the name should not be dug up to displace better work, and Mr. Fries seems 

 to think the same at least, he does not do it. 



New Species. Three interesting new species are described and well illus- 

 trated : 



Lycoperdon abscissum, a most curious plant that might well be made the 

 type of a "new genus." It is almost all sterile base. In fact, I thought it was 



Fig. 252. 



Lycoperdon abscissum. 



a sterile base when I first saw it, but it has normally a very thin, scanty layer 

 of fertile gleba. The spores, capillitium, cortex, shape, in fact everything 

 points to its being a degenerate form of Lycoperdon pratense, and if only 

 known from a single specimen I should so consider it. But Mr. Fries has 

 abundant collections from various localities and finds it a constant, normal 

 plant in both Bolivia and Argentina. It is the most curious puff ball that 

 has been brought to light for some time. 



Lanopila pygmaea is an interesting addition to a small genus, heretofore 

 only known from a single though widespread species, Lanopila bicolor. It 

 has all the generic characters of the genus Lanopi'.a, but has no resemblance 

 to Lanopila bicolor, having a very small size and olive, smooth spores. 



442 



