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a. Peridium stiptate. 



Endoperidium persistent, adnata to the stipe, papery or coriaceous, 

 with an osculum at the apex of the peridium, but the osculum 

 sometimes wanting and the peridium then irregularly dehiscent 

 at the apex Tylostoma 



Both exo- and endoperidia present at first, the exoperidum finally 

 spHtting and falling away ; gleba contained in a sac suspended 

 in the interior and from the apex of the endoperidium ; osculum, 

 closed with bright colored squamules. Calosioma [Mitretnyces) 



b. Peridium sessile. 



Outer peridium stellately ruptured at maturity ; inner peridium 

 usually with a regular osculum, rarely irregularly dehiscent, con- 

 taining the spores ; threads of the capillitium simple, tapering 

 to each extremity Geaster 



B. Peridium thin, sessile or with the outer portion drawn out in a 

 stipe-like form ; gleba hardly cavernous ; capillitium floccose 



Subfam. Lycoperdeae 



Peridium never with a thickened sterile base, membranaceous, even, 

 subglobose ; spores with long pedicels ; threads of capillitium 

 short, free, several times dichotomously branched Bovista 



Peridium large, breaking up into fragments from above downward, 

 and gradually falling away, drawn out in a stipe-like base ; 

 threads of capillitium long, branched, interwoven Calvatia 



Peridium membranaceous, usually obovate or pyriform, with outer 

 surface usually aculeate or warted \ gleba with a thick, sterile 

 base ; spores only rarely with long pedicels ; capillitium long, 

 slender, simple or branched .... Lycoperdon 



C. Peridium thick, coriaceous, sessile or stiptate ; gleba cavernous 



Subfam. Sclerodermeae 



Peridium sessile or subsessile, very thick-walled, dehiscent in a 

 stellate manner or irregularly ; spores globose ; capillitium rudi- 

 mentary Scleroderma 



