316 



United States Species of Lycoperdon. 



L. calcescejis, the third is L. Wrightli var. separans. All 

 should in mj opinion be referred specifically to L. Wrightii, 

 Those with a stem might be distinguished as L. Wrightii 

 var. calvescens. 



Lycoperdon cruciatum Bostk. 



Cruciate, peridium membranaceous, persistent, spines 

 arranged in a cross-like manner, falling off in fragments, 

 spores yellowish-brown." Sturm's Deutschlands Flora, 

 Heft XYiii, p. 19. " Rhode Island, Olneg." Grevillea vol. 

 2, p. 51. 



Of the Rhode Island specimens referred to this species 

 I have seen but a single immature one. This did not 

 show the cruciate character of the spines from which the 

 species takes its name, nor could I find in it any mark by 

 which to separate it from L. Wrightli. 



Prof. Farlow, to whom I am indebted for favors in this 

 connection, informs me that the spores in his specimens 

 are smooth, a fact which strengthens my opinion that the 

 Rhode Island specimens should not be separated from L, 

 Wrightli. Some forms of Wright's puff-ball exhibit the 

 same characters that are ascribed to the spines of L. cru- 

 ciatum, but others do not. Rostkovius, neither in his figure 

 nor in his description, gives any of the characters of the 

 spores ot his species except the color, and that is by no means 

 an uncommon or peculiar one, so that although there are 

 indications that X. cruciatum and L. Wrightli may be the 

 same species, Rostkovius's description is too imperfect to 

 enable us to reach any definite conclusion in this respect. 



Lycoperdon delicatum B. ^ C. 



" About two and a half inches across, base more or less 

 stem shaped, one and a half to two and a half across, 

 spongy, accurately separated as in L. ccelatum from the 

 capillitium; peridium pruinose-furfuraceous, very delicate, 

 capillitium with the globose even spores, .00016' in diame- 

 ter, yellowish here and there, inclining to pinkish. A 

 very delicate looking species, with a stout base. Penn- 



