A CATALOGUE OF ESCULENT BEITISH FUNGL 119 



(148.) HYDNUM CAPUT-MEDUSiE ; The Medusa's Head. 



Habitat. On trunks of dead trees. Solitary. 



Season. July to September. Rare. 



Habit. Large, fleshy, size of a man's head, snow-white, then 

 dingy. Trunk short, thick, enlarging upwards into a pileus which 

 terminates in a mass of spines. The spines are slender, simple, 

 elongate, pointed, at first upright, then bent, contorted, drooping, 

 irregular, unequal. Odour and taste agreeable. 



Ohs. A singular-looking species, scarce here, but common in Italy, where it 

 is much eaten, and is regarded as an esculent of good quality. — W. D. H. 



(149.) HYDNUM CORALLOIDES ; The Faun's Delight. 



Habitat. ' On old oaks, firs, beeches, and ash trees. Singly, 



Season. July to November. Rare. 



Habit. At first pure white, sprouting like a cauliflower, at 

 length creamy yellow. Trunk fleshy, thick, small at base, spread- 

 ing and branching. Branches attenuate, intricate, interlaced, 

 flexuose, angular, forked, elongate. Branchlets numerous, short, 

 incurved, imbricate, bearing the spines in long, pendant tassels. 

 Odour and taste agreeable. 



Ohs. One may say of this singular and beautiful plant, " When found make 

 a note of," and, it may be added — eat ! Here it is very rare, but abroad it has 

 been pronounced a first-class viand. — W. D. H. 



(150.) HYDNUM ERINACEUS; The Satyr's Beard. 



Habitat. In clefts of old oaks and beeches, often high up and 

 quite hidden. In clumps. 



Season. August to November (?) Uncommon. 



Pileus. Five to nine inches across, yellowish-fawn, pale tan; 

 lateral, obtuse, immarginate, sessile ; upper surface fibrillose, the 

 fibres fasciculate, outer edge bearing spines. Base short, thick, 

 lateral, recurved above. 



Spines. Tint of pileus, numerous, one to three inches long, 

 thin, pendulous, imbricate, regular, close set, connected, soft, 

 attenuate. 



Section. Flesh soft, tough, elastic, white, thick. Odour fra- 

 grant. Taste good. 



Ohs. Not so rare, but hard to find and get at. It is a first-class esculent, 

 digestible, and eats like the Pratelle. — W. D. H. 



