USES. 101 



green beech trees in South America, has been named Cyttaria. 

 One of these, Cyttaria JDarwinii, B., occurs in Terra del Fuego, 

 where it was found by Mr. C. Darwin* growing in vast numbers, 

 and forming a very essential article of food for the natives. 

 Another is Cyttaria JBerteroi, B., also seen by Mr. Darwin in 

 Chili, and eaten occasionally, but apparently not so good as 

 the preceding.! Another species is Cyttaria Gunnii, B., which 

 abounds in Tasmania, and is held in repute amongst the settlers 

 for its esculent proper ties. J 



FIG. 44. Cyttaria Gunnii, B. 



It remains for us only to note the subterranean fungi, of which 

 the truffle is the type, to complete our enumeration of esculent 

 species. The truffle which is consumed in England is Tuber 

 cestivum, Vitt. ; but in France the more highly-flavoured Tuber 

 melanospermum, Vitt., and also Tuber magnatum, Pico, with 

 some other species. In Italy they are very common, whilst 

 some are found in Algeria. One species at least is recorded in 

 the North-west of India, but in Northern Europe and North 

 America they appear to be rare, and Terfezia Leonis is used as 

 an esculent in Damascus. A large species of Mylitta, sometimes 

 several inches in diameter, occurs plentifully in some parts of 

 Australia. Although often included with fungi, the curious 

 production known under the name of fachyma cocos, Fr., is not 



* Berkeley, in "Linn. Trans." xix. p. 37; Cooke, in "Technologist" (1864), 

 p. 387. 



t Berkeley, M. J., in " Linn. Trans." xix. p. 37. 



J Berkeley, M. J., in "Hooker, Flora Antarctica," p. 147; in "Hooker's 

 Journ. Bot." (1848), 576, t. 20, 21. 



Vittadmi, C., " Monographia Tuberacearum (1831), pp. 36, &c. 



