29 i United States Species of Lycoperdon, 



the description, but sometimes it grows much larger. Its 

 great size frequently brings it into notice and makes it the 

 subject of short newspaper articles. The following have 

 recently fallen under the observation of the w^riter, and 

 are introduced here because they indicate the size some- 

 times attained by this puff-ball : " In a low, moist por- 

 tion of the Gordon park there grew this fall one of the 

 largest puff-balls [Lycoperdon giganteum) ever seen. It 

 measured a little over eight feet in circumference and 

 weighed forty-seven pounds. It looked at a distance like 

 some large boulder. * * A specimen of the above dimen- 

 sions would be a meal for a good large family. In fact I 

 think it sufficient to appease the appetites of some of the 

 largest European fungus clubs. " — Country Gentleman, 

 " There was an enormous puff-ball in a bank near the 

 house of the writer this summer. It was eighteen and a 

 half inches in its greatest diameter, and four feet four 

 inches in circumference. These puff-balls have come up 

 in the same place for many years past, and always of a 

 large size, but never before so large as the above." — Gre- 

 villea. " Among noteworthy specimens seen at the recent 

 Edinburgh Fungus Show was a * * puff-ball [Lycoperdon 

 giganteum) fifty-four inches in circumference and w^eighing 

 twenty pounds." — Botanical Gazette. Schweinitz affirms 

 that he found in a certain meadow specimens of this puff- 

 ball three feet in diameter. The largest Is'ew York spe- 

 cimen that I have seen is the one contributed by Mr. 

 Warne. It measures fifteen inches in diameter in the 

 dried state. It was considerably larger in the fresh state. 

 The specimen from Rensselaerville is fourteen inches in 

 diameter in the dried state. One writer advises that 

 when one of these large puff-balls occurs at a convenient 

 distance from the house it should not be removed from 

 its place of growth, but that a sufficient quantity be cut 

 from it for a meal. The next day it may be visited again 



