ales off, except a small portion about the base. The outer peridium
is white and comparatively smooth, the inner is thin, tough, smooth,
lead-colored, dehiscent at the apex by a round or oblong mouth. Mass of
spores and capillitium not solid or hard; yellowish-brown, or
olivaceous, then purplish-brown; the threads three to five times
branched, the ends of the branches slender and tapering to a point. The
spores are oval and smooth, with long transparent pedicels.

This species grows on the ground in old pastures, being quite plentiful
after warm rains, from the first of May till fall. It is one of the best
of the puffballs, but should be eaten before the inner peridium begins
to assume the tough form.

_Bovistella. Morgan._

Bovistella, a diminutive of Bovista, though the plants are usually
larger than the Bovistas.

The mycelium is cord-like; peridium nearly round, cortex a dense
floccose coat; inner peridium thin, strong, elastic, opening by an
apical mouth; subgleba present, cup-shaped; threads free and separate,
branched; spores white. The genus Bovistella has the internal character
of Bovista, and the habits of Lycoperdon.

_Bovistella Ohiensis. Morgan._

[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Figure 473.--Bovistella Ohiensis. Natural size.]

Peridium globe-like or broadly obovoid, sometimes much depressed, with
small plications or wrinkles underneath, and a thick cord-like base or
root, as will be seen in Figure 473. The outer coat is dense, floccose,
or with soft warts or spines, white or grayish, drying to a buff color,
and in time falling away; the inner coat is smooth, shining, with a pale
brown or yellowish surface. The subgleba is large, occupying half of the
peridium, extending up on the walls of the peridium, making it
cup-shaped, and quite persistent. The spores and capillitium are rather
loose, friable, clay-color to pale-brown. The threads, originating
within the spore mass, and having no connection with the inner coat, are
free, short, three to five times branching; branches tapering to the
end. The spores are round to oval, with long translucent pedicels.

This can be readily distinguished from the species of Bovista because it
has a sterile base; and from Lycoperdon because its threads are separate
and free, while those of the Lycoperdon are attached both to the tissues
of the inner peridium and to the columella or sterile base.

They are found growing on the ground in old pastures, o