A CATALOGUE OF BRITISH POISONOUS FUNGI. 187 



OBBEB TUBE RACE I. 



Genus ELAPHOMYCES. 



(LIU.) ELAPHOMYCES GRANTJLATUS ; The Lycoperdon 

 Nut. (PI. LI. fig. 6.) 



Habitat. Undergronnd, in pine woods and heaths. In clusters. 



Season. February to June. Uncommon. 



Habit. Ovate, one to two inches' diameter, globular, rootless. 

 Peridium tawny, or earth-colour, becoming whitish when dry, 

 hard, rigid, covered with small angular papillae. 



Section. Flesh reddish-white at first, soon brown, becoming 

 purple-brown powder mingled with white filaments. Odour 

 slightly aromatic. Taste unpleasant. 



Obs. Sold by herbalists under the above English name as an aphrodisiac. 

 It is questionable whether it possesses that quality, and though it has also been 

 deemed poisonous, there seems reason to su^^pose it is actually inert. At any 

 rate, it should not be mistaken for an edible Truffle. — W^ D. H. 



