68 Thirty-second Report on the State Museum. 



Lycoperdon pedicellatum Pk. Pedicel-spored Puff-ball. 



Peridium 10 "-18" in diameter, globose or depressed-globose, sessile or 

 narrowed below into a stem-like base, whitish or cinereous, becoming dingy 

 or smoky-brown with age, echinate with rather dense spines which are either 

 straight curved or stellately united and which at length fall off and leave 

 impressions or obscure reticulations on the surface ; capillitium and spores 

 greenish-yellow, then dingy-olive, columella present ; spores smooth, pedicel- 

 late, .00016'-.00018' in diameter, the pedicel three to five times as long. 



Ground and decaying wood in woods and bushy places. Croghan, Center, 

 Brewerton and Catskill Mountains. Autumn. Oneida, Warne. 



The pedicellate spores constitute the peculiar feature of this species. It is 

 one which suggests the name and which enables the species to be easily dis- 

 tinguished from all its allies. The spore is terminally and persistently 

 attached to the pedicel, as in some species of Bovista. The plant is sometimes 

 sessile, but usually it is narrowed below into a stem-like base. In the imma- 

 ture state it has a rough, shaggy appearance, but the spines shrivel with age 

 so that it appears less rough when old. The pitted surface of the denuded 

 peridium affords a mark of distinction from the next species. L. pulcher- 

 rimum B. & C. is evidently the same species, but the name here adopted has 

 priority of publication. 



Lycoperdon echinatum Pers. Echinate Puff-ball. 



Peridium 10 7 -18" broad, subglobose, generally narrowed below into a 

 short stem-like base, whitish brownish or pinkish-brown, echinate above 

 with rather stout spines, which at length fall off and leave the surface smooth ; 

 towards the base spinulose or furfuraceous ; capillitium and spores dingy-olive ; 

 spores minutely rough, .00016' in diameter. 



Ground and decaying wood in woods. Albany, Forestburgh and Adiron- 

 dack Mountains. August — October. 



Fries, in the Systema Mycologicum, refers this species to L. gemmatum 

 as a variety ; but it seems to me to be worthy of specific distinction, both on 

 account of the different character of its warts, its much more echinate appear- 

 ance, and its smooth, denuded peridium. He also gives as synonyms L. can- 

 didum Pers., and L. muricatum Willd. 



The whole plant is generally obovate, pyriform or turbinate, and the spines 

 are larger and more or less curved at and near the apex, diminishing in size 

 toward the base where they are more persistent. In the immature condition 

 it is difficult to distinguish it from the preceding species ; but when mature 

 its smooth peridium and spores destitute of pedicels separate it. It grows 

 chiefly in woods among fallen leaves, and on decaying vegetable matter. 



b. Plant not shaggy. 

 Lycoperdon gemmatum Batsch. Studded Puff-ball. 



Peridium 10''-18 7 in diameter, globose or depressed-globose, generally nar- 

 rowed below into a stem-like base, scattered or caespitose, subumbonate, whitish 

 or cinereous, often tinged with yellow pinkish or brown, warts generally un- 

 equal, the larger mostly gemmate or papilla-like, pointed at the apex, scattered 

 among smaller granular and more persistent ones, at length falling off and 



