196 



HISTORY OP THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



using the refuse of the olive presses. In the 

 Landes of the south of France, the earth under 

 oak trees is sometimes kept continually moist 

 by water in which the boletus ediilis has been 

 boiled; whence, it is said, arises an abundant 

 crop of that species which, we arc told, resem- 

 bles the cocoa nut in taste. 



Agaricus mitscarius, or Fly-blown mushroom, 

 Plate XXXVlll. Thissplendidspeciesisanative 

 of IJritain, and very abundant in Scotland. It 

 has a large cap sometimes six inches in diameter, 

 of a brilliant pink or crimson colour; beset with 

 angular warts, and growing on a tall well pro- 

 portioned stalk. It is very conspicuous even at 

 a distance, in the shaded recesses of its native 

 woods. "In the highlands of Scotland," says 

 Dr GreyiUe, "it is impossible not to admire it, 

 as seen in long perspective between the trunks of 

 the straight fir trees; and should a sunbeam 

 penetrate through the dark and dense foliage, 

 and rest on its vivid surface, an effect is produced 

 by this chief of a humble race which might 

 lower the pride of many a patrician vegetable. 

 This mushroom is used by the inhabitants of 

 the north-eastern part of Asia in the same man- 

 ner as ardent spirits or wine, to promote intoxi- 

 cation. It is the favourite di-ug moucho-more of 

 the Russians, Kamchadales, and Korians, who use 

 it to promote intoxication. These fungi are col- 

 lected in the hottest month, and hung up by a 

 string in the air to dry. Some dry of them- 

 selves on the ground, and are said to be far more 

 narcotic than those artificially preserved. Small 

 deep coloured specimens thickly covered with 

 warts, are also said to be more powerful than 

 those which attain to a larger size, and are of a 

 paler colour. The usual mode of taking this 

 fungus is to roll it up like a bolus and swallow- 

 it without chewing, which the Kamchadales say 

 would disorder the stomach. It is sometimes 

 eaten fresh, in soups and sauces, and there loses 

 much of its intoxicating property. When 

 steeped in the juice of the berries of vaccinium 

 uliginosum, its effects are the same as those of 

 strong wine. One large, or two small fungi, is 

 a common dose to produce a pleasant intoxica- 

 tion for a whole day, particularly if water be 

 drank after it, which augments the narcotic ex- 

 citement. The desired effect comes on one or two 

 hours after taking the fungus. Giddiness and 

 drunkenness result from the fungus in the same 

 manner as from wine or spirits. Cheerful emo- 

 tions of the mind are first produced, involuntary 

 words and actions follow, and sometimes an en- 

 tire loss of consciousness. It renders some per- 

 sons remarkably active, and proves highly stimu- 

 lant to muscular exertion ; with too large a dose, 

 violent spasmodic eflfacts are produced. So very 

 exciting to the nervous system in some individ- 

 uals is this fungus, that the effects are often 

 very ludicrous. If a person under its influence 



wishes to step over a straw or small stick, h« 

 takes a stride or a jump sufiicient to clear the 

 trunk of a tree. A talkative person cannot keep 

 secrets or silence, and one fond of music is per- 

 petually singing. 



Agaricus comatus, or tall ct/lindrical agaric, 

 Plate III. fig. 5. This is another handsome 

 mushroom, and also a common one in autumn. 

 Its pilous is bell-shaped, and from three to six 

 inches long ; the surface covered with large 

 shaggy scales. In passing to decay it dissolves 

 into a black fluid. If this fluid be collected 

 and boiled with a little water, and a few cloves 

 to prevent its becoming mouldy in keeping, and 

 passed through a filtre, it furnishes an excellent 

 bistre for painting, and it may be procured in 

 any quantity. 



The puff halls, (Scleroderma), Plate III. fig. 

 9, 22, are also well known species of fungi. In 

 decaying the centi-e is reduced to a minute black 

 powder or snuff, enveloped by the external cu- 

 ticle, which in process of time bursts, and the 

 whole mass containing the sporules or seeds, are 

 dissipated to the winds. 



The carmine peziza, {P. coccinea,) Plate III. 

 fig. 17, is found attached to decaying trees, and 

 rotten pieces of wood. It is a splendid cup-shaped 

 fungus; the interior of the cup is lined with the 

 brightest carmine. 



LIST OF FUNGI, PLATE III. 



1. Fly-blown niushroom. — Agaricus mvtcurius. 



2. Common mushroom. — At^. campestris. 



3. Round hended morel. — Morohella esculenta, 



4. Small headed morel. — M. lii/brida. 



5. Tall cylindrical agaric. — A. ctnnatus. 



6. Variable wood agaric. — A. gilvus. 



7. Shaggy agaric. — A. Jloccosus, 



8. Spangled watery agaric. — Agaricus micaceus. 



9. Warty false puff-ball. — Scleroderma verrucosuvi. 



1 0. Large bladder-like peziza. — /-". msiculosa. 



11. Alpine amanita. — A. nivalis. 



1 -. Red stemmed boletus. — B. lurhliis, 



1 3. Scaly hydrium. — //. vriLrieatum. 



14. Hairy earth tongue. — Geojlossuni hirsutum, 

 l.'i. Hispid polyporu^. — P. hitpUlus. 



Ifi. Sulphur coloured polyporus. — {P. sulphureua.') 



17. Carmine peziza. — /-*. coccinea. 



1 8. Scaly hydrium. — Ht/drium imhricaium. 

 10. Pale crested agaric. — A. criitalui. 



20. Mitral helvella.— //. mitra. 



21. Tuberous agaric. — A. ttdterosus. 



2'3. False puff ball. — (.Scleroderma cepa.) 



23. Large stemmed peziza. — Fez. vuuyropus. 



24. Green and yellow agarie. — Ag. psittaciuus. 



25. Crisped helvella. — //. leucophoea, 



26. Reticulated peziza. — P. reticulata, 



27. Yellow spathularla. — S. flaviJa. 



Lichens consist of a very simple kind of vege- 

 tation, being composed of fronds extended in 

 tlie fonn of membranous crusts of varied con- 

 sistence, simple or variously lobed; or of simple 

 or ramified stems; or lastly, merely of a kind of 

 powder: the sporules or seeds are inclosed in re- 



