1834 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART HI. 
edge, which are sometimes glutinous. 
(Eng. Fl, v. p. 144.) It was from this 
species that Bracconet obtained the bo- 
letic acid. (See Encyc. of Plants, p. 1007.) 
P. fomentarius Fries, syn. B. fomentarius 
L., and our fig. 1672.; and P. igniarius 
Fries, syn. B. igniarius L., and our jig. 
1671. ; are both used for making amadou, 
or vegetable tinder; the former being considered the best. P. fomentarius 
is also the agaric de chéne, or agaric des chirurgiens, of the French drug- 
gists. To make the amadou, the outer covering is peeled off, and the 
interior part, which is soft and full 
of fibres, is boiled in a lie of wood- 
ashes. It is then dried, and beaten 
with a hammer till it becomes flat ; 
after which it is again boiled ina 
solution of saltpetre. In this state, 
it makes excellent tinder, igniting 
with the slightest spark. The agaric 
des chirurgiens is prepared in the same 
manner, but not boiled in the solution 
of nitre. (See Marguiss Essai, &c.; Dict. Classique @ Hist. Nat. ; Thickness’s 
For. Veg.) The Laplanders are said to cure a violent pain in any part of the 
body by laying a piece of P. fomentarius on the part, and igniting it. (Hng. 
Fi., vol. v. p, 4.) P. vulgaris Fr. and P. mollascus Fr. are common on 
fallen branches. An account of a curious deformed fungus (jig. 1673.), 
apparently a species of Polyporus, was sent to us in the year 1828. This 
es, fungus grew for 10 years on the oak 
wD sein 
sx from which it was taken, and was ¥ We 
Ye 
composed of an aggregate mass of Yyyy” aS 
i A Ly ‘ 
Austria as an article of food ; though the taste is rather acid, and the texture 
tough. It is sometimes found ofenormous size. Mr. Graves found a specimen 
upon an ash pollard that weighed 30 lb. Onthe oakit — 1677 
is generally very small. Hydnum 
Erinaceus Bull., t. 34., and our 
fig. 1675., is found occasionally 
upon the oak; but it is rare in 
Britain. Theléphora rubiginésa 
Schrad., syn. Auricularia ferru- 
1678 ginea Sow., t. 26.; T.spadicea “== Ll 
Pers., syn. Auricularia tabécina Sow. T. quércina Pers. Syn, p. 573., 
Grev. Crypt., t. 142., and our fig. 1676., syn. Auricularia corticalis Bull., 
ear. It is generally found on fallen oak branches, —____zze 1680 
in woods, and is very common. T. hirsuta W. 
OU 
~~ 1679 
t. 436. f. 1., was formerly called oak ear, or oak- = 
bark ear, from some fancied similarity to the human 
( fig. 1677.) is an allied species, and is equally common, Peziza aurantia Pers, 
Syn., p. 637., Grev. Fl. Ed., p. 418., syn. P. coccinea Sow., t. 78., and our 
