Liycoperdaceee 



mouth; threads of the capillitium free, short, several times dichoto- 

 mously branched. 



(*?) Peridium sessile, without any thickened base . 



ii. CATASTOMA. Page 609. 



Peridium globose, subcoriaceous, dehiscent by a basal aperture; 

 threads of the capillitium free, short, simple, or scarcely branched. 



12. BoviSTA. Page6i,o. 



Peridium subglobose, membranaceous, dehiscent by an apical mouth, 

 or opening irregularly; threads of the capillitium free, short, several 

 times dichotomously branched. 



13. MYCENASTRUM. Page 613. 



Peridium subglobose, very thick, coriaceous, the upper part finally 

 breaking up into irregular lobes or fragments ; threads of the capillitium 

 free, short, with a few short branches and scattered prickles. Morgan. 



GENUS IV. GEA'STER Mich. 

 Gr. the earth ; Gr. star. 



Mycelium filamentous or fibrous, much branched and interwoven with Geaster. 

 the soil. Peridium subglobose, composed of two distinct persistent 

 coats; outer peridium thick, fleshy-coriaceous, at first closely investing 

 the inner, but discrete ( distinct ) at maturity splitting from the apex down- 

 ward into several segments which become reflexed ; inner peridium thin, 

 membranaceous then papyraceous (like parchment), sessile or with a 



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