618 
VIII. FUNGI. 
29. BOVISTA, Dillenius. 
Globose puff-balls, often of great bulk. Peridium double, persistent, like 
paper or pasteboard, forming a distinct bark, which shells off from the 
nucleus (capillitium). Nucleus composed of a mass of brown filaments 
attached to the peridium and pedicelled spores. 
Universally distributed ; the young of various species are eatable sliced and cooked. 
1. B. brunnea, Barit, in FI. N. Z. ii. 189. Globose, 1 in. diameter, 
attached by a central point, opening by a narrow aperture ; outer peridium 
papery, subsinuate, evanescent ; inner brownish-umber ; capillitium and spores 
olive-brown. 
Northern Island : Manawata river, Colenso, amongst moss. 
30. LYCOPERDON, Tournefort. 
Globose or obovoid or pyriform puff-balls. Peridium membranous, evanes- 
cent or flaccid above, forming a persistent bark, which breaks up into scales 
or warts. Nucleus (capillitium) soft, dense, compact below, aclnate to the 
peridium and base of the Fungus internally. 
A very large and widely diffused genus, the young of which are excellent eating when 
sliced and cooked. 
1. L. giganteum, Batsch. Usually very large. Peridium obtuse and 
brittle above, cracking, areolate, evanescent, opening widely ; bark floccose, 
rather distinct; nucleus disappearing with the olive spores. — Berk. Outlines, 
302. 
Middle Island : Otago, Lindsay. (Europe.) 
2. L. Fontamesei, Durieu and Leveille ; — Berk, in FI. N. Z. ii. 189. 
Very large, turbinate. Peridium areolate, with depressed stellate warts on 
the areolae, rupturing. Nucleus with forked flocci and minute sessile spores. 
Northern Island: Waihake, on the ground, Colenso. (Algeria.) — Called by the na- 
tives “ Pukuvau.” 
3. L. cselatum, Fries ; — Berk, in FI. N. Z. ii. 190. Large, obovoid. 
Peridium flaccid above, collapsing, obtuse, bursting at the apex, at length 
open and cup-shaped. Barren stratum cellular; nucleus distinct all round. 
Spores dingy yellow. — Berk. Outlines, 302. t. 20. f. 7. 
Northern and Middle Islands : on the ground, Colenso , Lindsay. (Europe, etc.) 
— Forming fairy rings. 
4. L. pusillum. Fries; — Berk, in FI. N. Z. ii. 190. Small. Peridium 
entirely flaccid, persistent, obtuse, bursting by a narrow aperture ; bark even, 
then cracked, with appressed scales ; barren stratum obsolete, continuous with 
the nucleus. Spores olive. — Berk. Outlines, 302. 
Northern Island: on the ground, Colenso. (Europe, Java, etc.) 
5. L. novas-Zelandise, leoeille ; — Berk, in FI. N. Z. ii. 190. Glo- 
bose, sessile, papery, thin, fragile ; bark white, shining, sprinkled with gra- 
