Lycoperdaceas 



keeping them separate. This is perhaps L. bicolor W. and C., of the Lycoperdon. 

 Pacific Coast Catalogue. Morgan. 



New York, Peck, 46th Rep.; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsyl- 

 vania. Ground in woods. August to October. Mcllvaine. 



It is edible. Good when young and fresh. 



L. atropurpur'eum Vitt. ater, black; purpureus, purple of the 

 spores. Peridium globose depressed-globose or obovate, 6-30 lines 

 broad, generally narrowed below into a short stem-like base, white ci- 

 nereous or brownish, mealy-spinulose, hairy-spinulose, echinate or stel- 

 lately echinate, when denuded smooth and subshining; capillitium and 

 spores finally purplish-brown, columella present. Spores rough, 5-6/u. in 

 diameter. 



Sandy pastures, woods and bushy places. Common. August to 

 October. 



This appears to be one of the most polymorphous species we have. 

 It is so variable that I have been obliged to modify the usual description 

 very much, in order to include forms which are quite diverse, yet which 

 appear to me to run together in such a way that I am unable to draw 

 any satisfactory line of distinction between them. 



There are three principal varieties which I have referred to this 

 species. The first is usually 1-2 in. broad, sessile, or with a very short 

 stem, nearly smooth, being mealy or pruinose, and having a few minute, 

 weak, scattered spinules or scales. Its color is generally whitish or 

 white slightly clouded with brown. It grows in sandy pastures and 

 cleared lands, and is probably the nearest of the three in its resemblance 

 to the type. 



I regard the second and third as worthy of a name and designate and 

 define them as follows : 



Var. hirtel'lum. Peridium hairy-spinulose with erect or curved 

 sometimes stellately united spinules, which are often of a blackish color. 



Ground and decaying vegetable matter in woods. 



. Var. stella re. Peridium echinate or stellately echinate with rather 

 stout easily deciduous spines. 



Ground in woods and bushy places. 



In this species the capillitium and spores are at first greenish*yellow, 

 olive-tinted or brownish; but when fully mature they are purple-tinted. 

 Some care will, therefore, be necessary, lest the last variety be confused 

 38 593 



