20 MM. Tulasne on the History of the Hypogaous Fungi. 



edible species, were the only Fungi in which this unusual mode 

 of existence had been recognized. Thus, at the beginning of 

 this century, Persoon, in his ' Synopsis Fungorum/ described 

 only four species, and in 1822 M. Fries enumerated only twelve 

 species, distributed into four genera. 



In 1831 however, the study of the numerous edible species of 

 northern Italy led M. Vittadini of Milan to a more minute ex- 

 amination of these Fungi, and to the investigation of those spe- 

 cies of this group which are not available for food ; through this, 

 the total number was raised to sixty-three species, arranged in 

 thirty different genera, eight of which were established by this 

 author. 



The microscopic examination of these very diversified forms 

 led that able botanist to the recognition of an exceedingly varied 

 organization, the modifications of which threw light, reciprocally, 

 on the obscure and often difficultly comprehensible structure of 

 these Fungi. 



But since the anatomical organization, and above all the repro- 

 duction of Fungi in general, were at this period enveloped in so 

 much obscurity, the good optical instruments and modes of pre- 

 paration adapted to microscopic observations of this kind were 

 still confined to so limited a circle, and so far removed from that 

 degree of perfection they have since attained, it is not wonderful 

 that Vittadini, notwithstanding the progress which he caused in 

 this branch of science, left many points to be cleared up and more 

 completely studied. 



The important discoveries made a few years later in the differ- 

 ent modes of formation of the spores or reproductive bodies of 

 the Fungi with external and superficial fructification, such as the 

 Agarics, the Boleti, the Morels and Pezizas, soon led several bo- 

 tanists to the recognition of these same diverse modes of forma- 

 tion of the spores in the Fungi with internal fructification, the 

 reproductive bodies of which are developed in the cavities of a 

 peridium or common envelope. 



Those observations on the common Lycoperdacese, which we 

 owe to Messrs. Berkeley, Klotsch, Corda, and in part to Messrs. 

 Tulasne themselves, at once threw light upon the often rather 

 obscure descriptions of M. Vittadini ; new examinations demon- 

 strated in fact that the subterraneous Fungi, analogous in their 

 mode of growth to the Truffle, are referable, in accordance with 

 the structure of their reproductive organs, and as Vittadini had 

 already detected, to two essentially different types. 



In one type, the Hymenogastrece, the interior of the fleshy mass 

 of which they consist, presents a number of sinuous cavities lined 

 by a membrane analogous to that which clothes the gills of the 

 Agarics, and the superficial cells of which each produce at their 



