Genus Geaster 
GENUS BOVISTELLA 
The genus Bovistella contains but one species. 
Bovistella Ohiensis (Edible) (See Prats Face Pacz 128) 
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, Threads... 
pale brown or yellowish 
surface. aman 
Subgleba—Cup-shaped, broad, ay 
ample, occupying nearly 
one-half the  peridium; a 
long, persistent. ee 
Spores and Capilliium—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- 
Bo-vis-tél’-14 O-hi-én'-sis Gé-ds'-tér 
9 129 
