ance. Its cap is very narroAv and mucli elongated so that it is 

 trumpet-sliaped, or it may be compared to a cornucopia or horn 

 of plenty. It is very thin, dry, hollow, flexible and slightly 

 tough. It is grayish-brown, ash color, dark, smoky brown, or 

 sometimes almost black. The margin is erect or spreading like 

 the margin of a trumpet's mouth, and it may be regular or wavy, 

 folded, lobed or split. The surface is usually slightly marked 

 or rouohened bv a few fibrous tufts or scales. The cavitv of the 

 cap extends to its base. The lower or spore-bearing surface, 

 which, from the shape of the cap, becomes rather the outer or 



external surface, is a little 

 uneven or wrinkled and is 

 colored similar to but often 

 a little paler than the up- 

 per surface. The stem is 

 extremely short or almost 

 wanting. 



The plant is two to four 

 inches high and one to two 

 inches broad at the top. 

 It grows gregariously or in 

 clusters in woods and shady 

 places, on naked earth and 

 banks or among moss and fallen leaves. A favorite place of 

 growth is in or along old aband'^ned or unused roads in woods 

 Xt may be found from July to September, and probably later in 

 the season in more southern localities. 



Several French VTiters record this as edible, but admit that it 

 is not very popular because of its thin flesh and dark color. Dr. 

 Cooke says that his first trial was so satisfactory that he never 

 missed an opportunity afterwards of gathering it for the table, 

 and he savs that a friend, who learned from him of its edible 

 qualities, now thinks nothing of walking six or eight miles to 

 procure a dish of it. 



The last familv to be here noticed is the Clararieae, and the 

 genus to which our edible species belong is Clavaria. This 

 name is derived from the Latin word clava, which means a club. 

 It has reference to the shape of some of the plants belongmg to 

 this genus. The plants are sometimes called "fairy clubs." !N"o 

 cap is present in these plants. They are more like simple or 

 branched stems without caps. The simple ones are sometimes 

 gradually thickened toward the top, and therefore club-shaped; 

 the branching plants are often so abundantly supplied with 



Hydnuni repaiuUiiii. Craterelliis cornucopioides. 



78 



