8 



Figs. 7. and 8. — Lycoperdon cyathiforme Bosc. ^'Gup-shaped Paff-BalV 



Synonyms — L. fragile Vitt. L. albopurpureum Frost. 



Plant nearly globose, with a short, thick, stem-like base, color varying, 

 cinereous, brown, tinged with violet. 



Rind or peridium smooth, or minutely floccose, scaly in the mature 

 plant, cracking into somewhat angular areas, the upper portion finally 

 falling away in fragments, leaving a wide cup- shaped base, with irregular 

 margin, which remains long after the dispersion of the spores and capil- 

 litium. This basal portion is often tinged with the purplish hue of the 

 spores. Sj)ores rough, jDurplish-brown. Caj)illitium same color as the 

 spores. 



Lycoperdon cyathifoi-ine is a more common species than L. giganteam, 

 and is deemed quite equal to the latter in flavor. The plants are of good 

 size, being from 4 to 10 inches in diameter. 



They are frequently found in o^Den fields and grassy places after electric 

 storms. When sliced and fried in egg batter, they taste much like the 

 giganteum or giant puff-hall. 



A puff-ball which is not inferior to either of the two last-named species, 

 though not as large, and perhaps not as abundant as either, is the Lyco- 

 perdon saccatum of Fries, sometimes called the " Long-stemmed puff- 

 ball," because of its elongated stem. 



The plants of this species are attractive in appearance, usually hemis- 

 pherical, or lentiform in shape, with cylindrical stem-like base. The pe- 

 ridium is thin and delicate, breaking into fragments ; creamy white in the 

 young stage, and clothed with delicate warts, so minute as to give the 

 surface a soft mealy apj)earance, the under surface somewhat plicate. 

 Capillitium sub-persistent and dense. Both spores and capillitium 

 brown. 



LYCOPEKDACEiE. 



Genus Bovista Dill. Peridium papery (or sometimes corky), persist- 

 ent ; the outer rind, sometimes called the bark, quite distinct from the 

 inner, at length shelling off. Capillitium sub-compact, equal, adnate to 

 the peridium on all sides ; spores pedicillate, brownish. 



Figs. 9 and 10. — Bovista plumbea Pers. Lead-Colored Bovista. 



Plant small, spherical, having a double shell or peridium, the inner one 

 white and the outer one smooth and greyish lead-color or bluish-grey, and 

 shelling off at maturity. AVhen young the interior is filled with a creamy 

 white substance. This soon begins to disintegrate, and, as the spores 

 mature, changes to a mass of dusty brown spores and threads. When 

 the spores are ready for dissemination a small aperture appears in the top 

 of the peridium, through which they push their way outwards like a little 

 puff' of smoke. 



When young, and while the flesh is white throughout, the plant is 

 edible, although so small that it would take a quantity to make a good 



