FRAGRANT MUSHROOMS. 1 45 



XXII.— FRAGRANT MUSHROOMS. 



A CURIOUS question has been asked, but as yet re- 

 ceived no satisfactory reply, as to what is the special 

 purpose which is served by the odours of mushrooms, 

 and especially those in which the odour is fragrant 

 and pleasant. Are they designed to be attractive? 

 and if so, of what ? And are they in any way associ- 

 ated with the perpetuation of the species ? At present 

 we know nothing for certain of the fecundative ele- 

 ment in the mushroom tribe, and consequently of 

 fertilization, or cross fertilization, or hybridity, and so 

 all we can do is to speculate and dream. Still 

 the fact remains that certain fungi have odours 

 peculiar to them, and two or three of these come 

 within the range of our present object. 



The particular odour alluded to by the term " fra- 

 grant mushrooms " is very different from the faint 

 mouldy odour which is not uncommon in fungi of 

 the mushroom type, or even of that strong and 

 peculiar odour of meal which is characteristic of many 

 edible species. This odour, which has good title to 

 be called fragrant, is of the coumarine type. Some- 

 thing not unlike the Tonquin bean, or melilot, or new 

 mown hay, or, as some call it, of anise. It seems 

 that the sense of smell differs in individuals, as does 



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