Nortli .hiiriicaii /''/o/^i. 145 



a. PeridiiDii 'u'it/i an irregular lacerate mouth, the 

 spores sessile. 



1. B. piLA, B. (S: C. Peridiuin globose or o])ovoid, with a 

 stout cord-like root. Cortex a thin, white, smooth continuous 

 coat, breaking up at maturity into minute scales, which soon 

 disappear; inner peridium thickish, tough, rigid, becoming- 

 brown or pnr])lish-lirovvn, smooth and shining, a long time 

 persistent, and finally, with age, often fading to silvery-gray; 

 dehiscence taking place at length by an irregular torn aperture 

 at or about the apex. Mass of spores and cai)illitium very 

 firm, compact and persistent, at first clay-colored pale-brown 

 or olivaceous, at length dark or purplish-brown ; the threads 

 rather small, .6-. 8 mm. in extent, three to five times branched, 

 the main stem 12-15 mic. thick, the ultimate branches rigid, 

 nearly straight, tapering to a fine point ; spores globose, 

 even, 4-5 mic. in diameter, sessile or with only a minute 

 pedicel. 



Growing on the ground in woods. New England, Humph- 

 rey ; New York, Peck: Pennsylvania, Gentry; Ohio, Jl/oroan. 

 Wright; Wisconsin, Lapham, Trelease : Iowa, McBride. 

 Peridium i3^-2j^ inches in diameter. This Bovista is re- 

 markably tough, it maintains its shape firmly and persists a 

 long time ; it breaks aw^ay from its root and rolls about over 

 the old leaves before the wind even till the following season. 

 There is nothing in the description of B. stuppea, Berk., to 

 separate it from this species; B. tabaciua, Sacc, is said to be 

 this same thing. Mycenastrum Oregonense, E. & E., was 

 founded on specimens of this pufFball. 



2. B. MONTANA, Morg. n. sp. Peridium subglobose with 

 a cord-like root. Cortex a thin white continuous layer, break- 

 ing up at maturity into a mealy or furfuraceous coat, which 

 soon falls awa}- ; inner peridium thin, flaccid, becoming brown, 

 smooth and shining, dehiscent by an irregular torn aperture 

 about the apex. Mass of spores and capillitium soft, lax, at 

 first ochraceous or pale-brown, finally purplish-brown ; the 

 threads curled and flexuous, verj' large, with an expanse of 

 1. 25-1. 75 mm., four to seven times branched, the main stem 

 15-20 mic. in thickness, the ultimate branches long and taper- 

 ing; spores globose, even, 4.5-5.5 mic. in diameter, often wath 

 a minute pedicel. 



