133 A CATALOGUE OF ESCULENT BRITISH FUNGI. 



wtite, soon brownish. Peridium thin, membranaceous, areolatp 

 strongly plicate underneath. Flesh dense, spongy, white, then 

 brown and dusty. Odour slight. Taste good. 



Obs. Of fair quality, though somewhat spongy. — W. D. II. 



Genus SCLERODERMA. 



(198.) SCLEEODERMA VULGARE ; The Earth-ball. (PI. XV. 

 fig. 4) 



Habitat. In or near woodlands. Singly or in groups. 



Season. August to October. Common. 



Habit. Two to five inches in diameter, globose, irregular, base 

 rooting. Peridium yellowish or brown, hard, corky, thick, squar- 

 I'ose, vei'rucose, areolate or dehiscent. Flesh whitey-grey, mai'bled, 

 becoming nearly black. Odour strong, aromatic. Taste mild. 



Obs. Edible in youth according to Vittadini. I have found it far from com- 

 mendable, and it is too closely like S. verrucosa, which is held to be poisonous. 

 S. bovista alio seems to be edible, at least — innoxious. — W. D. H. 



ORDER ELVELLAGEL 



Genus BULGARIA. 



(199.) BULGARIA INaUIlTANS; The Black Bulgar. 

 (PI. XLIX. fig. 7.) 



Habitat. On logs, stumps, and deadwood, chiefly of oak. In 

 groups or tufts. 



Season. April and May, August to October when wet. Un- 

 common. 



Habit. Conical, truncate, tiu-binate, sessile, brown-black, one to 

 two inches in diameter. Exterior rugulose, furfuraceous, lacunose. 

 Disc at first saucer-shaped, margin upturned as a brim ; then 

 plane, perhaps slightly convex, smooth. Flesh brown, thick, 

 tough, elastic, gelatinous. Odourless. Taste unpleasant. 



Ofis. An inferior esculent, though reported to have been largely eaten 

 abroad at times when it was plentiful and other food scarce. It yields a good 

 dye, like sepia. — IV. D. II. 



Germs GYROMITRA. 

 (200.) GYROMITRA ESCULENTA ; The Lorchel. (PI. XLIX. 



fig. 1.) 

 Habitat. In woods of pine and fir. In clusters. 

 Season. April and May, October and November. Common 

 locally. 



