HEDGEHOG FUNGI. 



larger and older ones. The surface is cracked and torn into triangu- 

 lar scales, showing the whitish color of the flesh between the scales. 

 The scales are small in the younger plants and larger in the older 

 ones. Figure 200 is from plants collected at Ithaca, and the pileus 

 in these specimens is irregular. The species is edible, but bitter to 

 the taste. 



FIGURE 200. Hydnum imbricatum. Caps brownish, spines whitish (natural size, 



often larger). 



Hydnum putidum Atkinson. This plant grows on the ground in 

 woods, and was collected in the Blue Ridge mountains at Blowing 

 Rock, N. C., at an elevation of about 4000 feet. It is remarkable 

 for its peculiar odor, resembling, when fresh, that of an Ethiopian ; 

 for its tough, zonate pileus with a prominent white edge, and the 

 stout irregular stem, resembling the stem of Hydnum velutiniim. 

 The plants are 8-12 cm. high, the cap 8-12 cm. broad, and the stem 

 2-4 cm. in thickness. The plants grow singly, or sometimes a few 

 close together, and then two or more may be conjoined. 



The pileus is first umbilicate or depressed, becoming depressed or 

 infundibuliform, irregular, eccentric, the margin repand, and some- 

 times lobed, and lobes appearing at times on the upper surface of the 

 cap. The surface is first tomentose or pubescent, becoming smooth, 

 with prominent concentric zones probably marked off by periodical 

 growth ; the color is first white, so that the edge is white, becoming 

 cream color to buff, and in age dull brown and sometimes blackish 

 brown in the center of the old plants. The pubescence disappears 

 from the old portions of the cap, so that it is smooth. The pubes- 

 cence or tomentum is more prominent on the intermediate zones. 

 The margin is rather thick, somewhat acute or blunt, the upper por- 



