TUCKAHOE, OR INDIAN BREAD; G91 



indisputable authority. In the future, then, when we read of the nutri- 

 tive properties, of Tuckahoo, and that it aflords the chief article of sus. 

 t«nauce for the Indians, w^o shall know that nothing more definite was 

 referred to than an edible root. 



For the substance now quite familiar as Tuckahoe we will adopt the 

 name Facliyma cocos Fr., and proceed with a discussion of its many in- 

 teresting features, giving, first, 

 The Synonyms: ^ 



Fachyma cocos, Fries, fol. 2, p. 242, in 1822. 

 soUdum, Oken, p. 93, in 1825. 

 pinetorum, Horaninow, pj). 2-23, in 1856. 

 coniferarum, Horaninow. 

 Lycoperdon solidum, Clayton, p. 170, in 17G2. 

 sckrocium, l^Tuttall, p. 200, in 1820. 

 cervinum, Walter, p. 2G2, in 1788. 

 Sclerocium cocos, Schweinitz, p. 56, in 1823. 

 giganteum, MacBride, 1817. 

 TucJchaus rugosus, Eafiuesque, vol. 2, p. 255, in 1830. 

 MacBride stated that Tuckahoe was thought by some to be the root 

 of the Eryilirina herhacea, or Convolvolus panduratus (Trans. Lin. Soc, 

 June 8, 1817), but this supposition is so far from a semblance to truth 

 that these names should not be included in the synonymy. The other 

 names refer to the same substance beyond a doubt, as shown in the case 

 of several by the quotations akqady made and also by the derivations 

 of the names. 



The generic designation Fachyma is from -azy? — thick — referring to the 

 thick skin ; cocos from cocoes — a cocoa nut, which it resembles. P. solidum 

 is evidently given on account of its solid nature, which distinguishes it 

 from other species of Fachyma. F. pinetorum is from pinus — a pine — 

 around whose root it was found, as stated by Fries, in the extract already 

 given ; and also von Schweinitz, Am. Phil. Trans, for 1823, p. 2G1 : " I have 

 found it among the pines of Carolina." Coniferarum is from conifer — cone- 

 bearing — as the pine and fir, as first mentioned. Other botanists, think- 

 ing that it was similar to the mushroom in the character of its growth, 

 gave to it the same generic name — Lycoperdon — differentiating it from 

 other species by the characteristic which appeared to them the most 

 striking, as L. solidum, L. ccrvinum, from cervinus — like a stag's horn — 

 a shape which Tuckahoe sometimes assumes. 



The first analysis made of it was by Torrey in 1819, which is sum- 

 marized as follows : In an elaborate analysis of this fungus it was found 

 that no gluten enters into its composition, but that it consists almost en- 

 tirely of a peculiar vegetable principle, which he calls scUrotin {Silliman''s 

 Journal, v. 2, p. 369). This confirmed the view held by MacP>ride, 

 that it belonged to the genus Sclerotium of Persoon, and, considering 

 it an unnamed species, he was pleased to call it S. giganteum. Nuttall, 



