92 THE GASTEROMYCETES OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA 



maturation. There is no breaking away of a superficial part. At maturity a small 

 apical pore is formed. 



Spores color of the gleba, spherical, 3.2-4.3/j. thick, with rather thick wall, a distinct, 

 small mucro and a large oil drop, quite smooth in some plants, in others with the walls 

 faintly warted or pitted, appearing radially striate. Outside of the main brownish 

 wall a faint hyaline coat may be seen under high power. Basidia (of No. 5211) short- 

 clavate, stout, 4.5-5.5 x 9-1 In, with 4 or in many cases only 2 long sterigmata visible 

 at one time. CapiHitium color of the gleba and composed of long, delicate, branched 

 threads that are attenuated at the ends and are about the width of the spores, some up 

 to 6.5^i thick; walls more or less pitted, the larger threads usually more pitted than the 

 smaller ones. 



This is a rather common little plant in Chapel Hill in open places, fields and yards. 

 It is a puzzling species due to variation in the spores which is not associated with any 

 other character we can make out, such as size, subgleba or surface. The capillitium is 

 the same in all. None of our plants has a subgleba. 



Some collections that we are retaining in L. pusillum are intermediate between that 

 and L. oblongisporum, as No. 5211, which has spores that are mostly oval and pointed 

 toward the mucro, smooth to very minutely punctate. 



98. In grass on ground in cemetery, Nov. 10, 1911. Spores minutely asperulate. 

 2209. On bare soil under cedars, June 23, 1916. Spores 3. 2-4.3^. 

 5202. On ground among grass and moss, June 19, 1922. Spores 3.2-4.2^ thick, all minutely spiny 



and only a few with a mucro. 

 5390. Sandy old field, July 23, 1922. Spores appear smooth in water even when magnified 2160 times; 



warted, however, under same magnification when nearly dry. 

 Also Nos. 1003, 1025, 3268, 5211. 



Asheville. Beardslee, coll. 



South Carolina. Ravenel, coll. (N. Y. B. G. Herb.). Spores smooth, 3.4-4^ thick. 



Florida. Gainesville. Couch, coll. (U. N. C. Herb., Nos. 7256-7259, 7264, 7265). Spores (of No. 

 7259) smooth or nearly so, 3. 5-4. 2m thick, with a mucro. 



New Jersey. Newfield. Ellis, coll. (N. Y. B. G. Herb, and U. N. C. Herb.). Spores spherical, 

 minutely warted, 3.5-3.8/1. 



New York. Newcomb. House, coll. (Herb. N. Y. St. Mus. and U. N. C. Herb.). Spores minutely 

 rough, 3.6-4/i. 



Wisconsin. Blue Mounds. (Univ. Wis. Herb, and U. N. C. Herb.) Spores smooth or nearly so, 

 3.4-3.8/1. 



North Dakota. Kulm, Aug. 1909. Brenckle's Fungi Dakotenses No. 93 (Path, and Myc. Herb., as 

 L. cepaeforme). In size some of these specimens approach L. cepaeforme, but there is no sub- 

 gleba. Spores spherical or subspherical, 3.5-3. 8^, smooth, usually with a mucro. Capil- 

 litium rather pale and irregular, encrusted, up to 7.4ju thick. 



Pacific Coast near Canadian boundary. Dearness, No. 5550. (U. N. C. Herb.) Spores minutely 

 warted, 3.5-4.2/i. 



Lycoperdon polymorphum Vitt. 

 L. cepaeforme Bull. 



Plate 113 



Plants subglobose, often contracted into a stalk-like base, and characteristically 

 with a conspicuous, stout root which may ramify in the earth and connect individuals 

 of a group; size variable, 1.3-3.5 cm. broad and up to 4.5 cm. high. Peridium in the 



