ss. They are sessile or have a short
stem-like base; the subgleba is small and compact; the capillitium and
spores are first white, then greenish-yellow, then dingy olivaceous; the
inner coat is smooth, papery, whitish-gray or brownish, opening by an
apical mouth; the spores are round, even, greenish-yellow to
brownish-olive.

They grow in dense clusters, as will be seen in Figure 470. An entire
log and stump, about four feet high, and the roots around it, were
covered, as shown in Plate LXII. I gathered about three pecks, at this
one place, to divide with my friends. It is one of the most common
puffballs, and you may usually be sure of getting some, if you go into
the woods where there are decayed logs and stumps. A friend of mine, who
goes hunting with me occasionally, eats them as one would eat cherries.

Found from July to November.

[Illustration: Figure 470.--Lycoperdon pyriforme. Natural size.]

_Lycoperdon pusillum. Pr._

THE SMALL LYCOPERDON. EDIBLE.

Pusillum means small.

Peridium is one-fourth to one inch broad, globose, scattered or
cespitose, sessile, radicating, with but little cellular tissue at the
base, white, or whitish, brownish when old, rimose-squamulose or
slightly roughened with minute floccose or furfuraceous persistent
warts; capillitium and spores greenish-yellow, then dingy olivaceous.
Spores smooth 4u in diameter. _Peck._

These are found from June to cool weather in the fall, in pastures where
the grass is eaten short. When mature they dehisce by a small opening,
and when broken open will disclose the olive or greenish-yellow
capillitium. The spores are of the same color, smooth and round.

_Lycoperdon acuminatum. Bosc._

THE POINTED LYCOPERDON. EDIBLE.

Acuminatum means pointed.

The peridium is small, round, then egg-shaped; with a plentiful mass of
mycelium in the moss in which the plants seem to delight. The plant is
white and the outer rind is soft and delicate. There is no subgleba; the
spores and capillitium are pale-greenish-yellow, then a dirty gray. The
threads are simple, transparent, much thicker than the spores. The
spores are round, smooth, 3u in diameter.

I have found the plants frequently about Chillicothe on damp,
moss-covered logs and sometimes at the base of beech trees, when covered
with moss. They are very small, not exceeding one-half inch in diameter.
The small ovoid form, with the white, soft, delicate cortex, will serve
to distinguish the spec