INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 349 



or sterigmata must bear a successive crop. The spores vary 

 mucli in size, form, and sculpture, but not to sucb an extent as 

 in the real truffles. One species of Melanogaster is eaten, 

 which is perhaps the only use to which any of the tribe are put. 

 The species abound in the south of England and Europe, 

 and one or two species ascend as high as Sweden, which has, 

 however, extremely warm summers. One or two occur in 

 Australia belonging to the genera Hysterangium and Hyme- 

 nangium, but they have not at present been fully studied, in 

 consequence of defective materials. Gautieria occurs in 

 central America, as does Melanogaster. Rhizopogon is found 

 in South Carolina. Other species probably exist in the same 

 countries ; but, from their peculiar habitat, they are very likely 

 to escape notice. The only fungus in the Himalaya collections 

 approaching to them, was a half-subterraneous Scleroderma. 



6. PODAXINEI, Mont. 



Peridium entire or volvaaform. Hymenium sinuato-con- 

 volute or lamellifomi ; situated definitely or indefinitely. Stem 

 mostly penetrating the fructifying tissue, which dries up or 

 withers, often leaving a pulverulent mass. 



378. We arrive at last at a very curious tribe, consisting of 

 species in some measure resembling each other in character, 

 but of different affinities. They all agree in having a peridium 

 or spurious volva, more or less confluent, with the cuticle of 

 the pileus. Polyplocium and Podaxon have evident affinities 

 with Lycoperdon; Cauloglossum and Secotium with Hymeno- 

 gaster ; while Montagnites is very closely allied to Agaricus. 

 The young state of Podaxon has not yet been examined, but 

 from analogy it may be presumed to agree with that of Lyco- 

 perdon. Gyrophragmium, Secotium, and Cauloglossum, 

 have all the same sinuous hymenium, though more persistent 

 than in Lycoperdon, in consequence of which the spores are 

 not discharged in the form of dust ; whereas Polyplocium, 

 which has abundant threads traversing the cavities, though the 

 walls are persistent, is one of the most abominable of Fungi, 

 from the vast multitude of sooty spores which it sends out 

 from its hymenium, the lobes of which hang down after the 

 fashion of the spines of a Hydnum. In Montagnites alone 



