INTRODUCTION. 



Phalloids are in many respects the most remarkable fungi that 

 grow. Usually they are excessively fetid, and persons who would 

 pass by an ordinary fungus without noticing it have their attention 

 strongly fixed when they chance upon one of these "ill-smelling things." 

 In addition they assume most bizarre shapes and often bright colors. 

 I hope these features, probably intended by nature to attract flies, will 

 attract the attention of those to whom this pamphlet is sent. 



From the very nature of phalloids, they should be studied in the 

 countries where they grow. Accurate work can not be done in Europe 

 with such fugitive plants, and a large part of what has been written 

 on the subject is not reliable. More has been added to our knowledge 

 by the observations of Penzig, Moeller, Fetch, Long, and Cobb, in 

 very recent years, than from all other sources, and these men observed 

 and studied the phalloids in the countries where they grow. 



It was with the view of summarizing what is known of the 

 phalloid subject and making it available to students in all parts of 

 the world that this pamphlet has been written. We hope to interest 

 observers in such unworked fields as India, Japan, Australia, West 

 Indies, and South America (except portions of Brazil). We should 

 be glad if any observer in any country where the phalloids are not 

 well known (cfr. page 6) would publish with good photographs an 

 account of such species as he observes. We believe that all the well- 

 known species can be readily determined from this pamphlet. 



We trust, however, that this will not lead to a flood of "new 

 species" by inexperienced observers. The species of phalloids, like 

 all fungi, are widely distributed, and wherever you may be located 

 most of the phalloids you will find are recorded in this work. They 

 may differ in unimportant details and seem new to you, but we strongly 

 advise you before publishing to first submit a good photograph, color 

 notes, and a dried specimen to Professor Ed. Fischer or to myself 



for an opinion. 



C. G. LLOYD, 



63 rue Buffon, Paris, France. 



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