CLASSIFICATION OF FUNGI. 67 



waved and drooping, often attached to the stem. 

 They grow on the ground in the woods, and 

 sometimes on rotten wood. The genus com- 

 prises the largest of the Disc fungi known, some 

 species weighing over a pound. Cicero men- 

 tions the Helvellas as a favorite dish of the 

 Romans. 



THE TRUFFLE — delicacy. 



It will be well to finish this section with the 

 mention of the Truffle. It may yet be found 

 in the United States, but hitherto its place of 

 growth has been on the continent of Europe, 

 and especially in France, where it forms an 

 article of commerce, and is highly prized as 

 food. It is subterranean, and requires for its 

 discovery a higher sense of smell than man 

 possesses. It is generally found by the hog 

 and the dog, who are trained to help the truffle 

 hunters. There are some species in our coun- 

 try that resemble it, and grow underneath the 

 ground. One, found in the Southern States, 

 called Khizopogon, grows in sandy soil. This 

 species, however, does not belong to Class 

 II., but to Class I., the Gasteromycetes, or 

 Stomach fungi. It is not likely that the begin- 

 ner will find this mushroom, so no description 

 will be given. 



