LYCOPERDON. 31 



On the ground amongst leaves under trees. Peridinni 

 1-2 in. across, superficially resembling L. eckinatum, but dis- 

 tinguished by the very compact bright olive basal stratum. 



Lycoperdon atropurpureum. Vitt. 



Subglobose or pyriform, plicate below, sessile, or the 

 cellular, well-developed, dark-brown sterile stratum con- 

 tinued as a short stem-like base; peridium thin, flaccid, with 

 slender brownish spines which soon fall away towards the 

 apex, dehiscing bj' a small irregular opening at the apex ; 

 mass of spores blackish-purple ; capillitium dense ; spores 

 spherical, warted, 6-7 fx. 



Lycoperdon atrojntrpureum, Cke., Hdbk., n. 1085 ; Mass., 

 Mon. Gast., p. 68, f. 71. 



In woods, size variable, 1-2^ in. across, known from 

 H. echinatum and H. Hoijlei, by the dark- brown sterile base, 

 slender spines, and larger spores. 



Lycoperdon excipuliforme. Scop. 



Subglobose or depressed, sterile basal stratum continued 

 downwards as a stout stem, plicate at the base ; peridium 

 covered with slender spinose warts that soon fall away, 

 leaving the surface tomentose ; mass of spores brownish-olive ; 

 threads of capillitium flexuous, sparingly or not at all 

 branched ; spores globose minutely warted, 4-5 /j.. 



Lycoperdon excipuliforme, Yitt., Mon. Lye. 193; Mass., 

 Mon. Gast., p, 69, f. 64. 



In woods and meadows. From 1—i in. high. Often closely 

 resembling L. saccatum in general appearance, but distin- 

 guished by the sub-simple flexuous threads of the capillitium, 

 and the smaller, minutely warted spores. 



Lycoperdon saccatum. Vahl. 



Spherico-depressed, plicate below, with small spinuloso 

 warts that become smaller downwards, dehiscing by a small 

 apical aperture ; sterile base, porous, convex, passing down- 

 wards as a stout, elongated stem ; mass of spores olivaceous- 

 umber; capillitium dense, threads branched; spores globose, 

 strongly warted, 5-6 /j.. 



Lycoperdon saccatum, Berk., Outl. 302 ; Cke., Hdbk., n. 1087 ; 

 Mass., Mon. Gast., p. 69, f. 60. 



Amongst moss in open woods, &c. From 2-5 in. high. 



