THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 15 



the mature state of the pufifball. In this state, they are, of 

 course, not edible, but the young ones are far different things. 

 Then they are, in shape and appearance much Hke a loaf of 

 half baked bread, the interior flaky white, and looking good 

 enough to eat, as in truth, it is. "No deleterious species of 

 puff-ball is known" writes Dr. Peck, and one may try his taste 

 for fungi upon specimens of this order without fear of evil 

 results. So long as the flesh is perfectly white, it may be 

 eaten. The usual way of preparing it, is to slice thin and fry 

 in butter, although other more elaborate ways of cooking are 

 also practiced. Specimens of the giant puff-ball have been 

 known to reach a diameter of two feet or more. Ordinary 

 specimens are not half so large but a much smaller one will fur- 

 nish a meal for an ordinary family. When one finds one of 

 these large specimens, he may carefully slice off from the top 

 as much as is needed for a meal returning later for a fresh 

 supply. The puffballs are in their prime in late summer and 

 autumn and may be found in fields and thickets. In one genus 

 of puffballs, the spores are ejected through a ragged circular 

 opening at the apex ; in others the apex splits down irregu- 

 larly, allowing the spores to escape. In some places there is a 

 belief to the effect that if the spores are allowed to get into the 

 eyes, blindness will result. A most curious and interesting 

 little species with the look of an ordinary puffball when grow- 

 ing, is the earth star (Gcasfer). It is common in sandy sit- 

 uations. At maturity the outer skin splits downward from 

 the apex into several radiating points which remain attached 

 to the ball at the base. When the day is fine and dry, these 

 points wrap about the ball and the wind can blow it about, 

 disseminating the spores. During wet v\eather. hovv'ever, the 

 rays spread out and thus anchor the plant to the soil until 

 favorable weather comes again. Other species have the rays 

 of the star recurved in such a way that it appears to be stand- 

 ing up on claws. 



