BY D. McALPINE. 707 



peridium in old specimens may spread out in lobes after the 

 spores are dispersed, completely exposing the compact sterile 

 base. The spores did not exceed 4 p in diameter. When young and 

 about the size of hazel-nuts, the puff-balls were creamy-white and 

 spiky, and quite firm to the touch, being fixed in the soil by a single 

 distinct root. Then towards maturity they become cinnamon- 

 brown on top, soft and springy to the touch, and the original 

 root has branched considerably, the puff-ball being fixed by a 

 mass of dark-brown root-like fibres. At this stage the spikes 

 can be easily rubbed off, if they do not fall away naturally. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XLVII. 



Ly coper don furfuraceum, Schaeff. 



Fig. 1. — Small puff-ball, with single root springing from base. 



Fig. 2. — Nearly mature puff-balls. 



Fig. 3. — Top of puff-ball showing dehiscence at first. 



Fig. 4. — Outline section showing sterile base. 



Fig. 5.— Threads of capillitium ( x 1000). 



Fig. 6. — Filaments of sterile base ( x 1000). 



Fig. 7. — Group of spores ( x 1000). 



