TAB. CCCXXXI. 



LYCOPERDON Bovista. Linn. ed. 13. /. 2. p. 726. 

 • GLOBosuM. JVitb. ed. 3. v. 4. p. 382. 



W E believe this is fomewhat lefs common than 

 Lycoperdon Proteus^ with which it has been confounded. 

 It is moft frequent in its fmall ftate, and may gene- 

 rally be known by its globofe llru6lure, fmoothiflii 

 furface, and light colour; the whole forming a fimple 

 covering to the white cottony fubllance within ; 

 which fubitance, in an advanced age, becomes a mafs 

 of finely entangled fibres of a dark colour, holding 

 an immenfe quantity of extremclj^ fubtile and fine 

 powder, we prefume the feeds. The covering too 

 becomes dark, more or lefs of a brownifii fiate colour, 

 of a filky luftre, and ftiff fattiny texture. Small 

 plants in this ftate have been called Lycoperdon ardofa- 

 ceum by Bull. 192. and With. 383. 1 have found this plant 

 in Kenfington Gardens and other places, from the fize 

 of a pea to twenty or tbirty inches in circumference. 

 It has the fame number of fkins as Lycoperdon Proteus^ 

 but the outer one never fo rough ; which will help to 

 diftinguifli it, as well as its being deititute of the 

 cellular part at the bale. A fmall figure of this is 

 called Lycoperdon gigajiteum by Batfch, p. I'^f. 165. 



TAB. CCCXXXII. 

 LYCOPERDON Proteus. 



jtV name quite applicable to this fpecies. Its man}' 

 fliapes are hardly to be defer ibed. It is fometimes 

 globofe, like the laft, and refembles it fo much that 

 they have been generally confounded. However, the 

 outer fkin in the prefent is generally rougher, and 

 commonly forms wooWy Jlelhe, more or lefs regular, 

 whence Bulliard's Lycoperdon calatum\ his Lycoperdon 

 Bovijia, tab. 447, being the fame, with they?^//^? wafhed 

 or worn oif, and its general form rounder, refembling 

 the true Lycoperdon Bovi/Ia. The lower part of this plant 

 conititutes its moft diftinguilliing character, being 

 always cellular, which is not the cafe with the other, 

 though this ftru6lure is not to be feen in its younger 

 llate. Its feldom being merely globular will help to 

 diftinguilh it. It is fometimes bottle-fiiaped, whence 

 Bulliard's Lycoperdon utriforme, pi. 450. It is alfo occa- 

 fionally Ihaped like a pear or an onion, whence 

 Lycoperdon pyriforme and Lycoperdon cepcvforme of 

 the fame author. We have alfo feen it branching 

 and inofculating. The cellular part often grows 

 out into a long Jlipes^ whence Bulliard's Lycoperdon 



