Bovista plumbea. Pers.
Lead-Colored Bovista. Edible.
Figure 472.—Bovista plumbea. Natural size. White when young.
The plant is small, never growing to more than an inch and a fourth in diameter. The peridium is depressed globose, with a fibrous mycelium. The outer peridium is rather thick and when the plant is nearing maturity it breaks up readily unless handled very carefully; at maturity it scales 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.