high, 1–2 in. broad. =Peridium= depressed-globose or somewhat lentiform,
supported by a long stem-like base, furfuraceous with minute persistent
mealy or granular warts or spinules, often plicate beneath, white or
creamy-white, at maturity becoming brown or olive-brown, subshining and
very thin or membranous, breaking up into irregular fragments which
sometimes adhere to the capillitium for a considerable time, the
stem-like base cylindrical or narrowed downward, sometimes thick;
capillitium rather dense, subpersistent, and with the spores dingy-olive
or dingy-brown, sometimes verging toward purplish-brown. =Spores= rough,
4–5µ in diameter. Edible.
Low mossy grounds and bushy swamps, especially under alders. Sandlake,
Center and Adirondack mountains. August to October. _Peck_, 32d Rep.
N.Y. State Bot.
West Virginia, 1881–1885; Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina.
Frequent, thin moist woods. July to November. _McIlvaine._
C. saccata, the long-stemmed puff-ball, is a common and pleasing
species. Shape, color, feel, combine to make it attractive. It is one of
the very best we have. When white inside and otherwise in good condition
it is delicious.
(Plate CLXIV.)
[Illustration:
CALVATIA ELATA.
(After Morgan.)
]
=C. ela´ta= Massee. =Peridium= globose or depressed-globose above,
plicate below and abruptly contracted into a long stem-like base; the
base slender, cylindric or tapering downward, sometimes pitted; mycelium
fibrous and filamentous. Cortex a very thin coat of minute persistent
spinules or granules; inner peridium white or cream-colored, becoming
brown or olivaceous, very thin and fragile, after maturity the upper
part soon breaking up into fragments and falling away. Subgleba
occupying the stem-like base, a long time persistent; mass of spores and
capillitium brown or brownish-olivaceous; the threads very long,
branched, the main stem as thick as the spores, the branches more
slender. =Spores= globose, even or very minutely warted, 4–5µ in
diameter with a short or minute pedicel.
Growing among mosses in low grounds and bushy places. New England,
_Humphrey_; New York, _Peck_. =Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter and 3–6 in.
in height, the stem-like base ½-¾ of an inch in thickness. This American
form of Lycoperdon saccatum has lately been separated from it, and
named, figured and described as Lycoperdon elatum by George Massee.
_Morgan._
Edible.
GENUS IX.—=LYCOPER´DON= Tourn.
Mycelium fibrous, rooting from the base. =Peridium= small, globose,
obovoid or turbinate, with a more or less thickened base; cortex a
subpersistent coat of soft spines, scales, warts or granules; inner
peridium thin, membranaceous becoming papyraceous, dehiscent by a
regular apical mouth. _Morgan._
When the plant sits (without stem) directly upon the ground or wood it
is _sessile_. The outer layer of the two parts of its covering is the
_exterior peridium_ (sometimes spoken of as _cortex_). This frequently
breaks up into scales, spines, bristles, minute flocculent or powdery
masses, and these vary in size and in many species disappear as the
plant matures. These are of determining value in several species of
Lycoperdaceæ. Plants with coarse, long spines are _echinate_ because
they bristle. When the spines incline together and form a point they are
_stellate_. Various formations of this outside covering are also called
_warts_. The inner rind or skin is the true _peridium_.
The mass of thread-like filaments which fills the interior of the plant
is called the _capillitium_. The filaments are deftly interlaced. At
times filaments springing from the base do not interlace with the
others; these are called _columellæ_. These filaments bear the
spores—the dust which puffs out in such quantity and gives the common
name to the plant—puff-ball—and its Mephistophelian one—The Devil’s
Snuff-box. In some species the filaments at the base of the plant are
_sterile_—they do not bear spores. These filaments are more contracted
and form the neck, stem or _subgleba_. The _gleba_ is the upper interior
of the plant, in which the spores are contained. See plate CLVI.
_Dehiscent_ is said of an organ which opens of itself at maturity. A
plant is dehiscent at the discharging point of its spores. If this is at
the summit it is _apically dehiscent_.
The descriptions herein given of American representatives of European
species are in many instances those of A.P. Morgan, who has made special
study of this genus, and those of Professor C.H. Peck, whose interstate
experience acquaints him with every varying form. Mr. Morgan has kindly
given permission to use his text and drawings.
No one has yet had reason to doubt the harmlessness of any puff-ball.
There are a few I have not eaten, but believing that these will be
proven edible, descriptions of all species occurring in America are
given.
There are first and second-class puff-balls. Usually the small species
are slightly strong, and if a shade of yellow appears upon breaking any
puff-ball, it will be more or less bitter and will spoil a whole dish.
