North American Fungi. 



cellular and continuous, or only with an occasional transverse 

 septum ; they may be hyaline or colored, and simple or variously 

 branched: in form and size and in their origin they vary greatly, 

 hence they serve admirably the purpose of classification. 



TABLE OF GENERA OF LYCOPERDACE.^E. 



1. VolvaTy<e. Outer peridium a thick, firm, persistent coat, burst- 

 ing irregularly, or splitting from the apex downward into segments. 



a. Inner peridium stipitate, the outer remaining as a volva at the base 



of the stipe. 



i. Polyplocium. Inner peridium pileate, with aculeiform proc- 

 esses underneath; threads of the capillitium slender, hyaline, 

 scarcely branched. 



2. Batarrea. Inner peridium circumscissile, the upper part 

 coming off like a lid; threads of the capillitium with spiral markings. 



b. Inner peridium sessile, the outer splitting into segments which become 



reflexed. 



3. Myrisotoma. Inner peridium dehiscent above by many 



mouths; columella ; threads of the capillitium simple, tapering 



to each extremity. 



4. Geaster. Inner peridium dehiscent at the apex by a single 

 mouth; columella present; threads of the capillitium simple, tapering 

 to each extremity. 



5. Astr^eus. Inner peridium membranaceous, dehiscent at the 

 apex by a single mouth ; columella, none ; threads of the capillitium 

 very long, much branched and interwoven. 



6. Mitremyces. Inner peridium cartilaginous, dehiscent at the 

 apex by a stellate fissure; columella, none; threads of the capillitium 

 very long, much branched and interwoven. 



II. Corticate. Outer peridium {cortex) a soft, fragile, more or 

 less deciduous layer, often with external projections in the shape of 

 warts, spines, or scales- 



c. Peridium stipitate. 



7. Tylostoma. Peridium membranaceous, dehiscent by a regular 

 apical mouth; threads of the capillitium very long, much branched 

 and interwoven. 



