276 
D. nudiflorum esteemed as nutritious, milk producing plants, frequent 
in rich shady woods. 7. Botanical Gazette. 
§ 277. A Truffle New to the North American Flora,—At a 
meeting of the Club on Nov. tzth, Mr. W. R. Gerard called atten- 
tion to his recent discovery, on Staten Island, of a species of Truffle. 
He stated that these fungi had always been regarded as rare in 
America; but that their rarity was probably more apparent than 
real, the plants not having been looked for. Dr. Torrey, in his Cat- 
alogue of New York City Plants, published in 1819, records the edi- 
ble truffle ( Zuder cibarium) as found in “ Love Lane” (21st Street ?) 
This statement, however, is doubtful, inasmuch as Dr. Torrey, unac- 
quainted with fungi, sent his specimens for naming to Schweinitz, 
and the latter, in his “Synopsis,” published in 1834, states that he 
had never met with a truffle in this country, but recorded the Znder 
cibarium, on heresay only. In the Rev. M. J. Berkeley's “‘ Notices 
of North Ameriean Fungi,” published two years since in Grevi//ea, he 
records but a single species— Zuber macrosporum—sent from Penn- 
sylvania by Michener. Mr. Gerard was under the impression, 
although he was not positive, that he had seen a statement that 
another species had been detected in California last year. At any 
rate, the present would seem to be only the third (if, indeed, not 
the second) authentic account of the discovery of a genuine truffle 
in North America; and, for that reason, was a matter of consider- 
able interest. The Staten Island species was found at Hugenot, 
growing in a side bank, in loamy soil, about the roots of alders ( 4/nus 
serrulata.) The tubers were about the size of a nutmeg, with a firm, 
smooth, cream-colored skin. The a@scz were nearly globular, and 
contained four large, broadly oval, reddish-brown sporidia, the sur- 
face of which was covered with a beautiful network of hexagonal 
reticulations; and from the angles of the latter arose short, linear, 
hyaline spines. The plant answered pretty well to the description 
given of Tulasne’s Zuber dryophilum, and was perhaps that plant. 
In the absence of specimens M. Gerard exhibited a water-color 
drawing of the plant, with magnified figures of the fruit. | 
§ 278. Herbarium for sale—Mr. James N. Bishop, Plainville, 
Connecticut, desires to sell at once his herbarium, consisting of 
about 1500 mounted specimens, and the same number unmounted, 
comprising many rare plants collected by himself there, and some 
from the South and West, and all correctly named. He will sell for 
almost any cash figure, though he thinks he ought to receive from 
four to five cents each for those that are. mounted, and half that for 
those that are not. 
§ 2% Erratum.—tThe three lines appended to Prof. Eaton’s article, p. 
265, in our October number, were not intended for publication: moreover we under- 
- stand that the publisher will have the plates in question reprinted correctly, and 
issued to the subscribers free of cost to them, Polopodium for Polypodium was a 
slip of our own. if yas. 
Terms—One Dollar per annum beginning with the January nu: yr. For the Botanical 
Directory 40 cents ; three copies for one dollar, or twelve Sor thr Vols. 
with index, and photograph of Dr. Torrey, $3.75. Coptes of | 
the Club. 25 cents. Address, WM. H. LeGGETT, 54, Last 81st St 
Orders on Station KN. ¥. All subscriptions or orders filled only 
land By-Laws 
ork, Money 
é of he money. 
um, Columbia College, 
President of the Club, 
The Club meets regularly the second Tuesday of the month inthe 
“a 7:30 P. M. SFetcanes are invited to attend. Dr. THURR 
may be found at 245 Broadway. : Ape 
