159 
with, but this last species 1s separated from all other British 
Lycoperdons by its ¢2gnzcolous habit and usually caespitose 
growth, the others being ¢terrzcolous and growing szmgly with 
the exception of LYCOPERDON PERLATUM which is often 
found growing in pairs. LYCOPERDON CAELATUM is often 
characterized by having a long tapering root but its large 
size separates it along with LYCOPERDON BOVISTA from the 
rest and among the smaller ones LYCOPERDON PUSILLUM 1S: 
the only one where the attenuated base is continued as a long, 
slender, tapering root. 
I have now dealt with the main external features and I 
will now consider the internal characters as presented by a sec- 
tion of a mature specimen cut in the frld. 
If we find that the gleba is a homogeneous mass of spores and 
capillitium it is if Zarge and smooth on the outside LYCOPERDON 
BovISTA*, if sazalZ and mealy LYCOPERDON PUSILLUM ; but if 
itis dzvided up into a cellular, sterile, basal stratum which is 
distinct from the spores and capillitium and if moreover these 
two portions are separated from each other by a well developed 
diaphragm it is either LYCOPERDON CAELATUM or DEPRES- 
SUM. The former, as I said previously, is of Zarge szze whilst 
the latter is of small size and the threads of the capillitium 
are colourless. The upper portion of the endoperidium in both 
these species falls away in pieces and leaves the spores and 
capillitium as it were in an open goblet and it is in this condition 
that we often meet with it. If there is xo diaphragm between 
the fertile and the sterile portions of the gleba but ¢he sterile 
portion 1s continued into a columella from which the spores and 
threads of the capillitium spring it is either LyYCOPERDON PYRI- 
FORME or PERLATUM, but these are easily separated by the ex- 
ternal markings of the exoperidium. 
If the cedls of the sterile basal portion are very minute it is 
LYCOPERDON CEPAEFORME but if they are large and whitish 
it is LYCOPERDON COOKEIt which C. G. Lloyd identifies with 
LYCOPERDON SPADICEUM Pers. 
Ifthe spores in mass appear to be purplzsh in hue then it 1s 
either LyCOPERDON ECHINATUM, HOYLEI or ATROPURPU- 
REUM, but to further elucidate the characters of the spores resort 
will have to be made to the microscope at home and I have 
already indicated the features by which they may be recognised 
in the field, 
I must now say some concluding words about the microscopic 
characters of the spores because George Massee in his Fungus 
lora, vol. 1, has divided the species into those with rough 
‘pores and those with smooth spores, but I feel quite sure that 
* Lycoperdon Bovista sometimes develops a slight sterile basal stratum, 
+ This is unknown to me. 
