692 TUCKAHOE, OR INDIAN BREAD. 



a year later, thinking that it belonged to the genus Lycoperdon, and 

 recognizing its predominating constituent as determined by Torrey, 

 called it L. sderocium. Schweiuitz also considered it as belonging to 

 the Sderocium of Persoon, but specialized it by cocos, by reason of its 

 external appearance and shape. The appellation of Eafinesque was 

 altogether fanciful — TucMaus, from the common name Tuckahoe, and 

 rugosus from its roughened exterior. So it happened that the synonymy 

 has become so extensive— Not knowing the character of the formation, 

 the manner of reproduction, nor its chemical constituents, each writer, 

 forming a theory of his own, gave it a name in accordance therewith. 

 By general consent we have adopted the name of Fries — Pachi/ma cocos — 

 which will be equally applicable should we be compelled to alter our 

 views upon any or all of its salient features. 



The next point to be observed is some of its ascribed 

 Affinities. — It is quite reasonable to suppose that wherever the req- 

 uisite conditions for the growth or formation of P. cocos exist similar 

 structures may be found, with the same or different names. The 

 synonyms just given were all applied to the species found in America, 

 the common name of which is the same in all localities, with various 

 secondary appellations, as "Indian Bread,"" Indian Head," and "Indian 

 Loaf." That there is at least one similar tuber in China is shown by 

 Smith, in " Materia Medica of China," p. IGG, ^^ Pachyma cocos^^ (Fuhling). 

 This fungal growth, which is both food and medicine for the omnivorous 

 , Chinese, is met with in the form of large tubers, having a corrugated, 

 blackish -brown skin, and consisting internally of a hard starchy sub- 

 stance, of a white color, but sometimes tinged with pale or brown, es- 

 pecially towards the outside. The tuber is sometimes perforated by 

 an irregular channel, lined with a red membrane markiug its attach- 

 ment to some root. They are met with on the sites of old fir planta- 

 tions, or actually connected with living trees. A similar stuff is found 

 in Japan and South Carolina, where it is called Indian bread. It is 

 ground up, mixed with rice -flour, and made into small cakes, which 

 are hawked about all hot in the early morning. They are set down as 

 good in febrile and dyspeptic complaints." In Cleyer's and Hanbury's 

 " Materia Medica" like statements are made. It is known in China by a 

 variety of names, as : Fuhling, Pu-fuhling, Pefolim, and Pu-foohling. In 

 Burmah it is called Tsein aphotaroup. From Dr. Barbeck, of Phila- 

 delphia, I have the following information: ^^PacJiyma tiiher regium 

 Fries (diameter varying from 3 to 5 inches, surface rougli and strobic- 

 ulate) is found in the Moluccas, growing in the groupd like our Tucka- 

 hoe. It is called by the natives Ubi Eadja, Culat-Batu, or Ulta-Batu, 

 and furnishes a favorite remedy for diarrhea, fever, and other diseases. 

 From this Pachyma a mushroom {Agaricus tuber regium Fr.) is devel- 

 oped, which is edible, though rather poor. Also in China there is a 

 similar Sclerotium (size of a child's head, surface shriveled, color yel- 



