552 



MUSHROOMS, EDIBLE AND OTHERWISE 



Bovista plumb ca. Pcrs. 

 Lead-Colored Bovista. Edible. 



The plant is small, never growing to more than an inch and a fourth in di- 

 ameter. The peridium is depressed globose, with a fibrous mycelium. The outer 

 peridium is rather thick and when the plant is nearing maturity it breaks up readily 

 unless handled very carefully ; at maturity it scales off, except a small portion 

 about the base. The outer peridium is white and comparatively smooth, the 

 inner is thin, tough, smooth, lead-colored, dehiscent at the apex by a round or 

 oblong mouth. Mass of spores and capillitium not solid or hard ; yellowish-brown, 

 or olivaceous, then purplish-brown ; the threads three to five times branched, the 

 ends of the branches slender and tapering to a point. The spores are oval and 

 smooth, with long transparent pedicels. 



This species grows on the ground in old pastures, being quite plentiful after 

 warm rains, from the first of May till fall. It is one of the best of the puffballs. 

 but should be eaten before the inner peridium begins to assume the tough form. 



Figuer 472. Bovista plumbea. Natural size. White when young. 



Bovistella. Morgan. 



Bovistella, a diminutive of Bovista, though the plants are usually larger than 

 the Bovistas. 



The mycelium, is cord-like ; peridium nearly round, cortex a dense floccose 

 coat ; inner peridium thin, strong, elastic, opening by an apical mouth ; subgleba 

 present, cup-shaped ; threads free and separate, branched ; spores white. The 

 genus Bovistella has the internal character of Bovista, and the habits of Lycoperdon. 