The larger species are milder. The flavor of puff-balls appears to be
issued to them as a ration. It is all there in a little fellow, and in a
big one it is simply spread through more substance.
Lafayette B. Mendel in Am. Jour. of Physiology, March, 1898, gives the
nitrogenous compounds in L. bovista as:
Nitrogen soluble in gastric juice 3.13
Digestible protein nitrogen 3.13
Indigestible protein nitrogen 2.70
Protein nitrogen 5.79
Extractive nitrogen 2.40
Total nitrogen 8.19
TABLE OF THE SPECIES OF LYCOPERDON.
I.—PURPLE-SPORED SERIES.
Mature spores purplish-brown.
_a._ Cortex consisting of very long convergent spines. Page 591.
_b._ Cortex composed of long slender convergent spines. Page 592.
_c._ Cortex composed of minute spinules. Page 594.
_d._ Cortex a furfuraceous persistent coat. Page 595.
_e._ Cortex a smooth, continuous layer, becoming areolate. Page 597.
II.—OLIVE-SPORED SERIES.
Mature spores usually brownish-olivaceous.
_A._ PERIDIUM OBOVOID OR TURBINATE, THE SUBGLEBA WELL DEVELOPED.
_f._ Cortex of long spines mingled with shorter ones, the former at
length fall away, leaving a reticulate surface to the inner peridium.
Page 598.
_g._ Cortex of stout spines which fall away and leave a tomentose or
furfuraceous surface to the inner peridium. Page 599.
_h._ Cortex of long spines, curved and convergent at the apex, which
fall away and leave a smooth surface to the inner peridium. Page 600.
_i._ Cortex of minute spinules and granules or furfuraceous scales.
Terrestrial. Page 602.
_k._ Cortex of minute spinules, scales or granules. Lignatile. Page 603.
_B._ PERIDIUM VERY SMALL, GLOBOSE, THE SUBGLEBA NEARLY OBSOLETE.
_l_. Cortex a thin coat of minute spinules, scales or granules. Page
604.
_Morgan._
I.—PURPLE-SPORED SERIES.
(_a_) _Cortex consisting of very long convergent spines; denuded
peridium smooth._
=L. echina´tum= Pers.—prickly. (_L. Peck´ii_ Morg.) (Plate CLVI, fig. 2,
p. 568.) =Peridium= ¾-1½ in. broad, subglobose, generally narrowed below
into a short stem-like base, whitish brownish or pinkish-brown, echinate
above with rather stout spines, which at length fall off and leave the
surface smooth; toward the base spinulose or furfuraceous; capillitium
and spores dingy-olive. =Spores= minutely rough, 4µ in diameter.
Ground and decaying wood in woods. Albany, Forestburg and Adirondack
mountains. August to October.
The whole plant is generally obovate, pyriform or turbinate, and the
spines are larger and more or less curved at and near the apex,
diminishing in size toward the base where they are more persistent. In
the immature condition it is difficult to distinguish it from L.
pedicellatum; but when mature its smooth peridium and spores destitute
of pedicels separate it. _Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
L. echinatum appears to be common to all the states. August to frost. It
is frequent but not abundant. Raw the taste is slight. Cooked it is
tender and of good flavor.
=L. pulcher´rimum= B. and C. (_L. Frost´ii_ Pk.) =Peridium= usually
obovoid, sometimes subturbinate, with a short stout base; the mycelium
forming a thick cord-like root. Cortex consisting of very long white
spines, converging and often coherent at the apex; the spines at length
fall away from the upper part of the peridium, leaving the inner
peridium with a smooth purplish-brown shining surface, sometimes faintly
reticulated. Subgleba occupying about a third part of the peridium; mass
of spores and capillitium at first olivaceous, then brownish-purple; the
threads much branched, the main stem thicker than the spores, the
branches long, slender and tapering. =Spores= globose, minutely warted,
4.5–5.5µ in diameter.
=Peridium= 1–2½ in. in diameter and 1–2 in. in height.
The fresh specimens of this plant have a strong and not unpleasant
fragrance.
Growing in low grounds, in fields and woods. September, October.
L. pulcherrimum is frequent, but not abundant. It ranks with
second-class puff-balls. It is good when young and fresh.
(Plate CLXV.)
[Illustration:
LYCOPERDON CONSTELLATUM.
(After Peck.)
]
=L. constella´tum= Fr.—grouped. =Peridium= subglobose or obovate,
sometimes depressed, 10–18 lines broad, echinate with rather long stout
crowded brown spines which are either straight curved or stellately
united and which at length fall off and leave the surface reticulate
with brown lines; capillitium and spores brown or purplish-brown,
columella present. =Spores= rough, 5–6.5µ in diameter.
