Czerniaiev called his plant Trichaster melanocephalus. A some¬ 
what similiar plant, bnt I believe not published, has been found in Texas 
by W. H. Long Jr. 
286—LANOPILA BIGOLOR. 
(Plate 18.) 
The genus Lanopila was proposed by Fries from a specimen 
sent him by Wahlberg from South Africa. The type is not in Fries’ 
herbarium, but the genus was well enough described to be easily re¬ 
cognized. It is characterized by the habits, and papyraceous peridium 
of the genus Bovista from which it differs only in the capillitium. 
This forms a dense, homogeneous, elastic mass formed of long intertwin¬ 
ing and branched threads. They are not attached to the peridium. 
The genus Bovista typically has short separate threads that can 
be readily isolated, but that the threads of Lanopila are essentially 
different, except in being so long and intertwined that they cannot be 
separated, I think cannot be proved. It is therefore to me a very doubt¬ 
ful question whether the genus should be considered distinct from 
Bovista, especially as it consists of only one known species,* which is 
typically a Bovista as to peridium and habits, differing only in this 
one particular. Lanopila bicolor was described by Leveille as Bovista 
bicolor f (Ann. Sci. Nat. 3-5-162) from specimens from India which 
are abundantly preserved to-day in a jar in the Museum at Paris. It 
is a very common species in warm countries and we have noted speci¬ 
mens in the Museums of Europe from Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, 
Guadeloupe, Ceylon, India and Africa. 
DESCRIPTION :—The plant is usually 5 to 8 cm. in diameter 
and subglobose. Peridium is of a reddish brown color and smooth. 
When young the plant is white and furnished with a thin, smooth 
cortex which peels off when the plant ripens. The peridium is typi¬ 
cally that of a Bovista, papery-cartilaginous and the plant is a typical 
“tumbler” detaching from the roots when ripe and rolling over the 
ground. The gleba is compact, homogeneous, reddish brown color, and 
composed of long intertwined branching capillitium threads. Spores 
globose, warted, 5-6 mic. without pedicels. The plant is distinguished 
from most “ puff-balls ” by the reddish color both of the peridium and 
gleba. 
SYNONYMS. 
Bovista bicolor (Ann. Sci. Nat. 3-5-162). Bovista pannosa (Jour. Bot. 88- 
131). Bovista tosta (Jour. Bot. 88-132), Bovista argentea (Ann. Nat. Hist. 3-400). 
The latter as to specimens now preserved at Kew as its type but they do not answer 
the description which I think was based on the plant since described as Bovista 
dealbata. Through a mistaken identification (cfr. Myc. Notes p. 118) this plant 
has been noticed (p. 118) and illustrated (plate 4, fig. 4, 5 & 6) under the erroneous 
name “Bovista lateritia”. According to an authentic specimen in Museum of 
Paris Lanopila Argentina (Speg. Argent. 4-100) should also be referred here. 
* kanopila Wahlbergii (Fungi Natalenses p. 31 > unknown. Although the spores are de¬ 
scribed as fuliginose it is possibly L,. bicolor which occurs in Africa, kanopila stuppea (Sacc. 7-95) 
=sterile base of Bovistella Ohiensis (cfr. Myc. Notes p. 180). kanopila tabacina (Micheiia 2-565)= 
Bovista pila (cfr. Myc. Notes, p. 117). kanopila Argentina (Argent. 4-100)=k- bicolor (vide type at 
Paris Museum). kanopila guaranitica is practically unknown. 
tkeveille bases the name on the statement “ The upper part of the plant is brown chestnut 
whilst the lower is color of leather.” This “bicolor” is not usually noticeable and the plant is 
really misnamed. 
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