722 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



destroy as their mycelium developes. The remains of the caterpillar with th0 

 developed fungus of C. sinensis is a highly esteemed drug in China, where it) 

 is much used as a tonic. 



Gyttaria Darwinii and C. Berteroi are employed for food, the former in 

 Terra del Fuego, and the latter in Chili. 



Elaphomyces granulatus and E. muricatus are sold in Covent Garden Market 

 under the name of Lycoperdon Nuts. They are supposed to possess 

 aphrodisiac properties, and to promote parturition, and the secretion of 

 milk. 



Exidia Auricula Judce, Jew's Ear, is reputed to possess astringent and dis- 

 cutient properties, when applied externally in the form of a decoction, poul- 

 tice, &c. E. hispidula is used in China as a styptic, and as a food mixed in 

 soups, &c. It is known there under the name of Moghi, signifying ears of 

 trees. 



Lycoperdon, the Puflfballs. — When the Lycoperdon giqanteum is submitted 

 to combustion, the volatile emanations arising from it possess a narcotic 

 property. It has been employed in this way to stupify bees when removing 

 honey from the hive, and has been also recommended as an antesthetic agent 

 instead of chloroform. A similar property is also possessed by some other 

 species. 



Merulius lacrymans and M. vastator are two of the Fungi which occur in 

 the disease called Dry Rot. (See Properties and Uses of Fungi.) 



Morchella esculenta, the Morel, is a liighly esteemed edible fungus, which 

 is principally employed for flavouring. It is imported in a dry state from 

 the Continent. 



Mylitla australis is called Native Bread in Australia, where it is much used 

 as food by the natives. This fungus frequently weighs as much as from one 

 to three pounds. Other species, nearly allied to Mylitta australis, are also 

 used in China for food and as medicines. 



Oidium. — The Vine Fungus is commonly supposed to be a species of this or 

 a nearly allied genus. It would appear, however, that the so-called fungus, 

 Oidium, is a mycelial form composed of conidial cells of some other fungus, 

 probably a species of Erysiphe. 



Pachyma Cocos, Fries, is another fungus, allied to Mylitla, which is 

 highly esteemed as a food and medicine by the natives of China, &c., and the 

 Indians of the United States of North America. It is the Tuckahoe or 

 Indian Bread of the United States. 



PenicilUum glaucum, Mucor mucedo, Aspergillus glaucus, Botrytis vul- 

 garis, (kc. (Jigs. 4-6), form the various kinds of Moulds already noticed. 

 (See Properties and Uses of Fungi.) Botrytis infestans is the fungus seen in 

 the Potato disease. The so-called Vinegar plant, which, by its growth in 

 saccharine liquids at moderate temperatures, converts them into vinegar, 

 appears to be a mycelial state of PenicilUum glaucum ; and the Yeast plant, 

 which, by its vegetation at a high temperature, is generally supposed to 

 cause fermentation in bread, beer, &c., would seem likewise to be a mycelial 

 state composed of conidial cells of a species of PenicilUum. 



Polyporus. — P. destructor is one of the Fungi found in the Dry Rot of wood. 

 (See Merulius.) Thin slices of P. igniarius and P. fomentarius, when softened 

 by beating with a mallet, are sometimes employed externally to restrain 

 haamorrhage. Similarly prepared slices, soaked in a solution of nitre, and 

 dried, constitute ^madoM or G'enwaw tinder. When impregnated also with 

 gunpowder, they form black amadou. Amadou has been sometimes used to 

 give support and pressure in certain surgical affections, and as a moxa. P. 

 squamosus and P. betulinus, when pressed, sliced, and prepared by rubbing with 

 pumice, &c., are used to make razor strops. P. officinalis. Larch or White 

 Agaric, has been employed externally as an astringent ; and internally, to 

 check perspiration, and as an emetic, cathartic, &c. It was fonnerly em- 

 ployed as an anthelmintic, but its action is frequently violent. P. anthel- 

 liunticus, a native of Savoy in the Tenasserim Province of the Birman 

 Empire, is known as Shan-mo (Womi mushroom), being there highly es- 

 teemed as an anthelmintic. P. (Boletus) Laricis canadensis, Canadian agaric, 

 is reputed to be a valuable remedy in acute rheumatism. 



Pitccinia graminis is the fungus which produces the Mildew of Wheat. 



