Order Hymenomycetes. Tribe Pileati. 



Plate LXV. 



FISTULINA HEPATICA, wMenn^. 



Liver of the Oak. 



Gen. Char. Hymenium formed of a distinct substance, but concrete with the fibres of the pDeus. Tubes at 

 first wart-like, somewhat remote, closed, radiato-fimbriate, at length approximate, elongated, open. Name from 

 the fistidose uatm'e of the hymenium. 



Spec. Cliar. PisTDLiNA hepatica. Fleshy, but juicy, rootless, pileus undivided, roundish, dimidiate, spathu- 

 late, sometimes substipitate, margin obtuse, rich red-brown tinged with vermilion, studded with minute stellate, 

 furfuraceous tufts, the rudiments of tubes. Substance thick and juicy, marbled like the section of an ox tongue' 

 consisting of fibres which spring from the base, distilling a red pellucid juice whicli oozes out from different parts 

 of the plant. Hymenium at first covering the whole nodular process ; as that becomes spathulate, convex, elegantly 

 tinged with shades of red or vermOion, dotted with rose-like somewhat remote radiated warts, which form a veil to 

 the young tubes ; as the pileus expands the tubes elongate, become approximate, straw-coloured or pale olive-yellow, 

 and are jagged at their orifices. Flavom- like A. campestris but acid. 

 FiSTTJLlNA hepatica, WitJiering, Fries, Berkeley, Greville. 



buglossoides, Bulliard. 



Boletus hepaticus, Schceffer, Sowerby, Persoon. 



Hah. On various trees, principally oaks. August and September. 



There are but two members of the geuus Fistulina known, one only, our present subject, being Euro- 

 pean; it is therefore an easily ascertained fungus, about which there can be no error. In its fully 

 matured state it resembles a Polyporus, whence Schseifer and others have called it Boletus (the old name 

 for all tubed funguses). On making a section of a full-grown plant, it will be found composed of fibres 

 which all take their origin at the base, running up to the pored surface ; on tearing the pileus wliich is 

 easily done in that direction, every bundle of fibres brings with it a certain proportion of tubes, which arc 

 concrete with the ends of these fibres, although formed of a distinct substance. This alone will not sufficiently 

 distinguish the Fistuhna from some of the Polyporuses : P. giganteus, for instance, which can be ruptured 

 in the same manner ; but in tliis case the tubes are not only concrete with the pileus, but connected among 

 themselves by dissepiments ; you cannot separate an isolated tube, whereas in Fistulina each tube is distinct 

 in itself, and when dried they curl and twist, looking Kke spines, particularly if their fringed mouths had 

 not previously opened ; their extreme depth is half an inch. 



In the neighbourhood of Hayes, where very ancient pollard oaks abound, Fistulina hejmtica is very 

 common ; we have never found it on any other tree, although it is said to grow on otlrers, and in Italy often 

 sprouts out from the chestnut, an eloquent " Tongue," proclaiming its own excellence, and inviting the 

 passenger to eat it, according to Monsieur Paulet, who is answerable for this comical poetic flight. It is 

 found also on younger oaks, if they have been wounded, aud are not in a thriving condition ; it grows 

 frequently high up in the tree. Tliirty pounds weight, in specimens weighing from a quarter of a pound 

 to two or three pounds each, have several times been collected at one quest. 



