ridium, when fully extended, has a span from two to five inches ;
and the inner peridium has a diameter from little more than
half an inch to above one inch.
The colour of the mass of sporules and filaments is a dark
purplish-brown. The filaments are strong and rigid, and form
a great contrast to the delicate woolly substance in the peridia
of the Lycoperdons.
Fig. 1. A young plant o f G. multifidum in the act o f bursting. Fig. 2. A _
recently expanded, with the spongy substance o f the outer peridium beginning
to crack. Fig. 3. A large specimen, in which the spongy substance has entirely
vanished, and the colour deepened by age. Fig. 4. A specimen in
which the rough external coat is persistent; the spongy substance also dried,
mithout peeling off.— A portion o f the inner peridium cut away; natural size.
Fig. 5. The orifice. Fig. 6, Sporidia, and filaments arising from a small
'portion o f the peridium ; magnified.
