BEPOET OF THE 8TATK B3TANI8T 



229 



It was first reported as an edible species in the Forty-second 

 Report. Its flesh is tender and its flavor delicate and agreeable. 



This plant was first described in 1S79 in the Thirty-second 

 Report, under the name Geoglossum irregulare. In 1882 Bresa- 

 dola published his Geoglossum vitelUnum, from which our plant 

 differs so slightly that it has been considered a mere variety ; and 

 in consequence of the irregularity in the publication of the 

 Thirty-second Report, no extra copies having been ordered, the 

 later name has been given precedence. 



Hymenomycetese. 



Mushrooms, Boleti and Fairy Clubs. 



The mushrooms hereafter to be described belong to the very 

 large class of fungi known to botanists by the name Hymeno- 

 myceteae, a word composed of two parts, signifying memhrane 

 fungi, and in its present use indicating that in these fungi 

 the spores are produced on thin or membranous parts or sur- 

 faces. In the Common mushroom and in all others of similar 

 structure, these spore-bearing membranes or surfaces are found 

 on the lower or under side of the cap. They are commonly 

 called gills, and have already been described. The spores are 

 produced on both surfaces of the gills, and when mature they 

 drop through the interspaces between the gills and fall to the earth 

 below or are wafted away by currents of air. All fungi having 

 a cap with gills beneath belong to the family Agaricineae. 



In the Edible boletus and other fungi of similar structure the 

 lower surface of the cap is full of small holes or pores, previously 

 described. The spores are developed on the inner surface of 

 these pores, and when mature they are dropped or ejected into 

 the open air below. All fungi having a cap with pores beneath 

 constitute a family called Polyporea?. 



In the Spreading hydnum or Hedgehog mushroom the lower 

 surface of the cap is furnished with closely-placed depending 

 spine-like teeth. All fungi of similar structure are included in a 

 family named Hydnea?, from the genus Ilydnum, the principal 

 genus in it. In one species the cap is replaced by spreading 

 branches with teeth on their lower surface. Spreading or thinly- 

 expanded plants with no stems which belong to this and the pre- 

 ceding family are not noticed, since there are no edible species 

 among them. 



