plumbea, as it has a cortex different from all known Bovistas, but 1 am not so 

 sure it should be referred to Bovistella, as one can not judge of the habits of a 

 plant from a single specimen. In its peridium and internal structure it is a Bo- 

 vista, indeed the spores and capillitium are almost the same as Bovista plumbea. 

 I am influenced in referring it to Bovistella, at least until more is known of the 

 plant, by the cortex as I know oi no species of Bovista with such a cortex. From 

 its peridium nature, however, I suspect it is a "tumbler," in which case I would 

 transfer it to Bovista. notwithstanding its cortex. 



BOVISTELLA YUNNANENSIS (Bovista yunnanensis, Rev. Myc. 90, 134) 

 belongs I think in this section. Peridium globose, rather firm, without sterile 

 base. Cortex almost smooth. Capillitium of separate threads but not short. 

 Long, intertwined, with tapering branches. It is not possible to float out separate 

 threads, but I think they are of this type. Spores globose, smooth, 4 mic. with 

 slender, thin pedicels. It was described from China. 



Section 4. Bovistella-Globaria. 



Capillitium of long, intertwined threads. Spores pedicellate. Sterile base 

 scanty or none. We call this section Bovistella-Globaria, for want of a better 

 name. It agrees with the characters attributed by Quelet to his "genus" Globaria, 

 though not a single species included by Quelet in the genus belongs in this sec- 

 tion. t Plants of this section have usually been called Bovistas. but having neither 

 the habits, capillitium or peridium oi this genus of the present day, they can not 

 be so classified excepting under the old definition, viz. : "Bovista a puff ball 

 without a sterile base." With the present knowledge of the various characters 

 of such plants, the definition is about as crude as the Linnsean idea that all fungi 

 full of dry spores are Lycoperdons. 



BOVISTELLA GUNNII (Plate 70). Plant globose, 3-4 cm. in 

 diameter, devoid of a sterile base. Peridium flaccid, opening by a defi- 

 nite mouth. Cortex a flocculent, woven coat, which when old dries up 

 and breaks into areas which persist on the dark reddish brown perid- 

 ium. Gleba olive when young, becoming dark brown when old. Capil- 

 litium of long, intertwined, branching threads. Spores globose, 5-6 

 mic., smooth, with slender pedicels. 



This species is known only from Australia. Externally it has the 

 general appearance of being a large specimen of Bovistella bovistoides 

 but the capillitium is not of the same type. 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 

 Australia, Prof. D. McAlpine, F. M. Reader. 



BOVISTELLA ASPERA (Plate 33). Peridium subflaccid, sub- 

 globose, with a strong tap root. Cortex of thick, well developed spines, 

 converging in fours, when old largely falling away, leaving the perid- 

 ium smooth, furfuraceous. Sterile base none or very slightly de- 

 veloped. Gleba olive or brown (Cfr. Myc. Notes, p. 247). Capillitium 

 long, branching, intertwined threads. Spores globose, smooth, 4-5 

 mic. with thin pedicels, 8-10 mic. 



Originally described from Chile, it has been discovered in Australia 

 (Cfr. Australian Lycop., p. 28) and New Guinea. The latter plant was 



fAnd we might add that three of his species do not have " Spora spiculo longo suffulta" 

 as required in his generic characters. 



285 



