114 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences^ Arts and Letters 



tion is not true. L. cepaeforme and L. Hongkongense, like the present- » . 

 species, have their spores permanently stalked. The sterigmata of the group < 



with red-purple spores (nos. ) are at first very long, and they are also 



sometimes subpersistent. On the other hand the spores of a number of spe- 

 cies referred to Bovista, e. g. P. pila, B. circumscissa, and B. tosta, are not 

 pedicellate. 



4, Lycoperdon Wrightii B & C. — Round or broadly pear-shaped, often 

 gregarious and more or less angular from mutual pressure; three-eighths ta ; 

 three fourths inch in diameter; densely covered with short grouped white 

 spines that are buff and deciduous at maturity, exposing the pubescent or 

 nearly smooth, dirty straw colored or buff inner peridium. Spores and capilh- 

 tium pale greenish buff, the former finely granular, round, stalkless3.5 to j 

 4.25 /i. — pi. 1, f. 8. — Very abundant at the sides of paths and on open, bare 

 places in dry, closely cropped grass land. 



Specimens have also been sent me from River Falls (King), Sheboygan, 

 (Brown), and Sparta (Miss Schuster), and the species is reported by 

 Bundy in the list already referred to. 



Lycoperdon cruciatuni'Rostk.. QL. separaus Pk., L. Wrightii, var. sepai-aits Pk.), of which, 

 doubtful immature specimens have been collected about Madison, and which Bliss Schuster 

 sends from Sparta, and Professor King, from River Falls, occui'S more commonly in shaded 

 places and is distinguished by its somewhat large size (half an inch to two inches) and 

 more clay-colored or darker spores which are often pedicellate or intermingled with fallen 

 Sterigmata 5 to 7 /^ long ; and especially by the (very soft and flexible often dark brown) vel- 

 vety inner peridium, from which the closely united white spines flake away in a continuous 

 layer. The American plant corresponds well with the figure of Rostkovins (Sturm's Flora, 

 Heft. 18. pi 8), though its spines are more crowded than in the figure. If the last runs into 

 this, the name of Rostkovins must have precedence. 



5. Lycoporden gemmatum Batsch. — Usually gregarious, one to two 

 inches in diameter, sometimes as much as three inches high, commonly top 

 shaped, the fertile pair contracting into a stout obconic stem which equals 

 or surpasses the enlarged summit in length, white, passing into pale buff or 

 gray; with fleshy deciduous warts and intermingled more persistent smaller 

 ones. Spores pale brown, thin-walled and translucent, finely granulated, 

 round, stalkless, 3.5 to 4.5 /.i.-Pl. 2, f. 1. Very abundant on the ground or 

 occasionally on decayed wood, in the woods. 



The Lapham herbarium contains specimens from Milwaukee, and I have 

 seen others from Sheboygan " (Broivn). Bundy also reports the species. 

 The most characteristic feature of this, which is one of our commonest 

 species, is the occurrence of solid fleshy warts, often one-sixteenth of an 

 inch or more in length, which stud the upper part of the peridium, giving 

 it an appearance of great beauty when young. These are easfly removed, 

 leaving round, pale spots, one-thirty-second to one-sixteenth inch in diame- 

 ter, on the peridium, elsewhere covered with fine granules. Even on old 

 vs^eathered specimens when the latter have entirely disappeared from the top, 

 the characteristic pale spots are to be found toward the base. 



Figures: — Palmer, Mushroons of America, pi. 8; Trelease, St. Nicholas, 

 xiii, 875, f. 4. Exsiecatae: — Ellis, N. A. Fungi, no. 1,699. 



I 



