Order Hymenomycetes. Tribe Pileati. 



Plate XVI. 



CANTHARELLUS CRISPUS, Fries. 



Crisped Chanterelle. 



Spec. Char. Cantharellus crispus. Pileus infundibuliform, submembranaceous, undulated, crisped, 

 floccoso-villous, brown-grey ; hymenium pallid, nearly smooth ; stem whitish, stuffed. 

 Cantharellus (Craterellus) crispus, Fries. 



sinuosus, BerMey. 



Helvella crispa, Bulliard. 



floriformis, Sowerhy. 



Hah. In damp woods. Autumn. Hare. 



While the fungus families were classed by mere external configuration and characters visible to the 

 naked eye, tliis pretty delicate species was placed among the Helvellas ; but the system of arrangement 

 according to the peculiarities of the hymenium possessed by any given tribe, throws it among the Chan- 

 terelles. HelveUaceous funguses have the hymenium superior and consisting of asd filled with sporidia, as 

 in Morels, Verpas, and the genuine Helvellas ; but the Cantharellus is a branch of the Agariciform family, 

 having the hymenium inferior, consisting of folds or plaits instead of gills, and the spores are not packed in 

 cylindrical cases. 



Fries has now divided the individuals formerly placed under Cantharellus itself into two classes ; the 

 first retaining such as he considers the true type of the genus, having strong folds like Cantharellus 

 cibarius ; the other iugluding all those with a smooth or slightly rugose hymenium. These he calls Cra- 

 terellus ; and to that class our present subject belongs in the ' Epicrisis.' Although thinking it better to 

 mention this, we have nevertheless adhered to the older name, being that of the 'EngHsh Flora'* volume, 

 which is, or ought to be, in the hands of every student, while few have access to the other. Most of the 

 Craterellns division are very scantily furnished with flesh ; they are membranaceous, tough when dry, absorb- 

 ing much water in wet weather ; some are so deeply infundibuliform as to be quite pervious to the likewise 

 hollow stem, thus forming a trumpet fit for Oberon's armed host. One (not English) smells of violets, but 

 sweet scent is the exception, not the rule. " Olidus" stands as a charge against several; then national 

 tastes differ, and those who habitually inhale tobacco-smoke, or improve bad brandy by a powerful addition 

 of the rat-catcher's bait, anise, are not likely to agree with others who consider musk agreeable ; Craterellus 



* The fifth volume of Sir J. E. Smith's 'English Flora' (or vol.ii. of Hooker's 'British Flora'), comprising 

 the Fungi, by the Eev. M. J. Berkeley, and which may be purchased separately. 