Ground in dense shades and groves. Oneida, _Warne_. Rare. Autumn.
_Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
(_b_) _Cortex composed of long, slender convergent spines; denuded
peridium smooth._
=L. hirtum= Mart.—hairy. =Peridium= broadly turbinate, depressed above,
contracted below into a short, thick, tapering or pointed base, with a
cord-like root. Cortex a dense coat of soft spines, long, slender and
convergent above, becoming shorter downward, gray or brownish in color;
these finally fall away, leaving the inner peridium with a brown or
purplish-brown, smooth, shining surface. Subgleba occupying from
one-third to one-half of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium
olivaceous, then brownish-purple; the threads branched, the main stem
about as thick as the spores, with slender, tapering branches. =Spores=
globose, distinctly warted, 5–6µ in diameter.
Growing on the ground in woods. =Peridium= 1–2½ in. in diameter and 1½-2
in. in height. This species in this country heretofore has been included
with L. atropurpureum. I have followed Mr. Massee in keeping them
separate. This is perhaps L. bicolor W. and C., of the Pacific Coast
Catalogue. _Morgan._
New York, _Peck_, 46th Rep.; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
Ground in woods. August to October. _McIlvaine._
It is edible. Good when young and fresh.
=L. atropurpur´eum= Vitt.—_ater_, black; _purpureus_, purple—of the
spores. =Peridium= globose depressed-globose or obovate, 6–30 lines
broad, generally narrowed below into a short stem-like base, white
cinereous or brownish, mealy-spinulose, hairy-spinulose, echinate or
stellately echinate, when denuded smooth and subshining; capillitium and
spores finally purplish-brown, columella present. =Spores= rough, 5–6µ
in diameter.
Sandy pastures, woods and bushy places. Common. August to October.
This appears to be one of the most polymorphous species we have. It is
so variable that I have been obliged to modify the usual description
very much, in order to include forms which are quite diverse, yet which
appear to me to run together in such a way that I am unable to draw any
satisfactory line of distinction between them.
There are three principal varieties which I have referred to this
species. The first is usually 1–2 in. broad, sessile, or with a very
short stem, nearly smooth, being mealy or pruinose, and having a few
minute, weak, scattered spinules or scales. Its color is generally
whitish or white slightly clouded with brown. It grows in sandy pastures
and cleared lands, and is probably the nearest of the three in its
resemblance to the type.
I regard the second and third as worthy of a name and designate and
define them as follows:
Var. _hirtel´lum_. =Peridium= hairy-spinulose with erect or curved
sometimes stellately united spinules, which are often of a blackish
color.
Ground and decaying vegetable matter in woods.
Var. _stella´re_. =Peridium= echinate or stellately echinate with rather
stout easily deciduous spines.
Ground in woods and bushy places.
In this species the capillitium and spores are at first greenish-yellow,
olive-tinted or brownish; but when fully mature they are purple-tinted.
Some care will, therefore, be necessary, lest the last variety be
confused with the Echinate Puff-ball, L. echinatum. _Peck_, 32d Rep.
N.Y. State Bot.
=Spores= 6–7µ _Massee_; globose, distinctly warted, 5.5–6µ, _Morgan_.
Ohio, West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On ground in woods.
August to October. _McIlvaine._
L. atropurpureum is frequent, not abundant. It is edible, good.
(_c_) _Cortex composed of minute spinules; denuded peridium smooth._
=L. cu´pricum= Bon.—coppery. =Peridium= obconic, depressed above and
tapering downward, the base plicate, with a fibrous mycelium. Cortex
gray or flesh-color, composed of minute spinules circularly arranged and
convergent and coherent at the apex; these dry up, becoming dark
purplish in color, and finally fall away from the smooth, shining,
copper-colored surface of the inner peridium. Subgleba occupying nearly
a third part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium, at length
purplish-brown; the threads branched, the main stem thinner than the
spores, with long, tapering branches. =Spores= globose, distinctly
warted, 6–7µ in diameter.
Growing in sandy soil in woods. New Jersey, _Ellis_.
Peridium about 1 in. in diameter and an inch or more in height. The
microscopic features are given from specimens received from Mr. Ellis.
_Morgan._
Near Haddonfield, N.J., 1891–1896. Sandy woods. _McIlvaine._
Not frequent. Those found upon several occasions were eaten and found
good.
