574 



MUSHROOMS, EDIBLE AND OTHERWISE 



In fructification a stalk rises from the body of the insect or larva and in the 

 enlarged extremity of this the perithecia are grouped. The stroma is vertical and 

 fleshy, head distinct, hylaine or colored ; sporidia repeatedly divided and sub- 

 moniliform. 



Cordyccps Hcrculco. (Schw,) Sacc. 



Herculea is so called from its large size. 

 The halftone will readily identify this species. 

 The plant is quite large, clavate in form, the 

 head oblong, round, slightly tapering up- 

 ward with a decided protuberance at the 

 apex, as will be seen in Figure 491. The 

 head is a light yellow in all specimens I 

 found, not alutaceous as Schw. states, nor is 

 the head obtuse. I found several specimens 

 on a sidehill in Haynes's Hollow in August 

 and September, all growing from bodies of 

 the large white grubs which are found about 

 rotten wood. They were found during wet 

 weather. They were identified by both Dr. 

 Feck and Dr. Herbst. 



Cordyccps 111 Hit oris: Pr. 



This is much smaller and more common 

 than C. Herculea. Conidia Subcsspitose, 

 white ; stem distinct, simple, becoming 

 smooth ; clubs incrassated, mealy ; Conidia 

 globose. Ascophore Fleshy, orange-red ; 

 head clavate, tuberculose ; stem equal; 

 sporidia long, breaking up into joints. This is frequently called Torrubia militaris. 

 It is known as the caterpillar fungus. Its spores are cylindrical and are 

 produced upon orange-red fruiting bodies in the fall. As soon as the spore falls 

 on the caterpillar it sends out germ-threads which penetrate the caterpillar. Here 

 the threads form long narrow spores which break off and form other spores until 



Figure 491. Cordyccps herculea. Showing 

 the grub upon which this species grows. 



