INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 293 



or two species of Helvella, especially H. esculenta, are con- 

 sidered excellent food. I have seen Peziza venosa, or some 

 large allied species, offered for sale under the name of MoreUs 

 in Northamptonshire, and have never heard of any evil con- 

 sequences arising from their iise, but they have not the aroma 

 of the true morell, but an odour approaching that of nitric 

 acid, which is not any strong recommendation. 



306. The most important genus of the group, as regards 

 alimentary qualities, is undoubtedly that of Cyttaria (Fig. 

 67, a), because it is the staple food of the Fuegians during 

 many months of the year. The species have the great pecu- 

 liarity of growing upon living branches, after the fashion of 

 the jelly-like fungus of the Juniper ; and the sub-gelatinous 

 consistence indicates nutritive qualities superior to that of 

 others of the group, and like so many other nutritious matters 

 it seems to be insipid. It has not been analysed at present, 

 so that nothing can be said about the principle on which its 

 superior nutritive qualities depend. "Where Fungi form a 

 large portion of the food of the people, it is in general a sure 

 indication of an unproductive climate, or an extremely 

 depressed peasantry ; but it is possible that the qualities of 

 Cyttaria may really be superior to those of other fungi, arising 

 probably from its immediate imbibition of the elaborated 

 gummy sap of the matrix. 



307. Cyttaria is confined to a portion of the southern hemi- 

 sphere. There is a species very circumstantially marked by 

 Commerson, in Delessert's Herbarium, as gathered in the Isle 

 of France. But no evergreen beech grows there, and the genus 

 is found on no other kind of tree. A few of the finer Pezizm 

 affect tropical climates only, but the number of species is not 

 large which are peculiarly addicted to warmer latitudes, and 

 even these have in general close allies elsewhere. One of the 

 very finest, Peziza macrotis, distinguished by its elongated ear- 

 like form and firm substance, is abundant in the moist region 

 of Sikkim, and this also has its representatives in Europe in 

 P. onotica and leporina. Rhizima, Leotia, and Geoglossum 

 occur in Sikkim ; Morchella in Kashmir ; and the greater part 

 of the genera are diffused through the United States. 



