CHAPTER XIV. 



PUFF-BALLS: LYCOPERDACEAE. 



This is not tiic place tor a discussion ot the ditterent genera of 

 the puff-balls, etc., but it might be well to say that in recent years 

 the old genus Lvcopc}\1nii has been divided into several genera. The 

 giant puff-ball, and the L. cvatliifoimc, where the wall or peridium 

 ruptures irregularly, have been placed in a genus called Calvatia ; 

 certain other species which are nearly globose, and in which the wall 

 is of a paper)' texture at maturity, are placed in the genus Bcrcista ; 

 others which have several openings over the upper surface instead 

 of one, in the genus Mvcoiastnuii. There is one genus belonging 

 to the same family as the lycoperdons, the species of which are very 

 interesting on account of the peculiar way in which the wall is rup- 

 tured. This is the genus Gcastcr, that is, "earth star." The wall, 

 or peridium, is quite thick in the members of this genus, and when it 

 matures it separates into several layers which need not all be dis- 

 cussed here. A thick outer portion which separates from a thinner 

 inner portion further splits radially into several star-like divisions, 

 which spread outward and gi\e to the plant the form of a star. 

 Since the plants lie on the earth the name earth star was applied to 

 them. This opens out in dry weather, even curving around under 

 the plant, so that the plant is raised above the ground. Then in wet 

 weather it closes up again. The inner portion of the wall opens at 

 the apex in \ arious ways, in the different species, so that the spores 

 may escape. 



LYCOPERDON Tourn. 



To this genus belong most of the " puft-balls," as the>' are com- 

 monly called, or, as they are denominated in the South, " Dexil'ssnuff 

 box." All, or a large portion, of the interior of the plant at matur- 

 ity breaks down into a powdery substance, which with the numer- 

 ous spores is very light, and w hen the plant is squeezed or pressed, 

 clouds of this dust burst out at the opening through the wall. The 

 wall of the plant is termed the pcriJiiim. In this genus the wall is 

 quite thin, and at maturity opens differentl\- in different species, hi 

 several species it opens irregularis-, the entire wall becoming ver)- 

 brittle and cracking up into bits, as in the giant puff-ball. In the 



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