THE PUFF BALLS 



555 



short, three to five times branching- ; branches tapering to the end. The spores are 

 round to oval, with long translucent pedicels. 



This can be readily distinguished from the species of Bovista because it has 

 a sterile base ; and from Lycoperdon because its threads are separate and free, 

 while those of the Lycoperdon are attached both to the tissues of the inner peridium 

 and to the columella or sterile base. 



They are found growing on the ground in old pastures, or in open woods. 



Scleroderma. Pcrs. 



Scleroderma is 

 from two Greek 

 words : scleros, 

 hard ; derma, skin. 



The peridium is 

 firm, single, gener- 

 ally thick, usually 

 bursting irregular- 

 ly, and exposing 

 the gleba, which is 

 of uniform texture 

 and consistency. 

 There is no capil- 

 litium, but yellow 

 flocci are found in- 

 terspersed with the 

 spores. The spores 

 are globose, rough, 

 usually mixed with 

 the hyphse tissue. 



Scleroderma aur'an- 

 tium. Pers. 



The .Common 



Scleroderma. 



Edible. 



Aurantium means 

 colored like an or- 

 ange. This is usu- 

 ally called S. vul- 

 gare. The peridium 



Figure 475. Scleroderma aurantium. 



