288 INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 



climate for their gi'owth. They have been found in England 

 as far north as Rutlandshire ; and in Northamptonshire nume- 

 rous species occur ; but they are more abundant as we proceed 

 towards the south, and attain their maximum in Italy. In 

 Sweden they are very rare. Several occur in Algiers ; and one 

 is abundant, having been long known as an inhabitant of 

 Africa. In the United States they are very rare, and scarcely 

 differ in species from those of Europe. Several species have 

 been found by Mr. Drummond about the Swan Hiver, but at 

 present specimens have not been received in a sufficiently good 

 state for description. The curious genus Paurocotylis, Berk., 

 occurs in New Zealand, being remarkable for its bright colour, 

 and Mylitta, which is sometimes several inches across, is abun- 

 dant in some parts of Australia, where it is eaten by the 

 natives. Fresh specimens have a subacid smell and little 

 taste ; but we have seen others of an extremely compact horny 

 texture, resembling a mass of sago forcibly compressed into a 

 solid ball. The Tuckahoo of the Americans is not a true 

 fungus, but a state of certain unknown roots in which their 

 substance is converted into pectic acid, while some of the large 

 tuberous masses which occur in tropical climates are merely 

 dormant states'of Fungi. The Pietra funghaia, of which I 

 have a fine specimen, and which has been conjectured to be a 

 sort of truffle, is certainly nothing more than the mycelium of 

 Polyporus tuberaster traversing balls of earth, which it has 

 the property of collecting about it in a comjjact form. Medi- 

 cinal properties were long supposed to belong to the truffles, 

 and more especially to Elaphomyces ; but their virtue is very 

 doubtful, and probably, as in so many other cases, arises merely 

 from the doctrine of signatures. The truffles are principally 

 used as condiments, but simply roasted like a potato they are 

 excellent, and not so indigestible as when sodden in wine or 

 water. 



6. Elvellacei, Fi\ 



Hymenium often open from the beginning, very rarely 

 closed ; substance fleshy, waxy, or tremelloid, rarely subco- 

 riaceous; cup-shaped or clavate. 



298. The grand characteristic of this large group of Fungi 



