THE PUFFBALLS 



565 



rest upon the ground, holding- the inner ball from the ground. In dry weather the 

 soft gelatinous lining becomes hard and the segments curve in and clasp the inner 

 ball. Hence its name, "hygrometricus," a measurer of moisture. The plant is 

 quite general. 



Photo by C. G. Lloyd. 

 Figure 483. Geaster hygrometricus. Natural size. 



Geaster Archeri. Berk. 



Young plant acute. Exoperidium cut beyond the middle into seven to nine 

 acute segments. In herbarium specimens usually saccate but sometimes revolute. 

 Mycelial layer closely adherent, compared to previous species relatively smooth. 

 As in the previous species the mycelium covers the young plant but is not so 

 strongly developed, so that the adhering dirt is not so evident on the mature plant. 

 Fleshy layer when dry, thin and closely adherent. Endoperidium globose, sessile. 

 Mouth sulcate, indefinite. Columella globose-clavate. Capillitium thicker than 

 the spores. Spores small, 4 mc. almost smooth. Lloyd. 



I "first found the plant in the young state. The acute point, which will be seen 

 in the photograph, puzzled me. I marked the place where it grew and in a few 

 days found the developed Geaster. The plant is reddish-brown and it differs from 

 other species "with sulcate mouths, in its closely sessile endoperidium." I have 

 found the plant several times in Hayne's Hollow, near Chillicothe. I found it in 

 the tracks of decayed logs. 



The plant has been called Geaster Morganii in this country but had previously 

 been named from Australia. 



