Ohio. It has a number of synonyms: Scleroderma calostoma,
Calostoma cinnabarinum, Lycoperdon heterogeneum, L. calostoma.

The plants in Figure 481 were photographed by Dr. Kellerman. Mr. Geo. E.
Morris of Waltham, Mass., sent me some specimens early in August, 1907.

_Geaster. Mich._

Geaster, an earth-star; so called because at maturity the outer coat
breaks its connection with the mycelium in the ground and bursts open
like the petals of a flower; then, becoming reflexed, those petals lift
the inner ball from the ground and it remains in the center of the
expanded, star-like coat. The coat of the inner ball is thin and papery,
and opens by an apical mouth. The threads, or capillitium, which bear
the spores proceed from the walls of the peridium and form the central
columella. The threads are simple, long, slender, thickest in the middle
and tapering towards the ends, fixed at one end and free at the other.

The Geaster is a picturesque little plant which will arrest the
attention of the most careless observer. It is abundant and is
frequently found in the late summer and fall in woods and pastures.

_Geaster minimus. Schw._

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

Figure 482.--Geaster minimus. Natural size.]

The outer coat or exoperidium recurved, segments acute at the apex,
eight to twelve segments divided to about the middle. Mycelial layer
usually attached, generally shaggy with fragments of leaves or grass,
sometimes partly or entirely separating. Fleshy layer closely attached,
very light in color, usually smooth on the limb of the exoperidium but
cracked on the segments. Pedicel short but distinct. The inner peridium
ovoid, one-fourth to one-half inch in diameter; white to pale-brown,
sometimes almost black. Mouth lifted on a slight cone, lip bordered with
a hair-like fringe; columella slender, as are also the threads. Spores
brown, globe-shaped, and minutely warted. Found in the summer and early
fall.

Nature seems to give it the power to lift up the spore-bearing body, the
better to eject its spores to the wind. It is very frequently found in
pastures all over the state. I have found it in many localities about
Chillicothe. It is called "minimus" because it is the smallest
Earth-star.

_Geaster hygrometricus. Pers._

WATER-MEASURING EARTH-STAR.

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

Figure 483.--Geaster hygrometricus. Natural size.]

The unexpanded plant is nearly spherical. The mycel