34 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
be unimportant as an edible mushroom on account of its small 
size. It has been very abundant in the capitol lawn the last two 
seasons. It has not a very high flavor but it is harmless and 
relishable when fried in butter and may therefore be classed as an 
edible species, though some authors say that there are no edible . 
species of Psilocybe. When uncooked its taste is strong and dis-. 
agreeable. 
= 
Bovista pila B. & C. 
ROUND BOVISTA 
PLATE 84, ric. 14-18 
Peridium globose or subglobose, 1-3 inches in diameter, the 
outer coat very thin, at first smooth, white or whitish, soon break- 
ing up into minute scurfy scales or becoming minutely rimose 
squamulose, finally disappearing and revealing the rather firm 
papery but persistent, tough, glossy brown inner coat; capil- 
litium dense, persistent, brown; spores even, globose, .00016-.0002 
of an inch broad. : 
The round bovista takes its specific name from its resemblance 
to a ball. It is quite globose and about 2 inches in diameter _ 
when well developed, but sometimes it is more or less irregular. 
When young it is white or whitish externally and pure white 
within. It is edible only while in this condition. As soon as 
the interior begins to change color it is no longer fit to eat and — 
should be discarded. As it advances in age the surface or outer 
coat shrivels and breaks up into minute scales or scurf and after 
a time disappears. The inner coat is then smooth and tough 
like parchment. In maturity it is brown, purplish brown, seal 
brown or dingy coppery brown, sometimes shining and sometimes 
showing obscure patches of the exceedingly thin dried and 
brownish outer coat still adhering to it. It ruptures irregularly. 
The interior is then seen to be a dense towy and more or less 
dusty mass similar to the interior of a fully matured puftball. 
In this condition it often persists through the winter and may be 
found in fairly good condition for specimens after its hibernation. 
It grows either in woods, pastures or meadows and in suitable 
weather may be found from July to September. . 