=L. asterosper´mum= D. and M.—_aster_, star; _sperma_, seed. =Peridium=
obovoid or pyriform (pear-shaped), the base short and pointed, with a
slender fibrous mycelium. Cortex a thin coat of minute spinules with
intermingled granules, gray or brownish above, paler below; these dry up
and are a long time persistent, but they finally fall away, leaving the
inner peridium with a pale brown, smooth, shining surface. Subgleba
obconical, occupying nearly a third part of the peridium; mass of spores
and capillitium olivaceous, then brownish-purple; the threads about as
thick as the spores, with slender tapering branches. =Spores= globose,
distinctly warted, 5.5–6.5µ in diameter.
=Peridium= 1–1½ in. in diameter. A very pretty species of regular form;
its glossy cortex is quite persistent. _Morgan._
Growing on the ground in open woods. Ohio, _Morgan_; Nebraska, _Webber_.
New York, _Peck_, 46th, 51st Rep.; Ohio, _Lloyd_.
=L. delica´tum= Berk. =Peridium= subglobose, plicate underneath, with a
fibrous mycelium. Cortex a thin coat of minute spinules and granules,
gray or brownish above, whitish below, finally falling away from the
smooth, shining, pale or brownish surface of the inner peridium.
Subgleba very small or quite obsolete; mass of spores and capillitium
olivaceous, then pale or brownish-purplish; the threads rather thinner
than the spores, with slender tapering branches. =Spores= globose,
distinctly warted, 5–6µ in diameter.
=Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter. _Morgan._
Growing on the ground. Pennsylvania, _Gentry_; Missouri, _Professor
Trelease_ (_Peck_, Rep. 40); Louisiana, _Langlois_.
(_d_) _Cortex a furfuraceous persistent coat._
(Plate CLXVI.)
[Illustration:
LYCOPERDON GLABELLUM.
(After Morgan.)
]
=L. glabel´lum= Pk.—smooth, bare. Subglobose or subturbinate, 1–1.5 in.
broad, sometimes narrowed below into a short stem-like base,
furfuraceous with very minute nearly uniform persistent warts, which
appear to the naked eye like minute granules or papillæ, yellow, opening
by a small aperture; inner mass purplish-brown, capillitium with a
central columella. =Spores= purplish-brown, globose, rough, 5–6.5µ in
diameter.
Ground in copses and in pine woods. West Albany and North Greenbush.
Autumn. _Peck_, 31st Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Ohio, _Morgan_; Wisconsin, _Trelease_; West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey. Frequent. Autumn. _McIlvaine._
One of the prettiest Lycoperdons. Symmetrical, and otherwise attractive.
Sweet, firm, solid. It is not high in flavor, but is delicate.
=L. elonga´tum= Berk.—elongated. =Peridium= globose above, contracted
below into a stout thick base, more or less elongated and cylindric or
tapering downward; mycelium composed of thick fibers. Cortex a loose
flocculose white or yellowish coat, drying up into a mealy or
furfuraceous persistent layer, which scarcely reveals the pale shining
surface of the inner peridium. Subgleba occupying more than half the
interior of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium pale
olivaceous, then pale brown or finally purplish; the threads much
branched, the main stem much thicker than the spores, the branches
tapering. =Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 5.5–6.5µ in diameter.
Growing on the ground in damp woods. Ohio, _Morgan_. =Peridium= 1–2 in.
in diameter and 2–3 in. in height, the base ¾-1 in. in thickness. In
form it somewhat resembles L. gemmatum, but it has a cortex like that of
L. glabellum. _Morgan._
New York, _Peck_, 49th Rep. Closely allied to L. glabellum. Its stout
elongated base serves as a mark of distinction.
Ohio, _Morgan_; Pennsylvania, Washington, Pa., Myc. Club.
Not common. Sometimes tufted, three or four together. Edible, good.
=L. el´egans= Morgan—elegant. =Peridium= large, depressed globose,
plicate underneath and sometimes with a narrow umboniform base, which is
continuous with the thick root. Cortex at first flocculose, white or
yellowish, drying up into a dense furfuraceous persistent coat, which
becomes ochraceous or brownish in color, and sometimes obscurely
areolate. Subgleba broad, convex above, occupying a third part or more
of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium olivaceous, then
pale-brown or finally purplish-brown; the threads much branched, the
main stem thicker than the spores, the branches long and tapering.
=Spores= globose, distinctly warted, 5–6µ, in diameter.
Growing on rich soil on the open prairie about Iowa City, Ia., _Prof.
