with our further familiarity with Lycoperdon piriforme, we feel sure 

 now it is only a form or perhaps a "sport" of that plant.t 



The "Pratense" Section. 



The main character of this section is the sub hyaline (or in some species 

 colored) capillitium, small, smooth spores, and in the typical species a strong 

 diaphragm separating the fertile from the sterile portion. The type species 

 Lycoperdon pratense, is a common plant in Europe and Australia but it does not 

 occur, I think typically in the United States. Lycoperdon pratense, cruciatum 

 and Wrightii typically belong to this section. The remaining species depart in 

 general habits but are put here on account of the hyaline capillitium. 



LYCOPERDON SUBPRATENSE (Plate 62). Plants de- 

 pressed globose, bowl shaped, the peculiar shape being characteristic. 

 Cortex of short spines (about 2 mm. long) which fall away from old 

 specimens leaving the peridium smooth. Peridium opening by a large, 

 irregular mouth .J Sterile base broad, of large cells, separated from the 

 fertile portion by a distinct line. Gleba olive then brown. Capillitium 

 colored, branched threads. Spores globose, smooth. 4 mic. 



This is a rare plant in the United States, reaching me from two 

 stations in the extreme East and four stations in the extreme West. 

 The Eastern plants (plate 62 figs, i and 3) are exactly the same as 

 the type form in Europe excepting that they have colored capillitium. 

 We have specimens of the Western plant from W. N. Suksdorf (Plate 

 62 fig. 2) apparently the same. We have other specimens however 

 from the West (Plate 62 figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7) more robust and doubtful. 

 There are four of these collections all old specimens which we place 

 here for the present until we can obtain better material. Hyaline 

 capillitium is an important character of the European plant but we can- 

 not remove our American plant very far although it differs in an im- 

 portant character. In our opinion, it is the American expression of the 

 European plant. 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 



Massachusetts, A. B. Seymour, R. B. Mackintosh; California, Clara A. Hunt; 

 Oregon, Jos. W. Marsh ; Washington, C. V. Piper, W. N. Suksdorf. 



LYCOPERDOX CRUCIATUM (Plate 51). Peridium globose, 

 or usually depressed, often plicate beneath, and with a strong root. 

 The sterile base of large cells is separated bv a distinct line from the 

 fertile portion. It usually occupies from one fourth to one third of the 

 interior but sometimes in small specimens almost none. Cortex of 

 strong, cruciate spines about 2 mm. long, which adhere together and 

 peel off in patches from the peridium. This peculiar method of cortex 

 separation is characteristic of the species. The surface of the peridium 

 after the separation of the cortex is dull, minutely furfuraceous, and 

 dark brown in color. Gleba olive, when ripe dark brown, never purple. 



t Dr. Hollos, who never saw a specimen in his life, publishes that the plant is a synonym 

 for Lycoperdon muscorum. We presume he has reached this learned opinion because both 

 plants grew in moss, which is just about as logical as to announce the synonymy of two agarics 

 because both grow on logs. The Doctor should confine his guessing to the old pictures. He 

 has made many messes in guessing about plants he never saw. 



J The plant is intermediate between Calvatia and Lycoperdon in its dehiscence. 

 231 



