CLASSIFICATION 471 



Calvatia 



Peridium with the general appearance of a Lycoperdon, but in- 

 stead of dehiscing by a well-defined apical opening 'the upper sur- 

 face breaks away in irregular patches. Our giant puffball belongs 

 to this genus. 



Geaster 



Peridium at first entirely closed, subglobose or more or less 

 pointed at the apex. The wall consists of three distinct layers. 

 Eventually the two outer layers, remaining in contact with each 

 other, split from above downwards into several sharp-pointed 

 segments or portions which spread outwards, leaving the third or 

 inner layer standing erect and filled with the spores, which escape 

 through a well-defined small opening or mouth at the apex. These 

 fungi have received the book-name of earth-stars, which, however, 

 is not a genuine old English word, but an attempt to anglicize the 

 scientific generic name. 



Myriostoma 

 Closely resembling species of Geaster in structure and general 

 appearance ; differing in possessing several mouths or openings in 

 the upper surface of the inner peridium, through which the spores 

 escape. Our only species, Myriostoma coliforme, is quite rare. I 

 wonder why some creator of book-names has not called this fungus 

 " the pepper-pot," as the idea is strongly suggested by the per- 

 forated endoperidium. 



TULOSTOMA 



The single British species resembles a small puffball with a long, 

 slender stem. The peridium is subglobose, dehiscing by a small 

 apical opening, and is about h in. diam. The stem is rather coarsely 

 fil^rillose, slender, e^ual, 2-3 in. long. It grows on old walls, dry 

 banks, etc., and is rare everywhere. 



Battarrea 

 Again we have to deal with a single British species, which is 

 exceedingly rare. It differs from other puffballs, but agrees with 

 members of the Phalloidacere, in that the entire fungus is at first 

 enclosed in a universal volva, the central la3'er of which is gela- 

 tinous. At maturity the globoso-depressed peridium bursts through 

 the volva, and is elevated on a coarsely fibrous stem 8-14 in. in 

 length, surrounded by a volva at the l)ase. In the " eg^ " con- 

 dition the fungus is buried for a depth of several inches in loose 

 sand, humus, etc. 



Bo VI ST A 

 Peridium consisting of two distinct layers, the outer or cortex 

 thin, smooth, l-ecoming friable and breaking entirely away in 



