163 



672. POLTPORUS OFFICINALIS, Fries. 



a. Fungns. (White, or Larch, or Female Agaric.) 

 Note. This fungus is s native of the South of Europe and Asia, and 

 grows upon the larch. It has a bitter acrid taste, and was formerly usod 

 as an emetic and cathartic, and aa an anti-sudorific in phthisis. See 

 Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 55. It was formerly an ingredient in 

 hiera picra. Bee Pomet, Hitt. of Drugs, p. 172. 



673. PUCCINIA QRAMINIS, Per*. (Corn Mildew.) 



a. Fungus. 



Note. This fungus is very common on wheat. It is found on the 

 stems, etc. It belongs to the natural order Pucciniaei. 



674. SPHJBRIA SINENSIS, Berk. 



a. Fungus and caterpillar. 



Note. This curious fungus is figured in Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii. , pt.i., 

 p. 52, and in P. J. [1], ii., p. 591. It is a fungus which grows upon 

 the larva of a moth, and is said to possess cordial and restorative proper- 

 ties. It is very scarce ; old and rotten specimens being worth four times 

 their weight in silver. See P. J. [1], ii., p. 592. A similar fungus is 

 found in New Zealand on the larva of Hepiolus virescens, Doubleday. 

 See P. J. [1] , iv., p. 206. 



675. TUBER JESTIVUM, Sibth.; TUBER CIBARIUM, Sow. (Truffle.) 



a. Fungus. 



Note. Truffles are chiefly used as a flavouring agent for culinary pur- 

 poses. Truffles grow beneath the surface of the ground in beechwood or 

 chalky downs, and are hunted for by dogs or pigs trained for the purpose 

 which find them by the peculiar odour of the fungus. See Per. Mat. 

 Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 51. Like many other fungi they have been stated 

 to possess aphrodisiac properties. They belong to the natural order 

 Tuberacei. 



ALG^E. 



676. ALSIDIUM HELMINTHOCORTON, Kutz. ; PLOCARIA HELMINTHOCORTON, 



Endl. 



a. Thallus. (Corsican Moss.) 



Note. This seaweed is used in Corsica as a remedy for intestinal 

 worms, especially ascarides. For fig. of the plant, see Per. Mat. Med., 

 vol. ii., pt. i., p. 17. It belongs to the natural order Rhodomeleae. 



677. CHONDRUS CRISPUS, Lyngb. 



a. Thallus. (Carragheen Moss, Irish Moss.) 

 Note. Irish moss is often mixed with other species of algae of which 

 the most frequent are Gigartina mamillosa, J. A., and G. acicularis, 

 Lamour. G. mamillosa is distinguished by being slightly channelled 

 towards the base, and by having the fructification in little elevated or 

 stalked tubercles that of C. crispus being immersed in the frond, or 

 scarcely raised above it. G. acicularis has a filiform thallus with di- 

 varicate branches. All, when growing, are of a purplish colour, which 

 changes during drying into yellowish green or white. Pharmacographia, 

 p. 681. For fig. see Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., pp. 10, 11 ; and Bentley 

 and Trimen, Med. Plants, tab. 305. 



