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.