144 MINOR PRODUCTS OF PHILIPPINE FORESTS 



crons in diameter. The capillitium is rudimentary, irregular and 

 thick. The fungus grows in tufts about the base of a Mtisa and 

 is rather small for eating. 



LYCOPERDON PYRIFORME Schaeff. 



Lijcoperdon pyriforme is pyriform, membranous, 3 to 8 centi- 

 meters high, and rather umbonate. It is dehiscent by a small, 

 torn mouth covered with minute pointed warts, but becoming 

 smooth. The roots are composed of numerous white, long, 

 branching fibers. The threads are thicker than the spores, 

 branched, continuous with the slightly cellular, sterile base, and 

 forming a columella. The spores are olive, smooth, globose, and 

 4 microns in diameter. This puff ball grows on stumps or on 

 the soil and is one of the larger forms. 



Lycoperdon cepiforme Bull., Lycoperdon furfuraceum Schaeff., 

 Lycoperdon polymorphum Vitt., Lycoperdon plicatum Berk, et 

 Curt., Lycoperdon pratense Schum., Lycoperdon roseum Zoll., 

 and Lycoperdon vanderystii Bres. are other forms which are 

 edible, but which are usually small. 



Genus SCLERODERMA 



Peridium firm, corticate, dehiscing irregularly ; flocci adhering 

 everywhere to the peridium and forming minute cells, in which 

 are produced the glomerules of spores, without peridiola; root- 

 ing, but without a distinct stem. 



SCLERODERMA VERRUCOSUM BuU. 



The peridium of Scleroderma vei'rucosum is rounded, at first 

 rigid, and then fragile. It is dehiscent determinately at the 

 apex, covered with an adnate persistent cortex, and is smooth, 

 rather verrucose, areolate, or even, and a dingy yellowish. It is 

 usually produced downwards into a short stipitiform base, or 

 it is sometimes sessile. The gleba is dark purple, and the flocci 

 are lax and a greyish tawny. The spores are at first brownish, 

 then pale purplish, globose, and rough. 



Scleroderma verriicosum is one of the common puff bulls grow- 

 ing in abundance on the soil (fig. 24). 



Scleroderma aurantiacum- Pers., Scleroderma dictyosporum 

 Pat., and Scleroderma vulgare Fr. are other puff balls that may 

 be found growing on the soil. 



PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES 



The edible fungi are not confined to one general group, but 

 range from low forms, the Auriculariaceae, to the higher 

 forms in the Agaricaceae and Lycoperdaceae. These groups 

 include the taingang-dagd or rat's-ear types, the pore fungi, 



