 



chisel) a b c. 



At first subglobose or pyriform, then depressed, flaccid and 

 ruptured above, contracted below into a short stout tapering 

 stem and more or less covered with large conical warts, whitish 

 or ivory. Cap. and Spores ochreous-olive or opaque yellow- 

 green. Sterile base spongy-cellular. 



Odour disagreeable, musty, mouse-like. Fields, woods, grassy roadsides. 

 May-Oct. 7$ X 6f in. 



2074a. L. depression Bonard. (from the depressed peridium) a. 



Pe. obconical, at first rounded above then flattened, base 

 somewhat plicate, yellowish-white, then greyish-yellow, finally 

 brownish, covered with spinulose warts. Stoma at first well 

 defined, greatly extending with age. Sterile base well developed, 

 separated from the olive Gl. by a diaphragm. 



Commons, woods. Aug. -Oct. ij X l| in. 



2075. L. Bovista L. (from the resemblance to Bovista) a b c. 

 Globose, sessile, usually plicate at base, at first subtomentose 



then smooth and glossy, white, stoma large, irregular. Cap. 

 and Spores dull olive or olive-umber. 



Sometimes grows in rings 30-50 ft. in diam. Edible when young and 

 perfectly white within. Rich pastures, orchards, gardens, roadsides, grassy 

 places. Aug.-Oct. 12x11 in. Popular names "Puff-ball" and 

 "Devil's snuff-box." Modern Greek name " kranion," like a skull. A 

 drawing in British Museum shows a diam. of 18 in. A weight has been 

 recorded of 20 Ibs. An American example has been described with a 

 larger diam. of 5 ft. 4 in. and a lesser of 4 ft. 6 in., height 9^ in. 



2076. L. furfuraeeum Schseff. (from the branny or scurfy peridium ; 

 furfur, bran) a b c. 



Pe. subglobose, passing into a short, stout stem, flaccid above, 

 floccose, white then pale olive-yellowish, base white. Cap. 

 and Spores olivaceous. Sterile base spongy-cellular, white. 



Fields, fallow ground, old walls, about stumps. Sept. if x if in. 



