PROPERTIES OF CRTPTOGAMIC PLANTS. 67 



Orange Agaric. 

 Found in end of 

 Spring, in woods. 

 Grows through- 

 out Europe. 



Agaricus aurantiaciis, Bull., 120 ; Roques ; 

 D. C, Fl. Fr. 562. 



Amanita aurantiaca^ Pers., Syn. 252. 



Agaricus ccesareus, All., Fl. Red. 339. 

 " speciostis, Tourn., Fl. de Toul. 286. 



Fungus orhicularis aureus, Mich., Gen. PI. ^ 



This plant, which does not correspond with the A. aurantius 

 of the Crypt. Eng., is said by Roques, who devotes some attention 

 to it, to have an exquisite taste and delicate perfume. He regards 

 the Orange Agaric as the finest and most delicate of mushrooms. 

 It was known among the Romans, under the name of Boletus. 

 Tlie Greeks also called them Bolites, and preferred them to all 

 other mushrooms. The celebrated gastronome, Apicius (De 

 Fungorum Apparatu), has traced in all its detail its mode of 

 preparation ; and Horace, Seneca, Juvenal, Pliny, Martial, and 

 Suetonius, have mentioned it. Juvenal speaks thus of their 

 preference : 



" Vilibus ancipites fungi ponentur amicis ; 

 Boletus domino." 



Martial also alludes to it, thus : 



"Argentum atque aurum, lenamque, togamque, 

 Mittere : boletus mittere difficile est." 



Ep. 48, 13. 



" Die milii quis furor est, turba spectante vocata, 

 Solus boletus, Ceciliane, voras." 



Ep. 20, 1. 



Nero called it Cihns Deorum. 



This species should be distinguished from the Amanita mus- 

 caria. The former has a complete volva, whilst in the latter it is 

 incomplete, and exhales a disagreeable odor, whilst in the A. 

 OAwa/ntiacus it is agreeable. The poisonous species is spotted on 

 the top, whilst the other is of a yellow orange color, without 

 spots. 



Roques advises us to be on our guard in selecting these plants, 

 citing the instance of the Cardinal Caprara, who was poisoned by 

 confounding them. Roques, Hist, des Champs. Comest. 344. 



AgaHous purus, Pers. I j,^^^ ^ g_ ^ , ^^^^ ^_ ^^ 



" roseus, Bull. ) ° 



According to Krapf (Champ. Comest.), it is extremely dan- 

 gerous, neither boiling nor drying being sufficient to deprive it 



