440 ILLUSTRATION OF THE BOTANY OF [ Fungi. 
among those of the latter, P. fomentarius, and one which closely resembles P. versi- 
color. Besides these there are species of Lycoperdon and Phallus, Geaster and Cla- 
varia; and among the species of the two latter genera, there are G. rufescens, with 
C. militaris and C. digitata. 
Europeans in North-western India often mention Truffles (Zuber cibarium) as pur- 
chaseable at the Hurdwar Fair; I only obtained specimens of common Morels, or 
Morchella esculenta, the Kana kuchoo of the natives of India, which are every year 
brought down for sale from Cashmere ; and whence some fine specimens were pro- 
cured in 1831, by the plant collectors detached from the Saharunpore Botanic Garden. 
Travellers have also mentioned to me, that the common mushroom is found in the 
Himalayas; it may be so, but the specimens which came nearest to it in my collec- 
tion resemble A. Georgii, already mentioned, as an edible species. 
The Fungi vary much in properties, but are comparatively of little use ; some cer- 
tainly are edible, but many are poisonous in nature; the prejudice, however, is 
greater in England than on the Continent, where many more species are eaten, and 
even reckoned delicacies. There are, no doubt, good grounds for the distrust enter- 
tained respecting them, in consequence of the difficulty of distinguishing the whole- 
some from the noxious species. It would, however, be desirable to ascertain whether 
many of the species indigenous in the Himalayas might not be employed as articles 
of diet, as so many similar species are on the Continent of Europe, paying due atten- 
tion to the caution with which such experiments can alone be carried on. . 
Some of the Fungi have been employed in medicine from very early times, and a 
few of the same still continue to be so, as Boletus purgans (B. Laricis). Polyporus 
igniarius and fomentarius, employed as styptics and cathartics, and supposed to be 
included under the Ayaixoy of the Ancients: these the Arabians (Avic. c. 80) and 
Persians refer to, and describe as vulnerary and cathartic, under the name of Gharikoon, 
under which name I obtained in the bazars of India a species of Polyporus. The Fungi 
described by Dioscorides (wep: wuxyrwy. 4. c.73) as of two kinds, one edible and the 
other noxious, are referred to by Avicenna, c.275, under Fittur ; and the two kinds 
are distinguished in Persian works in India, by the names kuma, the esculent, and fittur, 
the poisonous Fungi. The proximate principles of this order, as my friend, Mr. Pereira, 
has briefly stated, are—‘‘ 1. Fungin, a nitrogenous, highly nutritious woody matter ; 2. 
Amanitin, the active ingredient of some of the Agarici; 3. Boletic Acid; 4. Fungic Acid. 
- Mushroom Sugar has been found identical with Mannite.” Oxalic acid, probably in 
the state of a Binovalate, has been detected in Boletus sulphureus, by Dr. Scott of 
Dublin. The Fungus, usually called Ergot of Rye, either possesses, or gives origin in 
_ the grain, which it stimulates into diseased action, to a very.active principle, espe- 
cially useful as a medicinal agent, and named Ergotetia abortifaciens by Mr. Quekett. 
Something similar to this is, I believe, employed by the Hukeems of India in cases 
of the same nature; this would be an interesting subject-of inquiry for some of the 
medical service of India. E Qo es: 
| 207. ALGz, 
