THE PUFF BALLS 



549 



Lycopcrdon pusillum. Fr. 

 The Small LYcorERDON. Edible. 



Pusillum means small. 



Peridium is one-fourth to one inch broad, globose, scattered or cespitose, 

 sessile, radicating - , with but little cellular tissue at the base, white, or whitish, 

 brownish when old, rimose-squamulose or slightly roughened with minute floccose 

 or furfuraceous persistent, warts ; capillitium and spores greenish-yellow, then 

 dingy olivaceous. Spores smooth zUt in diameter. Peck. 



These are found from June to cool weather in the fall, in pastures where the 

 grass is eaten short. When mature they dehisce by a small opening, and when 

 broken open will disclose the olive or greenish-yellow capillitium. The spores are 

 of the same color, smooth and round. 



Figure 470. Lycoperdon pyriforme. Natural size. 



Lycopcrdon acuminatum. Bosc. 

 Tlie Pointed Lycoperdon. Edible. 



Acuminatum means pointed. 



The peridium is small, round, then egg-shaped ; with a plentiful mass of 

 mycelium in the moss in which the plants seem to delight. The plant is white 

 and the outer rind is soft and delicate. There is no subgleba ; the spores and 



