I'i ON UNDERGROUND FUNGI. 



becomes stercorous, and, perhaps in consequence, no one ventures 

 upon it as an esculent. Many species of the genus Hiimenoga^ter, 

 which is without the creeping filaments, occur in this country, 

 but most of them are small, and the larger species are by no 

 means tempting. It is curious that in one or two species the spores, 

 though really terminal, are found occasionally surrounded by a cyst, 

 anticipating a structure which obtains in certain moulds. Octaviana 

 and H)jduan!iiiim have sometimes rough, sometimes smooth, spores. 

 One of the latter is remarkable for its orange colour and its almost 

 superficial growth, as I have seen it in the neighbourhood of Bristol. 

 As if no type was to be without its representative, we have the genus 

 Hysternnghim whose white cartilaginous peridium separates entirely 

 from the fructifying substance, which resembles in colour that of a 

 Phallus, and is inclined in age to become soft, though it does not run 

 away, as in Phalloidt'ce, into a loathsome mass. 



Those species of Hymenogaster which produce a cyst round the 

 spores lead us to the genus Endorjone, in which, and in its exotic ally, we 

 have essentially a subterraneous JIucor. It would scarcely be interesting 

 to go into further details. The drawings submitted to the meeting will 

 shew the peculiarities of structure. We may remark, in couclusiou, 

 that, as at present known, we have twenty-six species of Truffles, 

 nineteen of false Truffles, and two of Endogone. 



Besides these, Tulasne has figured subterranean forms of a few 

 Fungi, which have generally iierial growth. One or two of these, as 

 the Saffron Fungus, which is so destructive to the Saffron Crocus and 

 the Copper AVeb, which destroys Asparagus, Lucerne, and Mint, are 

 too well known ; but perfect fruit has at present not been detected in 

 these species. Still less has it been found in the large Cocoa Nut 

 Fungus, known under the name of Tuckahoo in the United States, 

 which is really an altered state of certain roots, the whole substance 

 being converted into pectic acid, and is used like that for jelly. The 

 equally large masses called in Australia Native Bread, belonging to 

 the genus Mylitta, have not been found with perfect fruit, but as far as 

 it IS at present known it belongs to the real Truffles. It is highly 

 nutritious, and when dry so hard that it requires to be gi'ated, and 

 answers the purpose of Sago. In Italy large globular masses of earth 

 impregnated with spawn are known under the name of Pietra Fuugaya, 

 and when moistened yield an esculent species of Polyporus. Specimens 

 of the perfect Fungus were produced in this country at the Hammer- 

 smith Nursery in the last century, by the ancestor of the present firm. 



I know of no tribe of Fungi which exhibits more various forms, or 

 more natural genera. Many species probably might reward future 

 researches in this country ; but the search for Hypogaeous Fungi is so 

 laborious, and it may be added so exclusive, when carried on persever- 

 ingly, as it was by Messrs. Broome and Thwaites, that they are not likely 

 to be very numerous. Orturidihi (-(wipacta is, perhaps, the most recent 

 addition to our list. 



