A Monogra2)h of the Genus Lycoperdoii. By O. Massee. 703 



The threads of the capilUtium afford good specific characters, depend- 

 ing on the mode of branching ; their consistency, whether firm or col- 

 lapsing when dry ; and their thickness compared with the diameter of the 

 spores. The colour of the capilhtium is usually some shade of yellow 

 or brown when the spores are thoroughly blown away. 



The relative development of the sterile basal stratum varies much in 

 different species, being frequently continued downwards into a more or 

 less elongated stem-like base. 



The species are arranged under the following groups : — 



A. Sterile basal stratum, well developed, cellular or compact. 



I. Spores globose, rough, purple, lilac, or various shades of 

 brown. 

 II. Spores globose, rough, brownish olive, olive, or various shades 

 of yellow. 



III. Spores globose, smooth, purple, lilac, or various shades of 



brown. 



IV. Spores globose, smooth, brownish olive, olive, or various shades 



of yellow. 

 V. Spores elliptical or subglobose. 



B. Sterile basal stratum, rudimentary or obsolete. 



I. Spores globose, rough, purple, lilac, or various shades of 



brown. 

 II. Spores globose, rough, brownish olive, olive, or various shades 

 of yellow. 



III. Spores globose, smooth, purple, lilac, or various shades of 



brown. 



IV. Spores globose, smooth, brownish olive, olive, or various shades 



of yellow. 

 V. Spores elliptical or subglobose. 



In attempting to unravel the synonymy of the old authors, it must 

 be distinctly understood that references to figures only implies that they 

 externally resemble the species under which they are placed, and it has 

 already been shown that external characters alone are of little value. 



I take this opportunity of acknowledging my great indebtedness, and 

 also of tendering my best thanks, to Dr. M. C. Cooke for the valuable 

 assistance rendered during the preparation of this paper. 



Lyeoperdon (Tournef.), Fries, Syst. Myc, iii. p. 27. — Peridium 

 membranaceous, single, the subpersistent cortex becoming broken up into 

 warts or spines, dehiscing by a small apical mouth, or the whole of the 

 upper part evanescent. Capilhtium dense, springing from the more or 

 less developed sterile basal stratum ; spores globose or elliptic, externally 

 rough or smooth. 



The genus was founded by Tournefort,* who included under it a 

 heterogeneous assemblage of Trichogastres, Fries being the first to use it 



* Inst. R. Herb., p. 563. 



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