216— CATASTOMA CIRCUMSCISSUM. 
(Plate 6.) 
Peridium of mature plant usually depressed globose, 1-2 cm. 
broad, 1 cm. high, with the thick exoperidium remaining as a cup 
at the base (in reality at the top), In many specimens a spongy layer 
is found between the inner and outer peridia. Attention was first 
drawn to this fact by B. O. Longyear (see Myc. Notes, p. 78). This 
layer is shown on plate 6, fig. 5. Spores globose, 4-5 mic. minutely 
warted, often with a minute pedicel. 
This plant usually grows in old pastures or yards, frequently in 
paths. It absorbs moisture in wet weather and swells up. When dry 
it becomes smaller and firmer. 
As a usual thing plants are more depressed, smaller and have 
smaller spores than the next species. Still, we find in the Western 
United States large globose specimens with the same small spores, and 
we find little depressed specimens with large spores, so that without 
examining the spores the species cannot be told apart. (*) 
SYNONYMS. 
The plant was described as Bovista circumscissum by Berkeley. It is called 
Disciseda circumscissa by Hollos, but as the genus Disciseda is purely a case of 
“hindsight,” (see Myc. Notes, p. 100) we do not accept it. An examination of 
Schw T einitz’s specimen of Bovista Candida shows it also to be this species and settles 
what has been a “puzzle plant” for over seventy years. 
Specimens in our Collection. 
Vermont, Hollis Webster. Maryland , Chas. Mcllvaine. District of Columbia , 
Fred. J. Braendle, H. E. Warner. Ohio, C. G. Floyd. Michigan, B. O. Longyear, 
C. G. Lloyd. Iowa, T. H. Macbride. Missouri, C. H. Demetrio. Colorado, E. B. 
Sterling, Rollin H. Stevens (in mountains 9000 feet elevation). Nebraska, Rev. 
J. M. Bates. Washington, W. N. Suksdorf, C. V. Piper. 
217— CATASTOMA SUBTERRANEUM. 
(Plate 7.) 
Peridium usually globose, sometimes depressed, from 2-4 cm. 
in diameter. Spores globose, 6-8 mic. minutely warted, often with a 
minute pedicel. 
The home of this plant is the Middle West. It grows in abun¬ 
dance in Colorado, and Mr. Bethel informed me it is the common little 
“puff-ball” in waste places around Denver. It is also found in Hun¬ 
gary. The only constant difference between it and circumscissum is 
its larger spores (see remarks under circumscissum ). 
SYNONYMS. 
Prof. Peck described it as Bovista subterranea. Hazlinsky just previously had 
described it from Hungary as Globaria debreceniensis. It is compiled in Saccardo- 
as Bovista debreceniensis. We do not feel like discarding an appropriate name 
like subterraneum well established in this country, for such an uncouth name as 
“debreceniensis,” even if that term has a couple of years “priority,” nor do we 
accept Hollos’ “hindsight” name “Disciseda debreceniensis.” 
(*) Massee states “subterranea is simply a form with a more persistent cortex, but in every 
other respect the two are identical.” Surely plants with spores as shown in our plate 6, fig. 7 
and plate 7, fig. 3, are not identical in this respect. Massee’s conclusions were probably reached 
by examination of Ellis’ Exc. No. 22, labeled subterraneum, but in reality the small spored form 
and hence circumscissum. 
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