T.H. McBride_. =Peridium= 1½-3 in. in diameter. In form and size this
species somewhat resembles Calvatia fragilis, but the threads are
arranged in two sets as in Lycoperdon; the cortex is similar to that of
L. glabellum; the mycelium forms a remarkably thick root. _Morgan._
(_e_) _Cortex a smooth, continuous layer, becoming areolate._
(Plate CLXVII.)
[Illustration:
LYCOPERDON RIMULATUM.
With magnified spores.
(After Morgan.)
]
=L. rimula´tum= Pk.—_rimula_, a small chink. =Peridium=
depressed—globose or broadly obovoid, plicate underneath with a slender
fibrous mycelium. Cortex at first a thin, smooth, continuous fibrillose
layer, gray or bluish-gray, sometimes with a purplish tinge; this at
length breaks into a network of fine lines or fissures, gradually dries
up into minute thin adnate scales, and finally falls away from the
smooth grayish or purplish-brown surface of the inner peridium. Subgleba
broad, but distinct, plane above, occupying about a fourth part of the
peridium; mass of spores and capillitium purplish-gray, then
brownish-purple; the threads simple or scarcely branched, variable in
thickness, but always thinner than the spores. =Spores= glovose,
distinctly warted, 6–7µ in diameter, often pedicellate.
Growing on the ground in fields and open woods. New York, _Peck_; South
Carolina, _Atkinson_; Ohio, _Morgan_; Wisconsin, _Trelease_. =Peridium=
¾-1½ in. in diameter, scarcely an inch in height. _Morgan._
New Jersey, _T.J. Collins_; Pennsylvania. Autumn. _McIlvaine._
A pretty species, generally in groups. Frequent. It is not common, but
occasionally generous patches of it are found. Edible, good.
=L. vela´tum= Vitt.—_velatus_, having a velum. =Peridium= globose or
obovoid, with a cord-like root. Cortex white or yellowish, at first a
thickish continuous layer, then breaking up into circular or irregular
persistent patches with fimbriate margins. Subgleba occupying about a
third part of the peridium; mass of spores and capillitium olivaceous,
then purplish-brown; the threads branched, the main stem nearly as thick
as the spores, the branches long and tapering. =Spores= globose,
distinctly warted, 5–6µ in diameter.
Growing on the ground in woods. South Carolina, _Ravenel_.
=Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter. _Morgan._
New Jersey, _T.J. Collins_; Chester county, Pa., sometimes clustered,
_McIlvaine_.
Good.
II.—OLIVE-SPORED SERIES.
_A._ PERIDIUM TOP-SHAPED, THE SUBGLEBA WELL DEVELOPED.
(_f_) _Cortex of long spines, etc._
=L. gemma´tum= Batsch.—gemmed. =Peridium= turbinate, depressed above,
the base short and obconic or more elongated and tapering or
subcylindric, arising from a fibrous mycelium. Cortex consisting of
long, thick, erect spines or warts of irregular shape, with intervening
smaller ones, whitish or gray in color, sometimes with a tinge of red or
brown; the larger spines first fall away, leaving pale spots on the
surface, and giving it a reticulate appearance. Subgleba variable in
amount, usually more than half the peridium; mass of spores and
capillitium greenish-yellow, then pale-brown; threads simple or scarcely
branched, about as thick as the spores. =Spores= globose, even or very
minutely warted, 3.5–4.5µ in diameter.
=Peridium= 1–2 in. in diameter and 1–3 in. in height. This species is
distinguished from all others by the peculiar large erect terete spines
or warts, the so-called gems which stud its upper surface. _Morgan._
Growing on the ground and sometimes on rotten trunks in woods, often
cespitose. _Frost._ New York, _Peck_.
Found in every part of the world.
New York, _Peck_, Rep. 22; Indiana, _H.I. Miller_; West Virginia, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania. On the ground and on logs. _McIlvaine._
Edible, but not pleasant. _Peck._ Edible, _H.I. Miller_.
Professor Peck gives two varieties:
Var. _hir´tum_. Turbinate, subsessile, hairy with soft, slender warts
which generally become blackish.
Var. _papilla´tum_. Subrotund, sessile, papillose,
furfuraceous-pulverulent.
Very common and known in all countries. It is, to my thinking, our
prettiest puff-ball. Its beautifully studded surface, reminding of
exquisite settings, is in itself worth studying for the designs. It is
usually solitary or in small groups, but at times these groups contain
scores of individuals. It grows in the open on the ground or from both
ground and wood, in woods.
I think it equal to any other puff-ball. But great care must be taken to
examine each specimen before putting it into the pan. A single one,
which has turned yellow in the slightest degree, will spoil a whole
dish. And this is the case with any of the small puff-balls. One ageing
L. pyriforme will embitter a hundred.