142 MINOR PRODUCTS OF PHILIPPINE FORESTS 



and subacute at both ends. The spores are variable, com- 

 monly 10 by 7 microns. The largest are 13 to 15 by 7.5 to 

 9 microns and hyaline. The stipe is 10 centimeters or less high, 

 1 centimeter thick, firm, equal or somewhat thickened downward, 

 with an axial canal. It is white or pale brown, and naked. 

 The ring is movable, or half fixed, entire, with a dark brown mar- 

 gin. The fungus has been observed growing around Pithecolo- 

 bium and Terminalia. 



Lepiota cepaestipes (Sow.) Quel., Lepiota pulcherrima Graff, 

 Lepiota revelata B. et Br., and Lepiota sulphopenita Graff are 

 other edible species. They have the general external characters 

 of the other described forms. 



Family LYCOPERDACEAE 



Genus LYCOPERDON 



Peridium membranaceous, single, the subpersistent cortex 

 becoming broken up into warts or spines, dehiscing by a small 

 apical mouth, or the whole of the upper part evanescent, capil- 

 litium dense, springing from the more or less developed sterile 

 basal stratum; spores globose or elliptical, externally rough or 

 smooth. 



The Lycoperdons are commonly called puff balls. All species 

 are non-poisonous, but some are unsavory. 



LYCOPERDON LILACINUM (Mont, et Berk.) Speg. 



Lycoperdon lilacinum is broadly obovate or turbinate, 5 

 to 10 centimeters high, 5 to 8 centimeters broad (Fig. 23). It 

 is contracted below into a stout, cellular, stem-like base. The 

 peridium is thin and evanescent above, dehiscing by large irreg- 

 ular opening. The cortex is white, polished, and breaking 

 away in papery patches. The threads are thinner than the dia- 

 meter of the spores. The spores are violet with a tinge of 

 ochre, echinulate, globose, and measure 6 microns. The fungus 

 grows on the ground and is the largest edible form. 



LYCOPERDON PUSILLUM Batsch. {Lycoperdon todayense Copel.) 



Lycoperdon pusillum has a peridium that is obovate, or 

 pyriform, 1 to 2 centimeters in height, and 1 to 1.5 centimeters 

 in thickness. It is plicate at the base, entire above, and clothed 

 when young with deciduous warts or flakes which are hyaline 

 when moist, later finely and obscurely areolate. They are white 

 at first, turning yellow, and opening by a small aperture at the 

 top. The fertile gleba is very distinct from the sterile. The 

 base is cellular. The spores are globose, smooth, 3.5 to 4 mi- 



