1 88 CRYPTOGAMI A FUNGI. 



Stalk between 2 and 3 inches long, li in diameter, puckered 

 and downy at the base, rather suddenly dilated into a 

 cushion-like head. The spines are often rubbed off' in 

 part. 



96. LYCOGOLA. 



OBS. The Lycogola are the productions of decayed wood. 

 They are globose and sessile ; soft and pulpy in their earliest 

 stage, but when perfect the seminal mass is pulverulent, enclosed 

 in a thin membranous coat, which bursts irregularly. This pow- 

 der undergoes some very curious changes in colour during its 

 maturation, and is very light and copious. When SOWERBY in- 

 forms us that the Lycoperdons afford in their ripe state different 

 browns, in a fine impalpable powder, fit for immediate drawing 

 when mixed with a little gum-arabic water, he had probably the 

 Lycogolce in view. 



1. L. argentea, large, ovate, white or yellowish, highly var- 

 nished, gummy when moist, filled with a uniform brown pulve- 

 rulent mass. HOOK. Scot. ii. 11. GREV. Fl. Edin. 453 ; Crypt. 

 Fl. t. 106. Reticularia lycoperdon, WITH. iv. 421. Sow. Fung. 

 t. 272. 



Hob. On decaying gate-posts, &c. rare. Spring. 



This is 1 or 2 inches across, adheres by a broad base, and 

 when entire is very like the covering of some chrysalis. 

 The outer coat, as SOWERBY says, resembles parchment, 

 with a silvery gloss, but is very tender ; on which account 

 care must be taken in removing it from its station. It 

 opens at last in a very irregular manner to discharge its 

 copious brown powder, which. is mixed with a few hair-like 

 fibres. 



2. L. miniata, clustered, subglobular, bright red when young 

 and pulpy, in age brownish, and filled with a purplish pulveru- 

 lent mass HOOK. Scot. ii. 11. GREV. Crypt. Fl. t. 38 ; FL Edin. 

 452. Lycoperdon epidenlron, LIGHT F. Scut. 1068. BOLT. Fung. 

 t. 119. f. 1. WITH. iv. 420. Sow. Fung. t. 52. 



Hob. On the rotten stumps of trees, not common. 



In small clusters, each fungus of the size of a pea or larger* 

 When perfect the peridium is greyish, smooth, easily rub- 



