68 



FETCH : 



This species is apparently not common at Peradeniya. 

 It was collected about 1903 by Mr. H. F. Macmillan and 

 sent to Lloyd (Puff Ball Letter 1. p. 1). It was again 

 collected at Peradeniya in October, 1907 (No. 2518), and at 

 Hambantota (dry zone) in April, 1908 (No. 2542). No. 2518 

 is subglobose, has a slight sterile base, and violet-purple 

 gleba ; No. 2542 is turbinate, with a well-developed sterile 

 base, and being immature, the gleba is pale purplish-brown. 



The fungus is at first white and even. As it approaches 

 maturity it shrinks slightly, and the peridium contracts in 

 a series of close-set depressions, each about 1 cm. in diameter. 

 The white outer layer disappears from the ridges and 

 exposes the chocolate -coloured inner layer, so that the 

 peridium becomes tessellated. This feature is clearly 

 marked in both the recent specimens, but a larger series 

 may show that it is not universal. 



Galvatia. 

 Calvatia Gardneri (Berk.). Collected by Gardner (No. 9, May, 

 1844) and first assigned by Berkeley to Lycoperdon saccatum 

 pecades of Fungi, inter 184 et 186). Collected by Thwaites, 

 739 cum icone, and described as Lycoperdon Gardneri in 

 Fungi of Ceylon, No. 716. Lloyd, Puff Ball Letter 2, p. 2, 

 acknowledges specimens from Peradeniya as Calvatia 

 Gardneri. 



Common at Peradeniya and attains a large size. The 

 largest specimen measured was 17 cm. high, 22 cm. across 

 the longer diameter, and 14 cm. along the shorter. I have 

 been given the Tamil name Vannan Pothei Kalan, " Dhoby 

 fungus," for this species, and my informant suggested that 

 it owed its name to a supposed resemblance to dirty soap 

 suds. 



Calvatia Gautieroides B. & Br. Described by Berkeley and 

 Broome in Fungi of Ceylon, No. 718, as Lycoperdon, from 

 Thwaites 1006 cum icone ; the specimens were said to grow 

 on burnt earth, and were collected in the Central Province. 

 Two recent collections have been made. No. 3241, Pera- 

 deniya, October, 1910, and No. 5804, October, 1918. The 

 specimens grew from white, cord-like mycelium overrunning 



