DESCRIPTION OF A EARE FUNGUS*, SPARASSIS 

 CRISPA FRIES, FOUND AT BRADFORD ABBAS IN 

 SEPTEMBER, 1875. 



(BY E. LEES, ESQ., F.L.S., F.G.S.) 



My friend, Professor Buckman, sent me in September last a very 

 remarkable Fungus, which he had gathered under some trees near 

 his residence. It proved on examination to be a specimen of the 

 very rare Sparassis crispa, which has only recently been observed in 

 England, and Dr. Cooke, in his " Handbook of British Fungus," has 

 only named two places where it has been found. A specimen was, 

 however, exhibited at Hereford in 1874, gathered near the Wrekin 

 in Shropshire. 



The Sparassis crispa may be described as forming a roundish mass 

 of crisp, pale, yellowish, intricate, fleshy, but brittle, branches, rather 

 broader and serrate at the extremities, curled and folded, variously 

 tubed, the whole springing from a thick rooting stem, the greater 

 part of which is concealed in the soil. From 4 to about 12 inches in 

 diameter. 



Mr. M. J. Berkeley states that " the hymenium is more or less un- 

 even, and rather wrinkled or rough, with wart-like elevations." The 

 fungus becomes first yellowish, then brown, and though persistent 

 for a fortnight or three weeks, resolves itself finally into a liquid, 

 loathsome mass. 



There is only one species of the genus Sparassis that has hitherto 

 been found in Britain, and this is of very rare occurrence, so that it 

 has been a fortunate find for the Cryptogamic Flora of Dorset. It 

 is said to be esculent, but being so rare in England it is not likely to 

 displace more mycological delicacies. But perhaps should it turn 

 up another season at Bradford Abbas, the worthy Professor, near 

 whose residence it was found, will give it the benefit of " pot-luck " 

 for I presume it would have to be stewed. 



The plate shows it the natural size, with an enlarged section of the 

 stem, and the sporules magnified 200 diameters. 



* This rare example of Fungus was found by my youngest son, Percy W. J. 

 Buckman, at Potter's Lease, a famous fox covert. ED. 



