140 A CATALOGUE OF ESCULENT BRITISH FUNGI. 



(203.) HELVELLA GIGAS ; The Big Helvel. 



Habitat. On sandy soil under ti'ees. Solitary. 



Seaso7i. April and May, September and October. Rare. 



Pileus. Dusky brown above, whitish on under surface, large, 

 lobed, undulate, plicate, costate with white lines ; the lobes down- 

 curved and adpressed to stem. Margins irregularly sinuate and 

 crisped. 



Stem. Three to six inches high, thick, smooth, glossy, canali- 

 culate. Substance thick, whitish, elastic. Odour strong. Taste 

 good. 



Obs. Seldom met •with here. It is of first-class esculent quality. — W. D. H. 



(204.) HELVELLA LACUNOSA ; The Mitred Helvel. 



Habitat. On sandy soils in woods, among grass and moss. In 

 groups. 



Season. April and May, September to November. Common. 



Pileus. Bistre or dark grey, inflated, in two or three lobes, 

 these erect from centre, curving, deflexed, adnexed at margins. 



Stem. Two to three inches high, whitish, dingy, thick, firm, 

 very costate, lacunose. Substance white, thick, elastic, hollow. 

 Odourless. Taste good. 



Obs. With the rest in chajjter vii. Of excellent quality. — IF. D. H. 



Genus LEOTIA. 



(205.) LEOTIA LUBRICA ; The Lizard-tuft. (PL XLIX. fig. 5.) 



Habitat. On the gixjund in woods. In tufts. 



Season. June to October. Not very common. 



Pileus. Small, one inch across, greenish yellow, soft, gelatinous, 

 tremulous, broadly wi-inkled, smooth, viscid ; convex, obtuse, 

 irregularly undulate. Margin revolute on stem. 



Stem. One to three inches high, tint of pileus, cylindrical, 



slender, soft, pulpy or hollow. Flesh slight, gelatinous. Odourless. 



Taste bland. 



Obs. Small and slight, but quite good. It may be eaten with Helvels. — 

 W. D. II. 



Genus MORCIIELLA. 

 Obs. The Morels are included in chapter vii. They are true luxuries, being 

 the most dainty in flavour and nutritive in substance of all mushrooms. Their 



