Hydnaceee 



lins, September, 1897. Cap and stem dark brown. Spines darker. Hydnnnu 

 Stem swelling toward base, which then tapers in a long rooting way. 

 Cap umbilicate. Specimens identified by Professor Peck. 



Edible but tough and uninviting. Yields a good fungoid flavor to 

 the water in which it is boiled. 



H. gelatinosum Scop. Transferred to Tremelledon as T. gelatino- 

 sum, under which heading it is described and its edible qualities noted. 



MERIS'MA. Gr. a division. 

 (Very much branched or of an irregular form without a distinct margin.) 



H. coralloi'des Scop. (Plate CXXXIV.) 6-18 in. across. Tufts 

 on wood. Pure shining white growing yellow with age, composed 

 wholly of attenuated interlacing branches % in. at base, tapering to a 

 point. Spines growing from one side of the branches, 3-4 lines in 

 length, awl-shaped. 



Spores globose, 4-6/u. diameter Massee. 



Peck, Rep. 22 ; Indiana, H. I. Miller; Massachusetts, Sprague; Cali- 

 fornia; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mcllvaine. 



Edible. Curtis. 



Grows upon standing and fallen timber which is attacked by decay. 

 Fir, oak, beech, ash, birch, hickory and other trees are inhabited by it. 

 August to frost. 



This beautiful species can not be mistaken for any other. Its name 

 is the best guide to its identification. Dame Nature has made many 

 exquisite decorations for herself and this is one of them. 



It is generally eaten, but is rare. Professor Peck speaks affectionately 

 of it as a gratuitous adjunct to his bill of fare when on botanical tramps 

 in the Adirondacks. 



H. capnt-ur'si Fr. bear-head. 6-8 in. high, 6-8 in. across. Tufts 

 usually pendulous, compact, white, becoming yellow and brownish. 

 Spines up to I in. long, round, pointed. Branches in every direction, 

 short. (Plate CXXXIVa.) 



Closely resembling H. coralloides and in small forms with shorter 

 spines easily mistaken for it. Position of growth has much to do with 



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