United States Species of Lycoperdon, 305 



This is another very variable species. The typical form 

 was a small one, minutely echinate and having the de- 

 nuded peridium smooth. The plant often occurs much 

 larger and more coarsely echinate with stout angular spines 

 or pyramidal warts which fall off and generally leave the 

 surface of the peridium velvety. This larger form was 

 published in the Twenty-sixth Report of the N. Y. State 

 Museum under the name Lycoperdon separans, but the two 

 forms evidently run together. The larger ones sometimes 

 have the denuded peridium smooth and there are other 

 forms intermediate in the size and roughness of the peri- 

 dium. I have therefore modified the specific description 

 so as to include both so called species. Another puff-ball 

 occurs which is probably a variety of this species but of 

 which I have seen only immature specimens. It is of a 

 purer white color and has the warts or spines tipped with 

 brown or blackish-brown. For the present I have placed 

 it with this species as a variety. It is probable that L. 

 calvescens B. & C, is merely another form of the species 

 differing simply in having a stem-like base. The follow- 

 ing are the characters of the varieties noticed. 



Var. typicum. Small, 6''-9'' broad, globose, minutely 

 echinate, the warts quickly falling oft' and leaving the 

 peridium smooth. (X. Wrightii B. & C.) 



Var. separans. Larger, i0''-24'' broad, subglobose or 

 lentiform, echinate with coarse substellate spines or pyra- 

 midal warts which at length fall off and leave the peridium 

 smooth or velvety. (L. separans Pk.) 



Var. atropunctum.. Larger, 10''-15'' broad, subglobose, 

 pure white, warts or coarse spines brown or blackish at 

 the tips. 



This species is generally gregarious but sometimes it 

 forms tufts of several individuals closely crowded together. 

 It sometimes occurs in cultivated grounds and stubble 

 fields. The under surface is occasionally plicate as in the 

 long-stemmed puff ball. In the variety separans, the warts 

 or spines are crowded at their thickened bases and slightly 



