THE "ATROPURPUREUM" SECTION. 



IYCOPERDON ECHIXATUM (Plate 41). Plants obovate 

 or near shape, with slender, white, fibrous roots. Cortex of long black 

 somes 3-4 mm. long, thickened at the base, with cpnniyent at the apex 

 falling off and leaving the peridium reticulate with circles of minute 

 spinules that surround the large spines. Sterile base of large cells 

 Gleba dark, finally purplish. Spores large, 6-7 mic. rough, mixed 

 with fallen pedicels. 



This species is at once and readily recognized by its long, coarse 

 spines such as are found with no other European species. The Ameri- 

 can form has more slender spines. It does not seem as though it could 

 be confused and yet Fries referred Persoon's plant to a variety of 

 Lycoperdon gemmatum (sic.) and redescribed it as Lycoperdon constel- 

 latum. 



Specimens in our Collection. 

 England, Anna L. Smith, Wm. L. \Y. K\ re. 

 France, E. Boudier, X. Gillot, Prof. Lagardc 

 Hungary, L. Hollos. Su'itscrlnnti, Denis Cruchet. 



LYCOPERDON HOYLEI.* This plant agrees with echi- 

 natum in everything excepting that the sterile base is compact and 

 composed of very minute cells. It bears the same relation to echinatum 

 that polymorphum does to spadiceum. \Ye have seen only the type 

 specimen at Kew which was collected in England. 



LYCOPERDOX ATR< tl'UKI'UKKl'.M (Plate 42). Plants 

 varying much in shape and size from little pear shaped specimens an 

 inch in diameter to large turbinate plants with a thick stem.* 

 Sterile base formed of large cells. Cortex on upper portion of fine, 

 stellate, connivent spines about 2 mm. long, usually reduced bclo\v to 

 scattered, furfuraceous spines. The degree of coarseness or fineness of 

 the spines varies in different collections. In old specimens the spines 

 fall off leaving the surface smooth, (ileba varying much according to 

 age, at first olive, then dark umberj finally (if the plant ripens 

 naturally) dark purple. Capillitium colored, branched. Spores large, 

 5-7 mic. rough, mixed with fallen pedicels. 



This is a frequent plant in Europe but varies so much in the 

 cortex nature that ,it has received a number of names. In tracing it 

 back we do not feel as though we can go beyond Vittadini and cer- 

 tainly we can not find a more appropriate name than he applied to it. 



f tProf Patouillard finds about Paris specimens so closely resembling Rulliard's plate of 



Lycoperdon hiemale as to raise the question whether Lycoperdon atropurpureum was not the 

 original of the much discussed and variously interpreted plate. 



,,mt, *V h ! p!ant - ' S Collected before it is fully ripe the gleba never changes beyond the 

 flber state, hence in collections colors of various specimens are found umber and purple that 

 do not seem at first to be the same plant. 



SCharacteristic specimens from Vittadini are found in several of the museums of Europe. 



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