650 FUNGI. ' 



tralia, according to Drummond. Mylitia australis is known in 

 Australia as Native Bread. Bygrophorus pratensis is the Hereford- 

 shire truffle. Fistulina hepatica is called Vegetable Beefsteak. Himeola 

 {Exidia) Auricula Judce, Jew's-ear, has been used as an astringent. 

 Large quantities of Fungi are eaten by the Chinese under the name of 

 Hiang-Kwan, and have some medicinal or dietetic properties assigned 

 to them. The Polypori or Boleti are generally preferred by them to 

 Agarics.* 



Some Fungi are limited to certain kinds of decaying matter. 

 Many species of Onygena are found only on the dung, feathers, and 

 hoofs of particular animals. Peculiar species of Mycoderma are deve- 

 loped in vinegar, in yeast, 'and in flour. The rapidity vrith which 

 Fungi sometimes grow is remarkable. Ward noticed Phallus impudi- 

 cus shoot up three inches in the course of twenty-five minutes, and 

 attain its full elevation of four inches in an hour and a half. Bovista 

 gigantea, in a single night, has increased from the size of a pea to that 

 of a melon. The force also with which they expand has been shown 

 by their raising pavements under which they had been developed. 

 SomefFungi, as Agaricus oreades, cocoineus, and personatus, are deve- 

 loped in a centrifugal manner, forming fairy rings. Certain species 

 of Agaricus give out a sort of phosphorescent light. This has been 

 remarked in Agaricus oUarius, Agaricus Oardneri, and some species of 

 Agaric from the Swan Kiver. A similar kind of light is produced by 

 species of Bhizamorpha, which occur in coal-mines (p. 389). Polyporus 

 fomentarius forms amadou, and it, as well as P. betulinns, have been 

 'made into razor-straps. Caps are also made from Amadou- arid this 

 material is used in Hungary for making waistcoats and for caulking 

 boats. Pietra fuiigaia of Italy is a mass of earth bound together by 

 fungus spawn. 



The diseases caused by .Fungi are numerous (pp. 399-402). Blight, 

 mildew, rust, and smut, are diseases of grain due to the attacks of 

 Fungi. Dry-rot is owing to the presence of Merulius lacrymans and 

 vastator, and Polyporus destructor, the mode of preventing which has 

 been already alluded to (p. 401). The disease called ergot, which 

 attacks Rye and other grasses, is produced by Claviceps purpurea. 

 Oidium TucJceri has caused much destruction in vineyards. The various 

 moulds which occur on bread, cheese, preserves, and friiits, are plants 

 of this extensive order. Penicillium glaucum is one of the most 

 common moulds, occurring on organic substances, on books, etc. A 

 species of Eacodium is found in low cellars, as at the London docks. 

 Some Fungi are produced on living animals. Thus, the disease called 

 muscardine in the silkworm is produced by Botrytis Bassiana. Cer- 

 tain wasps in the West Indies are affected by a similar disease. A 



*See Fred. P. Smith's contributions to tile Materia Medica and Natural Histonj of 

 ChiTia, 



