Genus Geaster 



GENUS BOVISTELLA 



The genus Bovistella contains but one species. 



Bovistella Ohiensis (Edible) 



Peridium or Pouch — Globose or broadly obovoid, sometimes much 



depressed, wrinkled underneath, with thick cord-like base. 

 Bark or Outer Coat — Dense, floccose, or with soft warts or spines. 



White or greyish, drying 



to buff colour, and falling 



away. 

 Inner Coat — Smooth, shining, 



pale brown or yellowish 



surface. 

 Subgleba— Cup-shaped, broad, 



ample, occupying nearly 



one-half the peridium ; 



long, persistent. 

 Spores and Capillitium — Loose, 



friable, clay colour. 



Threads free, short, twice branching, originating within the 



spore mass, and having no connection with the tissue of the 



inner coat. 

 Habitat— On ground in pastures and open woods. 



Section of Bovistella (diagrammatic) 



GENUS GEASTER 



Earth-stars 



The Geasters or Earth-stars are the most picturesque forms 

 of the puffballs. At first they are sunk deep in the soil, and are 

 connected with it by abundant thread-like mycelium, which 

 issues from every part of the surface. In the earth-stars the 

 covering to the pouch is double, the outer cover is thick and 

 leathery, and at first closely invests the inner coat, but is separate 

 from it. At maturity the outer coat breaks its connection with 

 the mycelium in the soil and bursts to form separate lobes, which 

 become reflexed and lift the inner ball from the ground into the 

 air, where it remains, seated at the centre of the expanded star- 



B8-vfe-teV-lS 

 9 



O-hi-en'-sIs 

 129 



Ge-Ss'-ter 



