A HISTORY OF SUSSEX 



Graphidiei [continued) — Pyrenocarpei 



Opegrapha Turneri, Leight. Eastbourne Verrucaria irridula, Schrad. Eastbourne 



— herpetica, Ach. Hastings — mauroides, Schoer. On flints 



— „ var. rufescens, Pers. Hastings — biformis, Borr. Eastbourne 



— inusta, Ach. Eastbourne — nitida, Weig. On trees 



— dendritica, Ach. Trees — „ var. nitidella, Flk. „ 

 Stigmatidium crassum, Dub. Eastbourne — gemmata, Ach. „ 

 Arthonia astroidea, Ach. Trees — epidermidis, Ach. „ 



— cinnabarina, Wallr. On oaks — olivacea, Borr. Eastbourne 



— pruinosa, Ach. Eastbourne 



FUNGI 



Since Sussex abounds in woodlands, parklands and copses, these 

 together with its commons and downs render it rich with respect to 

 the fungi, and of late years much attention has been paid to this very 

 interesting division of our cryptogams. Both the West and the East 

 Sussex Natural History Societies have engaged their members in what 

 have been named ' fungus forays ' with excellent results. While some 

 fungi are poisonous and beautiful others are esculent and delicious. I 

 have eaten about twenty species, and among these may be commended 

 Lactarius deliciosus, Hydnum repandum. Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius 

 and Hehella crispa. Lycoperdon giganteum was, I was told by Mr. 

 W. Cooke of Chichester, one of the best of the fungi he knew. In 

 east Sussex Agarkus procerus^ Fistulina hepatica and Coprinus crispus have 

 been well spoken of with Agarkus gambosus; but the last species I have 

 heard of as productive of violent pains. Indeed great care should be 

 taken with respect to certain kinds represented by Badham and others as 

 good for food. Of the rarer species, Entoloma jubatus has been mentioned 

 as occurring near Goudhurst, and Clkophilus popinalis at Worthing, while 

 Spharia fraxinkola has been found near Lewes, and S. triglochinkola near 

 Ringmer. Lists of the epiphyllous fungi have been published by the 

 Chichester, the Eastbourne and the Hastings Natural History Societies. 



The morell, Morchella esculetita, is one of the most delicious of our 

 Sussex species. It grows above ground and is plentiful in many of our 

 beech woods and hangers. I have eaten none better than those from 

 Sutton and Stansted. Somewhat similar in flavour is the truffle [Tuber 

 cibarium), which also loves the shadows of the beech and the chalky soil 

 of our downs ; they grow entirely underground. Patching was noted 

 for its abundance of truffles. The Sussex truffler I am told trains his 

 dog, a cross between a poodle and a terrier, by habituating it to their 

 scent, and carries an ash staff with a pointed head at one end to dig up 

 the truffle, and a two-pronged fork at the other to clear away the ground. 

 The time for hunting for them is from September to December, and 

 some of the best are got when the dead leaves are rotting at the tree 

 roots. 



The most extraordinary of our esculent species is the crisped 

 sparassis {Sparassk crispa), cream-coloured and of a delightful fragrance. 

 It has been known to attain a diameter of eighteen inches and resembles 



bb 



