I.S96] lAlRMAN — PUFF BALLS, SLIMK MOULDS, ETC. 20C) 



137. Lycoperdon hirtum Mart. Peck, 46th Report, page 

 29. Prof. C. H. Peck refers our specimens to this species and says 

 "scarcely different from Lycoperdon atropurpureum Vitt. , with which 

 it was united in my article on U. S. Lycoperdons, excej)t in its 

 cord-like root." Lyndonville. l^ncommon. 



138. Lycoperdon Bovista Linn. Lycoperdon giganteuni 

 Batsch and Lycoperdon Proteus Sow. are synonyms. Peck, 23rd 

 Report, page 53. Trelease, loc. cit., p. 113. E.xcellendy illustrated 

 in Peck, 23rd Rep., Plate I., Fig. i. Also fig. in Wood's "Refer- 

 ence Handbook," vol. 3, fig. 1373, and in Rep. Dep't of Agric. , 

 1885, Plate II., PMg. II, Everywhere known as Giant Puff Ball. In 

 pastures and along fences, often attaining a large size. Taylor, Rejx 

 U. S. Agric. Dept. says it grows "in great abundance on Genesee 

 Flats in Livingston County, New York." Said by mycologists from 

 all countries to l)e edible when young, white and creamy. Thus, 

 Vittadini from Italy sings its praises. Zopf from Germany says 

 " essbar und wohlschmeckend." (Die Pilze, p. 371.) Cooke, an 

 English authority, says it is an excellent addition to the breakfast 

 table, and Peck, N. Y. State Botanist in 23rd Report says " its edible 

 ciualities have been by no means overestimated." A more extended 

 notice of this Put^' Ball may be found in Prof. Peck's article on 

 " Edible and Poisonous P\mgi of N. Y." in the 48th Report, and a 

 fine full page plate illustrating this species accompanies the article. 

 The smoke of burning Puff Balls is used for stupefying bees. For 

 their hemostatic and ana:^sthetic properties the reader may consult the 

 " National Dispensatory," Art. Lycoperdon. 



MYXOMYCETES (Link) DeBary. 



(Slime Moulds.) 

 B. SAPROPHYTES. 



a. With free spores, - - . . Exospore^. 



d. .Spores in receptacles, or sporangia, - Myxogastres. 



Sub-Class EXOSPOREiC Rost. 



Ceratiomyxa Schroter. 



139- Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa (Miill. ) Macbride. Mac- 

 bride, N. A. Myx., page 18, plate I., figs. 7 and 7 a. Ceratium 

 hydnoides A. and S. in Peck's 26th Rep., Page 78. Common on 

 moist, rotting wood. 



