196 



HISTORY OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDO:\I. 



using the refuse of the olive presses. In tlie 

 Landes of the south of France, the earth under 

 oak trees is sometimes kept continually moist 

 by water in which the boletus edulis has been 

 boiled; whence, it is said, arises an abundant 

 crop of that species which, we are told, resem- 

 bles the cocoa nut in taste. . 



Agaricus muscarius, or Fli/-hlown nmsJiroom, 

 PbiteXXXVlII. Thissplendidspeciesisa native 

 of Britain, and very abundant in Scotland. It 

 lias a large cap sometimes six inches in diameter, 

 of a brilliant pink or crimson colour; beset with 

 angular warts, and gi'owing on a tafl well pro- 

 portioned stalk. It is very conspicuous even at 

 a distance, in the shaded recesses of its native 

 woods." "In the highlands of Scotland," says 

 Dr Greville, "it is impossible not to admire it, 

 as seen in long perspective between the tninks of 

 the straight fir trees; and should a sunbeam 

 penetrate through the dark and dense foliage, 

 and rest on its vivid surface, an effect is produced 

 by this chief of a humble race which might 

 lower the pride of many a patrician vegetable. 

 This mushroom is used by the inhabitants of 

 the north-eastern part of Asia in the same man- 

 ner as ardent spirits or wine, to promote intoxi- 

 cation. It is the favourite drug moucho-more of 

 the Russians, Kamchadales, and Korians, who use 

 it to promote intoxication. These fungi are col- 

 lected in the hottest month, and hung up by a 

 string in the air to dry. Some dry of them- 

 selves on the ground, and are said to be far more 

 narcotic than those artificially preserved. Small 

 deep coloured specimens thickly covered with 

 warts, are also said to be more powerful than 

 those which attain to a larger size, and are of a 

 paler colour. The usual mode of taking this 

 fungus is to roll it up like a bolus and swallow 

 it without chewing, which the Kamchadales say 

 would disorder the stomach. It is sometimes 

 'eaten fresh, in soups and sauces, and there loses 

 much of its intoxicating property. When 

 steeped in the juice of the berries of vacciniuia 

 uUginosum, its effects are the same as those of 

 strong wine. One large, or two small fungi, is 

 a common dose to produce a pleasant intoxica- 

 tion for a whole day, particularly if water be 

 drank after it, which augments the narcotic ex- 

 citement. The desired effect comes on one or two 

 hours after taking the fungus. Giddiness and 

 drunkenness result from the fungus in the same 

 manner as from wine or spirits. Cheerful emo- 

 tions of the mind are first produced, involuntary 

 words and actions follow, and sometimes an en- 

 tire loss of consciousness. It renders some per- 

 sons remarkably active, and proves highly stimu- 

 lant to muscular exertion; with too large a dose, 

 violent spasmodic effects are produce'd. So very 

 exciting to the nervous system in some individ- 

 uals is this fungus, that the effects are often 

 very ludicrous. If a person under its influence 



wishes to step over a straw or small stick, he 

 takes a stride or a jump sufficient to clear the 

 trunk of a tree. A talkative person cannot keep 

 secrets or silence, and one fond of music is per- 

 petually singing. 



Agaricus comatus, or tall cylindrical agaric, 

 Plate III. fig. 6. This is another handsome 

 mushroom, and also a common one in autumn. 

 Its pileus is bell-shaped, and from three to six 

 inches long ; the surf sea covered with large 

 shaggy scales. In passing to decay it dissolves 

 into a black fluid. If this fluid be collected 

 and boiled with a little water, and a few cloves 

 to prevent its becoming mouldy in keeping, and 

 passed through a filtre, it furnishes an excellent 

 bistre for painting, and it may be procured in 

 any quantity. 



The puff halls, (Scleroderma), Plate III. fig. 

 9, 22, are also well known species of fungi. In 

 decaying the centre is reduced to a minute black 

 powder or snuff, enveloped by the external cu- 

 ticle, which in process of time bursts, and the 

 whole mass containing the sporules or seeds, are 

 dissipated to the winds. 



The carmine pezi^a, (P. coccinea,') Plate III. 

 fig. 17, is found attached to decaying trees, and 

 rotten pieces of wood. It is a splendid cup-shaped 

 fungus; the interior of the cup is lined with the 

 brightest carmine. 



LIST OF PaNGI, PLATE IIL 



1. Fly-bloivn mushroom. — Agaricus muscarius. 



2. Common musliroom. — J<i. campestris. 



3. Round headed morel. — Morchdla esculenia. 



4. Small headed morel. — il/. liyhrida. 



5. Tall cylindrical agaric. — A. comaiiis. 



6. Variable wood agaric. — A, rjilvus, 



7. Shaggy agaric. — A. floccosus. 



8. Spangled watery agaric. — Agaricus micaceus. 



9. Warty false puff-ball. — Scleroderma vcrrucosum. 



10. Large bladdcr-likc peziza. — P. vesiculosa, 



11. Alpine amanita. — A. nivalis. 



12. Red stemmed boletus. — D. luiidits. 



13. Scaly hydrium- — //. imiiricatum. 



14. Hairy earth tongne. — Geoflossum Ursulum. 

 1.5. Hispid polyporus. — P. hispidus. 



16. Sulphur coloured polyporus. — (P. suljiliureus.') 



17. Carmine peziza. — P. coccinea. 



1 8. Scaly hydrium. — Hijdrium imhricaium. 



19. Pale cre-sted agaric. — A. cri^tatus. 



20. Mitral helvella. — ff. milra. 



21. Tuberous agaric. — A. tuherosiis. 



22. False puff ball. — (Scleroderma aipa.) 



23. Large stemmed peziza. — Pez. macropus. 



24. Green and yellow agaric. — Aij. psittacinus. 



25. Cri.'ipcd helvella. — H. kucophcea. 



26. Reticulated peziza. — P. reticulata. 



27. Yellow spathularla.— 5. flavida. 



Lichens consist of a vei-y simple kind of vege- 

 tation, being composed of fronds extended in 

 the foiTn of membranous cnists of varied con- 

 sistence, simple or variously lobed; or of simple 

 or ramified stems; or lastly, merely of a kind of 

 powder: the sporules or seeds are inclosed in re- 



