black spines, 3-4 mm. long, falling off and leaving the peridium reticu- 

 late with circles of minute spinules that surround the large spines. In 

 America the cortex of this species is not as coarse and stiff as in Europe. 

 Sterile base of rather small cells, in this respect approximating the form 

 "Hoylei" of Europe. Gleba dark purplish.f Spores large, 6-7 mic. 

 rough, mixed with fallen pedicels. 



This is a rare species in the United States but a marked one. It 

 is known by its long, black spines. 



REFERENCES : Lycoperdon constellatum in papers of Peck and Trelease. 

 (Fries' constellatum is purely a synonym for Persoon's echinatum. and that 

 Fries should misinterpret this characteristic plant is evidence of how little study 

 he gave to "puff-balls.") Lyccperdon echinatum in Morgan's paper. 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 



Ohio, A. P. Morgan; Kentucky. C. G. Lloyd; New York, W. H. Long, Jr.; 

 Michigan, L. E. Weld ; Wisconsin, C. E. Brown"; North Carolina, H. C. Beardslee. 



LYCOPERDON PULCHERRIMUM (Plate 55). Plants have 

 a thick tap root. Pileus subglobose or obovate. Cortex of long, white, 

 stellate spines 3-4 mm. long, the apices connivent. The spines fall 

 away from the rich, brown peridium leaving the surface smooth. Sterile 

 base of large cells. Gleba dark reddish umber when ripe. Spores 

 large, 6-7 mic. rough, mixed with fallen pedicels. 



This is well named for it is our "most beautiful" species. It can 

 be recognized by its large, light colored spines. When young the 

 spines are pure white, and if the plant is then collected and dried, 

 they remain white. In old specimens they turn brownish but never so 

 dark as the spines of the previous species. I have never had the good 

 fortune to collect the plant but Prof. Morgan tells me that when fresh 

 it is decidedly fragrant. No other puff-ball to my knowledge is fra- 

 grant. The plant does not grow in Europe. It is widely distributed in 

 this country. It is nowhere verv abundant apparently, and reaches its 

 best development in the region of the Great Lakes. 



REFERENCES : Lycoperdon pulcherrimum in Trelease and Morgan. Lycoper- 

 don Frostii, Peck. Berkeley named and "described" the plant or rather he "mis- 

 described" it in such a manner that no one can blame Peck for "redescribing" 

 it (cfr. Myc. Notes, p. 153). 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 



Maine. P. L. Ricker ; Wisconsin, C. E. Brown (2 collections). R. H. Dennis- 

 ten (3 collections) ; Minnesota. Mary S. Whetstone; Illinois, Dr. L. H. Watson.t 

 Joliet High School; Indiana. H. B. Dorner: Pennsylvania. Caroline A. Burgin 

 (2 collections), Dr. Wm. Herbst; Ohio, A. P. Morgan (a fine lot) ; Iowa, T. J. 

 Fitzpatrick; Texas, W. H. Long, Jr. 



LYCOPERDON RIMULATUM (Plate 56). Plants usually de- 

 pressed globose with a strong tap root and a scanty, sterile base, filling 

 one quarter to one third of the interior. Cortex smooth, in the typical 



t None of my specimens have the gleba olive or umber so common in young plants of the 

 atropurpureum and umbrinum type. 



t One of Dr. Watson's collection has gleba a bright olive, due, I think, to condition under 

 which collected and dried. 



223 



