THE "POLYMORPHUM" SECTION. 



LYCOPERDON POLYMORPHUM (Plates 34 and 52). 

 Plants belong to the yellowish series, varying much in the develop- 

 ment of the sterile bases. There exists a continuous series from plants 

 with well developed stem-like sterile bases (L. polymorphum typical) ; 

 to subglobose plants with scanty sterile bases (L. cepaeforme) ; to lit- 

 tle, globose specimens devoid of sterile bases (L. pusillum). The na- 

 ture of the sterile bases differs from that of most other Lycoperdons. 

 It is compact, very similar in general appearance to the fertile portion, 

 and composed of minute cells not visible to the naked eye. Cortex of 

 I minute nodular, granular or furfuraceous spines. Gleba at first bright 

 yellow, then brown but never purple. Capillitium deeply colored, 

 branching threads. Spores globose, small 3-4 mic. smooth. 



This plant was first well described by Vittadini and we have 



adopted his name. His specimens are still in existence and he was the 



first to point out the peculiar sterile base character by which the plant 



is distinguished from most other known Lycoperdons. In addition his 



j name is peculiarly appropriate for there is no more polymorphic species 



j known. There is a tradition in Europe that the plant is Lycoperdon 



furfuraceum of Schaeffer. This is probable, but at the same time 



Schaeffer's old crude cut fits Lycoperdon spadiceum as well as it does 



this plant and as long as we keep these two species distinct we cannot 



j go back consistently to this old cut for our name. The typical form 



with well developed base is not rare in Europe. t but I have seen no 



j more finely developed specimens than I received from Rev. C. Torrend, 



: Portugal, which we have used in the photographs for our plate. 



Specimens in our Collection. 

 Sweden, L. Romell. Austria, J. Brunnthaler. 

 Hungary, L. Hollos. Portugal, Rev. C. Torrend. 



LYCOPERDON CEPAEFORME* (Plate 53, fig. 1, 2, 3, and 

 4). This is only a subglobose form of polymorphum with a slight de- 

 velopment of the peculiar, compact, sterile base. Judging from the 



} specimens I have received, it is relatively rare in Europe but it is the 



i common form in the United States. 



Specimens in our Collection. 



Belgium, Madame Rousseau. Germany, Otto Jaap, W. Krueger. 

 France, N. Patouillard, P. Hariot, X. Gillot, L. Holland. 



LYCOPERDON HUNGARICUM* (Plate 53, fig. 5, 6, 7, and 

 I 8). Plants globose with none or very little compact, sterile base. Color 

 yellowish then brown. Cortex minute nodular or granular spines. 

 Capillitium colored. Spores medium, 4-5 mic. slightly rough. 



We are somewhat in doubt as to our reference of this plant. Our 

 specimens are so close to Lycoperdon cepaeforme that the only differ- 

 ence we can note is the slightly rough spores. We are not among those 



tl do not recall having seen it from America though I may find it when I work over my 

 American specimens. 



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