I 7 4 TEXT-BOOK OF FUNGI 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF FUNGI 



Our knowledge respecting the fungus flora of tropical 

 countries is as yet too imperfect to admit of any detailed, 

 or even approximate, account of the distribution of the 

 various groups of fungi being attempted. Although evi- 

 dence is not lacking as to the existence of Agarics and 

 other fleshy fungi in tropical forests, the difficulty in pre- 

 serving such in a condition to be afterwards recognised, 

 even generically, is so great that it is but rarely attempted. 

 On the other hand, the dry, woody, or corky substance 

 characteristic of tropical species belonging more especially 

 to Polyporaceae and Thelephoraceae renders their collec- 

 tion and preservation so easily accomplished, that such 

 have been spoken of as specially characteristic of tropical 

 regions. This, however, is not a fact, as in those few 

 instances where persons resident in the tropics have made 

 mycology a special study, the result has been to show that 

 representatives of all known families are present. As 

 instances of such careful work done in tropical and sub- 

 tropical countries, may be instanced the extensive collec- 

 tions, accompanied by coloured figures and full notes, 

 made by Thwaites in Ceylon, and described by Berkeley 

 and Broome, by Wright in Cuba, and by Moller in South 

 America. 



Fungi, being either parasitic or saprophytic on the higher 

 plants, consequently follow closely in the wake of the 

 latter; and perhaps, speaking broadly, it may be stated 

 that fungi are most aggressive and numerous where their 

 hosts are placed under a disadvantage. Instances of this 

 kind are too well known in the instance of most cultivated 



