CRYPTOGAMIA. FUNGI. Lycoperdon. 343 
Wrapper when ripe splitting into several segments which lie flat on the 
ground, expanding in form of a star. Head pierced with several orifices 
from which the dust escapes. Doody in Ray Syn. 28. Wrapper leathery, 
at first inclosing the head, when ripe splitting elastically into several 
segments: segments unequal, towards the ends marked with spots, the 
relics of the orifices of the head. Fruit-stalks supporting the head, several, 
short, near together, compressed, almost woody. Head brownish, covered 
with a thin silvery pellicle, the upper surface pierced with holes, full of 
a brown dust. Orifices small, round, fringed, somewhat elevated. Dicks. 
This Lycoperdon springs from an egg which lies on a level with, or just 
below, the surface of the ground. In this state it is nearly globular, but 
slightly compressed, of a dirty white, wrinkled, scaly : with a short thick 
root terminated by a few fibres. Out open it shows a soft leathery coat, 
covering another which is thicker and much more tough, filled with a 
white curd-like substance of a disagreeable smell. As yet there was no 
appearance of a head. One found in August remained in this state to 
the end of November before it expanded ; when in a single day it was 
entirely raised out of the ground and fully expanded. The root breaks 
off, and is left in the earth, and the inversion of the plant necessarily 
raises it to the surface ; what was before the upper and outer part of the 
wrapper being now next the ground. This description of the method of 
opening applies to L. stellatum and L. recolligens as well as to this species. 
The head in the large specimens is considerably compressed, of a 
brownish colour, covered with a very thin pellicle of a beautiful silvery 
grey, peculiar to this species. The apertures are very numerous, 
slightly elevated and fringed with fine hairs. The pedicles which do not 
appear till the thick brittle coat (which is common to this and other 
stellated species) dries or peels off, are very numerous, woody, thread or 
strap-shaped. In one specimen they filled up a circle of half an inch 
diameter, and this had at least forty apertures. In the small specimens 
the head is nearly spherical, and sometimes the pedicles and apertures are 
not more than three or four; but these are scarcely to be considered 
varieties. Notwithstanding there seems to be a sort of agreement 
between the number of pedicles and of apertures, they have no direct 
communication, nor any corresponding cells, the head forming a single 
cavity as in the other species. The apertures are not accidental ruptures, 
but originally formed, for in an abortive plant, found in company with 
Mr. Stone, in which the dust never ripened, we observed a puckering of 
the skin in the same situation where the orifices usually appear. Mr. 
Woodward. 
(Many-stemmed Puff-ball. L. coliforme. Sowerby. Dicks. Purt. Geas - 
trum coliforme. Hook. Pers. E.) In the lane from Crayford to Bexley 
Common, Kent. Doody, in Ray Syn. 28. Sandy banks near Metting- 
ham, Suffolk; and Gillingham and Earsham, Norfolk. Mr. Stone and 
Mr. Woodward. Near Hanley Castle, Worcestershire. Mr. Ballard. 
August—Sept. 
Lyc. stella'tum. Wrapper many-cleft, expanding ; segments un-< 
equal: head on a short stem, smooth : orifice tapering upwards, 
toothed. 
Purt. t. 20—- Bolt. 179—( Sowerby 312. L.)—Gent. Mag. Feb. 1792— 
Bryant. Lyc. f. 12. 13. 14. 16. 17— Bay Syn. p. 29. t . 1. f. I—Mich. 
100. 2. 5. 6— Schmid. 46. 
When fresh opened the head appears sessile, from the thickness of the 
interior spongy coat of the wrapper. After a few days, this cracks, as 
