Distribution of Fungi. 287 
and Trametes, genera of Hymenomycetes which flourish beneath 
the shade of the virgin. forests, where perpetual moisture and heat 
promote their vegetation and give rise to an infinite variety of 
forms. But though the genus Polyporus, which rivals Agaricus 
in the number of its species, inhabits in preference warm cli- 
mates at large, it nevertheless exhibits species peculiar to each 
country. This arises from the circumstance that the Polypori 
for the most part live upon trees, and are dependent on this or 
that particular tree for a suitable habitat ; and the tropical flora 
being prolific in trees of all kinds, a multitude of the most varied 
forms of these Fungi is a necessary consequence. Hewxagona, 
Favolus, and Laschia are common in intertropical countries, but 
none of them grow in temperate climes. 
When the majority of the species of a genus are of a fleshy 
consistence, it may generally be concluded that that genus be- 
longs to a northern region, even if it should have some repre- 
sentatives in lands which enjoy more sunshine. Thus the Hydna 
are the principal ornaments of our forests, where they attain so 
luxuriant a growth and beauty that every other country must 
yield the palm to Sweden in respect to them. In an allied 
genus, that of Irpex, the texture assumes a coriaceous consist- 
ence, and we find its species to be more especially inhabitants of 
warm climates. 
Most of the genera of Auricularini are cosmopolitan ; and the 
same is true of some species of Stereum, of Corticium, &c., which 
are met with in countries of the most different geographical 
position. In tropical countries, these genera of Fungi assume 
the most curious and luxuriant forms. The single and not 
considerable genus Cyphella appears to be pretty uniformly dis- 
tributed over the globe. The Clavarini are equally universal in 
their diffusion, although more plentiful in the north; however, 
the genus Pterula possesses several exotic forms, though in Eu- 
rope it has but two representative species. That beautiful genus 
of Hymenomycetes, Sparassis, occupies a similar place next the 
Clavarini, and is peculiarly a production of the temperate zone 
and of the Coniferous region. 
The Fungi which constitute the family of Tremellinei prevail 
in Europe, Asia, and North America, and exhibit no marked 
differences among themselves, notwithstanding the distances of 
the several countries apart. It must, however, be stated that 
the Hirneole inhabit only the tropics. 
__ We come now to the Gasteromycetes—an interesting family, 
which exhibits several ramifications or particular series of deve- 
lopments. The most perfect Gasteromycetes almost exclusively 
belong to the warmer division of the temperate, and to the tro- 
pical zone, where their vegetation is the most luxuriant. Of 
