SWEETBREAD MUSHROOMS. IOI 



agreeable odour. Orcella grows in more open glades 

 than Prunulus, it is usually much whiter in colour, 

 sometimes in high situations, white, and glazed as egg 

 shell or pottery. Orcella grows more solitarily than 

 Prunulus, in light scattered groups, showing an 

 inclination for the neighbourhood of oak trees, and 

 where it does grow it may be found from year to year 

 in the same place, but seldom more than two or three 

 in a spot. In 1869, when Orcella was pretty plentiful, 

 Prunulus was not to be found in the situations where 

 it usually grows abundantly. Prunulus is the reverse 

 of all this. It prefers more shady places, is larger, 

 more fleshy, and with a strong odour, which is rather 

 heavy and overpowering. It grows in greater 

 quantities together, and not unfrequently in crowded 

 rings from four to six feet in diameter. As edible 

 fungi they should certainly be kept distinct. Orcella is 

 light and pleasant in odour, and excellent in flavour ; 

 it is so tender and delicate as to be termed, not 

 inaptly, ' vegetable sweetbread.' Prunulus, on the 

 other hand, though always good, is to many people 

 too strong in odour, and coarser in taste." 



This will dispose of the question of identity as far 

 as our purpose is concerned, and might dispense with 

 any separate reference to them in cooking, save that 

 we are reminded by the same writer quoted above 

 that Orcella, being usually found in small quantities, is 

 better when broiled and served on toast. Prunulus, 

 growing in greater abundance will serve either for 



