THE SPECIES OF BOVISTA. 
We have specimens representative of six species. Bovista plum¬ 
bea, a small plant, common both in this country and Europe; Bovista 
pila, a large plant frequent in this country, not in Europe; Bovista 
nigrescens, a large plant from Europe which does not grow with us. 
Of the rare species we have Bovista minor from Ohio ; B. tomentosa 
from Italy, and B. lateritia from Mexico. Bovista pila and lateritia 
have spores with none, or very short pedicels ; the remainder have 
long-pedicellate spores. 
202—BOVISTA PLUMBEA. 
(Plate 1.) 
Usually globose, or depressed globose, from two to three cm. 
in diameter. Old specimens from which the cortex has disappeared 
are somewhat lead color, hence the name. The cortex of a young 
growing plant is smooth and white. The surface sometimes breaks 
up into little white granules as it dries ; finally the cortex loosens and 
shells off entirely from the peridium. The peridium is of a lead color, 
smooth, firm, parchment-like. It opens by a small definite mouth. 
Spore mass compact, elastic, olivaceous if the specimen is dried before 
perfect ripening, but when normally ripened dark purplish-brown. 
Capillitium threads much branched, with slender tapering branches. 
Spores sub-globose or ovate, smooth, even, 5-6 me. with long pedicels 
(10-12 me.) 
Bovista plumbea is a frequent plant in Europe and Northern 
sections of this country, growing usually in old pastures. It is readily 
distinguished from our other common species of Bovista (B. pila) by 
its color, small size, and pedicellate spores. 
Specimens in our Collection. 
Maine , H. C. Beardslee. Massachusetts, Simon Davis, G. E. Morris, H. Page, H. 
. E. Warner. New Hampshire , C. E. Montgomery, (f) Hollis Webster, (f). Michigan, 
(very common) C. G. Eloyd. Minnesota, E. P. Ely, (t) Minn. Bot. Survey, Dr. N. M. 
Cook. Illinois, (near Chicago) H. L. Watson, W. S Moffatt. W isconsin , C. E. Brown, 
Wise. Myc. Club. Iowa, W. J. Teeters, T. H. Macbride. Colorado, E. Bethel, (f) 
(Pike’s Peak) Chas. E. Bessey, (f). Oregon, David Griffith. Washington, W. N. 
Suksdorf, Susan Tucker, C. V. Piper. California, E. A. Greata, A. J. McClatchie 
(labeled ammophila). Ohio, (Cincinnati) A. P. Morgan (f). (Rare here, I have 
never found it.—C. G.E.) 
Canada, J. M. Macoun. France, N. Patouillard. Germany, P. Magnus, 
Otto Jaap. 
From the above it will be noted that Bovista plumbea is of a northern range 
extending across the continent. Eos Angeles, Cal. and Cincinnati are the only 
stations at all Southern. The specimens from C. V. Piper, Washington, are larger 
and blacker than usual and at first we were disposed to refer them to B. nigrescens, 
from which however, they differ as to spores. 
203—BOVISTA PLUMBEA (Oval Spored Form ) 
(Plate 1, Fig. 8.) 
Morgan describes the spores as oval and states that he has never 
seen specimens with globose spores. A close examination of the 45 
different collections in our Museum shows that most spores are not 
truly globose but have a tendency to oval form. There is, however, 
a wide range in this respect, as shown in our microphotograph 
(plate 1, figures T and 8). In only a very few is the shape de- 
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