68 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



where wounded ; stem equal or tapering upward, stuffed, rather 

 long, colored like the pileus ; spores globose, echinulate, 8-10 p. in 

 diameter. 



The sooty lactarius is a very noticeable species, well marked by its 

 dark brown color, velvety appearance, long stem and wounds of the 

 gills and flesh slowly assuming reddish hues. 



The cap varies from 1-4 inches broad, and is usually marked in 

 the center by slight radiating rugosities or wrinkles. It is often 

 marked by a small central prominence. Its dark sooty color and 

 soft velvety appearance are attractive features. The margin is 

 sometimes even, sometimes scalloped and marked with short 

 parallel striations. 



The gills are moderately distant from each other, and vary in 

 color from white to creamy yellow or pale ochraceous. Where 

 cut or broken the wounds slowly assume a reddish tint. The milk 

 is scanty, white and mild. 



The stem is generally from 2-4 inches long and 2-4 lines thick, 

 but sometimes these dimensions are exceeded. It is often abruptly 

 narrowed at the top and there slightly striate. Its color is like that 

 of the cap. 



It occurs most often in hilly or mountainous places, growing in 

 shaded, mossy or damp places in woods and swamps. It is an 

 excellent edible species, and occurs from July to September. 



Variety t e n u i p e s Pk. has the pileus about i inch broad, and 

 the stem 2-3 inches long and aWut 2 lines thick. 



Lycoperdon atropurpureum Vitt. 



PURPLE SPORED PUFF BALL 



Plate 121, figures 6-10 

 Peridium variable in size and shape, 1-2 inches broad, globose, 

 subglobose or obovoid, clothed with slender hairs or spinules which 

 are longer and convergent on the upper part of the peridium, shorter 

 or wanting on the lower part, grayish, brownish or blackish above, 

 paler below, easily rubbed off, commonly disappearing from the 

 mature peridium, the young peridium is whitish below, tinged with 

 gray or brown above, the whole becoming at last smooth, shining 

 and brown, the interior at first fleshy, white, becoming olivaceous 

 with age and finally purplish brown, dry and dusty ; the threads of 

 the capillitium are branched, the main stem is about equal in thick- 

 ness to the diameter of the spores ; spores purplish brown, globose, 

 warted, 5-7 p. in diameter. 



