Rev. M. J. Berkeley on British Fungi. 353 



*301. Melanogaster Broomeiarms^ Berk., Tul. m Ann. d. "Sc. 

 Nat. vol. xix. p. 377. Tuber moschatum, Sow. t. 426; Berk. Brit, 

 Fung. Ease. 4. no. 285. 



I have received this species in great abundance and perfection 

 from C. E. Broome, Esq., who finds it in Wiltshire, near Corsham, 

 from May to November, under Lombardy poplar and beech, in 

 tufts of five or six together, and several of such tufts under each 

 tree, half of them being in general exposed and half beneath the 

 soil. When fresh it is minutely tomentose, of a reddish ochre, 

 which however becomes less bright when handled or badly dried. 

 The veins are for the most part pale, sometimes becoming red when 

 dry, but sometimes unchangeable. I have never seen them bright 

 yellow as in M. variegatus. At first it is white within, then of a 

 very pale yellow, at length fuliginous. When very young it has not 

 much scent, but as the spores advance it acquires first an odour like 

 that of Agaricus theiogalus, and then a sweet treacly smell like 

 that of Agaricus pyriodorus. The spores are elliptic and minute, 

 without any papilla ; they contain one or two globose nuclei. In 

 ripe individuals, spherical bodies of the size of the nuclei are often 

 mixed with the spores. In an early stage of growth the sporo- 

 phores are very conspicuous, each bearing four spores. The ca- 

 vities however are soon filled up, and the number of spores is at 

 length so great, and the walls of the cavities alter so much, that 

 the strudcture cannot be ascertained. It is highly probable that 

 the sporophores bear a succession of spores, as has been proved 

 lately in the case of the fructifying threads of the genus Vaucheria.. 

 This species, though little noticed by botanists, has been lon^ 

 known at Bath under the name of the Red Truffle, and is eaten 

 there in considerable quantities, being preferred to the common 

 truffle. It must however have an entirely different flavour.. The 

 species is undoubtedly extremely near M. variegatus, Vitt., dif- 

 fering principally in the colour of the veins and the less powerful 

 odour. I have not yet received M. variegatus as British, but both 

 it and the present species are found in France. The differences 

 may arise, as Messrs. Tulasne remark, from difference of climate. 

 In a portion of an authentic specimen of M. variegatus from Vit- 

 tadini, given to me by Dr. Montague, the walls are still of a 

 bright yellow. 



As regards the genus to which Messrs. Tulasne have referred 

 this and the cognate species, it appears that they have exercised 

 great judgement. Few matters in botany are more perplexed than 

 the synonymy of the hypogseous Fungi. Unfortunately Vittadini, 

 from want of authentic specimens and the little intercourse between 

 the north and south of Europe, has not always been able to clear 

 up difficulties, and in some cases has unavoidably added to the 

 confusion. 



Ann. ^ Mag. N. Hist. Vol. xiii. 2 A 



