62 Thirty-second Report oa the State Museum. 



Section I. Bovistoides. Peridium rupturing irregularly, the upper part 

 falling away in fragments. Columella none. 



In the species of this section the peridium is apt to crack in areas, and at 

 maturity it breaks up in irregular fragments and falls away. The capillitium 

 and spores are also soon dispersed, so that there remains only the sterile base 

 which is sometimes margined by the lacerated, but more permanent basal 

 part of the peridium. In this case the remains are somewhat cup-shaped. 

 The bark or warts are usually of a soft floccose character, but sometimes not 

 conspicuously developed. 



Lycoperdon giganteum Batsch. Giant Puff-ball. 



Very large, 10-20' in diameter, obconic or depressed-globose, nearly or 

 quite sessile, white or whitish, becoming discolored by age, smooth or slightly 

 roughened by weak spinose or minute floccose warts, sometimes cracking in 

 areas ; capillitium and spores yellowish green to dingy-olive ; spores smooth, 

 .00016 in diameter. Edible. 



Ground in fields, pastures and grassy places. Buffalo, Clinton. Oneida, 

 Wame. North Galway, Teft. Rensselaerville, Doolutle. Catskill Moun- 

 tains, Paine. Late summer and autumn. 



This is the largest puff-ball known in this country, and is therefore very appro- 

 priately named the Giant puff-ball. The species, according to Fries, has also 

 received other names, such as L. maximum Schaeff, the largest puff-ball ; L. 

 Bovista L., the Bovista-like puff-ball; L. vulgare Vaill, the Common puff- 

 ball, and L. proteus Sow., the Protean puff-ball. Its dimensions are usually 

 within the limits given in the description, but sometimes it grows much 

 larger. Its great size frequently brings it into notice, and makes it the sub- 

 ject of short newspaper articles. The following have recently fallen under 

 the observation of the writer, and are introduced here because they indicate 

 the size sometimes attained by this puff-ball: "In a low moist portion of 

 the Gordon Park there grew this fall one of the largest puff-balls {Lycoperdon 

 giganteum) ever seen. It measured a little over eight feet in circumference, 

 and weighed forty-seven pounds. It looked at a distance like some large 

 boulder. # * A specimen of the above dimensions would be a meal for 

 a good large family. In fact, I think it sufficient to appease the appetites of 

 some of the largest European fungus ciubs." — Country Gentleman. " There 

 was an enormous puff-ball in a bank near the house of the writer this sum- 

 mer. It was eighteen and a half inches in its greatest diameter, and four feet 

 four inches in circumference. These puff-balls have come up in the same 

 place for many years past, and always of a large size, but never before so 

 large as the above." — Grevillea. ' Among noteworthy specimens seen at 

 the recent Edinburgh Fungus Show, was * * a puff-ball (Lycoperdon 

 giganteum) fifty-four inches in circumference and weighing twenty pounds." 

 — B'ltanical Gazette. Schweinitz affirms that he found in a certain meadow 

 specimens of this puff-ball three feet in diameter. The largest New York 

 specimen that I have seen is the one contributed by Mr. Warne. It measures 

 fifteen inches in diameter in its dried state. It was considerably larger 

 in its fresh state. The specimen from Rensselaerville is fourteen inches in 

 diameter in the dried state. One writer advises that when one of these large 

 puff-balls occurs at a convenient distance from the house, it should not be 

 removed from its place of growth, but that a sufficient quantity be cut from 

 it for a meal. The next day it may be visited again and enough more be 

 taken for another meal. In this way it may supply a small family for a 

 week ; but if all were taken up and carried to the house at once, some of it 



