90 THE GASTEROMYCETES OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 



or with a very abrupt, short stem; surface thickly set with white or whitish, rather 

 persistent spines, which are usually convergent at their tips in stellate groups. With 

 age these fall away in part from the top of the plant, but the powdery scurf between 

 them wears away more slowly so that the pale brown inner peridium becomes very 

 tardily smooth. Gleba greenish yellow, then light brownish yellow to brown with a 

 tint of olive. Subgleba quite small but distinct, the compartments of moderate size. 

 Spores (of No. 552) small, spherical, minutely asperulate, 2.6-3.7ju in diameter, 

 averaging about 3.3,u. Capillitium of almost hyaline, sparingly branched, flaccid, 

 septate threads, 3-7// in diameter, averaging about twice the diameter of the spores. 



This little plant has almost the external appearance when immature of L. margi- 

 natum, but averages much smaller and also differs in a strong tendency to crowded 

 growth. The cortex does not flake off as in L. marginatum, but this difference cannot 

 be made out until full maturity. The plants of No. 539 were thought at first to be 

 L. marginatum and were watched for two weeks. As no cracking occurred they were 

 brought in and found to differ from L. marginatum in the color of the spores and the 

 character of the capillitium. In the herbarium at Albany some of Peck's collections 

 labelled L. Wrightii are L. marginatum. As Morgan points out (as L. Curtisii), the 

 thin-walled, collapsing capillitium is a peculiar character. We have examined the 

 co-type of L. Curtisii No. 197 and find the spores to be spherical, minutely rough, 

 3-3. 7/i thick. Morgan treats both L. Wrightii and L. Curtisii, the latter being the plant 

 as we have it. What plant Morgan treated as L. Wrightii we do not know (see Lloyd, 

 Myc. Notes, p. 153). Lycoperdon Wrightii is in reality a synonym of the present 

 species, as shown by the co-type in the Curtis Herbarium (Wright, No. 7; Curtis, No. 

 5633). The spores are spherical, minutely warted, 3-3. 6/x thick. Another collection 

 so labelled in the Curtis Herbarium from New York (Peck) looks like L. pusillum, while 

 still another from New Jersey (Austin) looks like L. marginatum (L. cruciatum), as 

 Lloyd says (Myc. Notes, p. 153). For the distribution of this species see R. E. Fries, 

 I.e., p. 8. 



We have examined a specimen of L. candidum Pers. from Persoon's herbarium, 

 kindly sent us by Miss Cool. The appearance of the cortex is like that of L. Curtisii, 

 and the spores agree in size (3-3. 8/x) but run smoother (pi. 113, fig. 23). The plant 

 seems to be not quite mature, and this may account for the difference. The Lye. 

 candidum of Schweinitz Herbarium as represented in the Michener Herb. (No. 2747) 

 is Bovista plumbea. Lycoperdon candidum (Rostk.) Bon. is a different plant, now 

 put under Cahatia. 



Illustrations: Hard. Mushrooms, fig. 468 (as L. Wrightii). 

 Lloyd. Myc. Works, pi. 63, figs. 1^1 (as L. Wrightii). 

 Morgan. Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist. 14: pi. 2, fig. 4. 



552. In grass on the campus, Oct. 10, 1912. 

 1718. On bare earth in a yard, Sept. 10, 1915. 

 7546. On bank of a ditch in the Arboretum, Oct. 1, 1924. 

 7549. In manured grass on campus, Oct. 2, 1924. 

 AlsoNos. 539, 984, 7151. 



Asheville. Beardslee. 



Linville Falls. Coker and party, Aug. 1922. No. 5760. On ground in a pasture. (U. N. C. 

 Herb.) 



