Bovistella Ohiensis. Morgan.
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, or in open woods.
Scleroderma. Pers.
Scleroderma is from two Greek words: scleros, hard; derma, skin.