A CATALOGUE OF ESCULENT BRITISH FUNGI. 135 



Habitat. Underground, or partially exposed. Beneath beeches 

 and poplars. Clustered. Common locally. 



Habit. Rounded, oval, tubei'ous. Peridium bright rusty-brown, 

 minutely tomentose, without base, attached by creeping fibres. 

 Interior black, variegated by whitish or buffish veins, which are 

 the walls of cells inclosing the black pulp. Odour musky. Taste 

 good. 



Obs. At one time much found about Bath, and sold in the market there. It 

 ia also eaten in France ; but it is an esculent vastly inferior to the true Truffles. 

 —W. D. H. 



OBDEB TBICHOGASTBES. 



Genus B OVIST A. 



(190.) BOYISTA NIGRESCENS ; The Black Puff-ball. 



Habitat. On the ground in meadows and fields. Scattered. 



Season. June to October. Common. 



Habit. Grlobose, about one and a half inches in diameter, sessile, 

 attached at base. Peridium double, outer coat whitish, smooth, 

 flaking off ; inner coafc becoming black, papyraceous, tough. Flesh 

 at first whitish, becoming coloured, eventually purple-brown dust. 

 Odourless. Taste good. 



Obs. While young, the flesh unstained and solid, it is good. — W. D. H. 



(191.) BOVISTA PLUMBEA; The Leaden Puff-ball. (PL XV. 

 fig. 1.) 



Habitat. In fields and meadows. Scattered. 



Season. June to October. Common. 



Habit. Globose, about one inch in diameter, sessile, base 

 attached by rootlets. Peridium double, outer coat white, flaking 

 off ; inner coat becoming lead-grey, smooth, papyi'aceous, flexible. 

 Flesh at first whitish, becoming discoloured, eventually brown 

 dust. Odourless. Taste good. 



Obs. Like the last. Edible whilst the flesh is white and solid. — IF. D.H. 



Genus LYCOPERDON. 



Obs. Puii-balls of any speciea are esculent if, when cut, they exhibit a solid 

 white substance throughout. It is to be noted that even when the capillitium 



