REPORT OF THE BOTANIST 65 
Section II. Proteoides. Peridiwm opening by a small apical aperture, 
persistent. Colwmella generally present. 
In this section the species are more numerous than in the preceding, 
and the plants are generally more abundant, but they do not attain such 
large dimensions. The peridium persists for a long time, and as its aperture 
is very small, its capillitium and spores are not so soon dispersed. In some 
of the species there are larger deciduous warts or spines interspersed among 
smaller and more persistent ones; in others, all are nearly equal and persist- 
ent ; in a few, all are deciduous. 
* Spores purple-tinted, intermingled with short fragmentary slender 
jilaments. 
LyYcoPERDON CONSTELLATUM Fr. RericuLATE PUFF-BALL. 
Peridium subglobose or obovate, sometimes depressed, 10’—-18” broad, 
echinate with rather long stout crowded brown spines which are either 
straight curved or stellately united and which at length fall off and leave 
the surface reticulate with brown lines; capillitium and spores brown or 
purplish-brown, columella present ; spores rough, .0002—.00025' in diameter, 
Ground in dense shades and groves. Oneida. Warne. Rare. Autumn. 
I am not aware that this species has been found in any other locality in 
the State. I have seen the dried specimens only, but Mr. Warne informs 
me that the fresh plants do not differ essentially in color from the dried ones. 
These are of a cervine or dull-brown color, closely resembling the hue of the 
dead and fallen Jeaves among which they appear to have grown. ‘They are 
about an inch across, and very rough or shaggy, with crowded stout spines. 
When these have fallen, the surface is reticulated by a network of minutely 
warted brown lines, a character by which the species is readily distinguished. 
LYCOPERDON ATROPURPUREUM Vitt. PURPLE-SPORED PUFF-BALL. 
Peridium globose depressed-globose or obovate, 6 /—30'' broad, generally 
narrowed below into a short stem-like base, white cinerous or brownish, 
mealy-spinulose hairy-spinulose echinate or stellately echinate, when denuded 
smooth and subshining; capillitium and spores finally purplish-brown, colu- 
mella present ; spores rough, .0002’—.00025' in diameter. 
Sandy pastures, woods and bushy places. Common. August—October. 
Albany, Sandlake, Gansevoort, Brewerton, Catskill Mountains and Helder- 
berg Mountains. 
This appears to be one of the most polymorphous species we have. It is 
so variable that I have been obliged to modify the usual description very 
much, in order to include forms which are quite diverse, yet which appear to 
me to run together in such a way that | am unable to draw any satisfactory 
line of distinction between them. The following is the usual description of 
the Manuals: 
“ Peridium flaccid, dingy-rufous, opening by a minute obtuse mouth ; bark 
at first rough, with minute spines; sterile base cellular, continuous with the 
eapillitium ; spores largish, pedicellate, brown-purple, echinulate.” 
I do not find the spores in our plant truly pedicellate ; but in all the forms 
which I have referred to this species, as well as in all the species of this sub- 
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