41 



FUNGUSES. 



The day's walk had been singularly unproductive so far as Funguses are 

 concerned, although it had been over promising ground. This was probably 

 owing to the cold nights from the easterly winds that have lately prevailed. 

 But one single specimen was found, and that was a young Poliiporus sulfureus 

 on a gatepost, made probably of yew tree, which is the tree this fungus more 

 especially affects. Some interesting specimens had, however been forwarded for 

 exhibition. Mr. Hereford, of Sufton, had sent a 



Ltcopeedon Giganteum, the Giant Puff-ball, 

 nearly two pounds in weight, which was sent round the room that the members 

 might observe its smooth white surface— like Md leather— and so be able to 

 recognise a very common and very excellent edible fungus. It often grows to a 

 much larger size than the one shown, but if this one had been recently gathered, 

 it would have been cooked and very gladly welcomed at their table to-day. 

 Simply cut in slices half an inch thick, with yolk of egg over the surface, and 

 fried with fine herbs, it makes delicious omelettes— such omelettes as are to 

 be met with and enjoyed every day on the Continent, but which our English 

 cooks do not sufficiently appreciate. Perhaps it is the cost of eggs that causes 

 their rarity here, but then the slices of puff-balls supply their place, and hence 

 it is that this fungus has been called " the vegetable egg." Should the re- 

 quirements of the table, however, demand a sweetmeat instead of an ordinary 

 omelette, the vegetable egg is equal to the occasion. Let it be fried simply with 

 the yolk of egg, and a little white sugar be sprinkled over it, and an excellent 

 dish is at once produced. 



Another fungus of a very singular and fanciful appearance was then 

 shown. It had been sent by Arthur Armitage, Esq., Vice-President, and 

 grew at Cubberly, near Ross. It was as rare as it was peculiar and interesting. 

 It was one of the stellate puff-balls, the 



Geasteb QuADitiFiDHS. Pers.— The Arched Puff-balL 

 (Geaster Fornicatus— ^?%) 



In its young state it is a small puff -ball, with a short stem enclosed in 

 a double membrane (or peridium), like a ball. As it grows, these wrappers are 

 opened with a cross split, and the inner one becomes arched up, raising up 

 with it the small puff-ball. It then presents itself as a small globe, sup- 

 ported on four arched rays, which rest by their points on the four points of the 

 outer wrapper, which forms an inverted arch, and is usually below the surface 

 of the soil in which it grows. These characteristics distinguish it from every 

 other form of stellate p\iff-ball, and when once it has been seen it can never 



afterwards be mistaken. 



Medicago Maculata. Si6f/i.— Spotted Medick. 



Specimens of this British plant were next shown. It is not uncommon as 

 an occasional weed in the middle and south of England, but it has recently been 



