Cf)c CrcaSurw of 33atan». 



[agak 



the ovary is three-celled, with many ovules 

 arranged in two series. The species form 

 strong growing perennial herbs, with thick 

 fleshy roots, and linear or somewhat lorate 

 arching radical leaves, from among which 

 springs the scape terminated by a large tun- 

 nel of bright blue flowers. The species differ 

 chiefly in size, in the breadth of their 

 leaves, and in the intensity of colour in the 

 flowers. The common one is called A. um- 

 bellatus. % ^ [T.M.] 



AGAR-AGAR (or Agal-agal). The native 

 name of the Ceylon Moss, Gracilaria lichen- 

 oides, a seaweed which is largely used in 

 the East for soups and jellies. Another 

 alga of equal excellence, Gigartina speciosa, 

 is abundant on the coasts of the Swan 

 River. The far-famed swallows' nests were 

 formerly supposed to be formed of some 

 seaweed abounding in gelatine; but it is 

 now ascertained that they are formed from 

 a peculiar secretion derived from the birds 

 themselves. [M. J. B.] 



AGARIC BLASC. A (Ft.) Polyporus offi- 

 cinalis. — CHAMPETRE. Agancus cam- 

 pestris. 



AGARICIKI. A group of Fungi agreeing 

 with each other in having the hymenium or 

 fructifying surface formed into distinct 

 gill-like plates, the modifications of which, 

 in combination with other circumstances, 

 serve to distinguish the genera. The 

 mushrooms and toadstools are familiar 

 examples, in which the gills are highly 

 developed. The chantarelle, on the con- 

 trary, presents a case in which they are 

 reduced to mere veins. Sometimes the 

 gills become hard and corky, as in Lenzites, 

 of which a common species, Lenzites betu- 

 lina, grows on old rails. [II. J. B.] 



AGARICUS (Agaric). One of the largest 

 and most important genera of Fungi, 

 containing some of the highest forms 

 which these plants are capable of attain- 

 ing, of which the Common Mushroom is 

 one of the most familiar examples. It is 

 distinguished by the more or less fleshy 

 substance of the hat-shaped receptacle, 

 by being furnished on the under surface, 

 whether supported by a stem or not, with 

 gill-like plates, easily separable in the 

 centre, as if composed of two membranes, 

 the central substance consisting, not of 

 subglobose cells, but of delicate filaments, 

 and being immediately derived from the 

 flesh of the cap or pileus. 



The pileus may be either central or 

 lateral, and, in a few instances, where the 

 stem becomes at length obsolete, or is 

 wholly wanting, it is attached to the sub- 

 stance on which it grows by the upper 

 surface, in which case the gills become 

 superior instead of inferior : directed, that 

 is, towards the light, and not, as is usually 

 the case, away from it. Where there is 

 originally a very short stem, the pileus is 

 at first in the usual position, but gradually 

 turns over, so as to bring the gills towards 

 the light. Sometimes the border of the 

 pileus, which was at first resupinate, or 

 having the gill3 on the upper side, turns 



over, so as to bring them into their normal 

 position ; in a very few instances alone, 

 the whole plant is permanently resupi- 

 nate. 



The genus Agaricus is divided into five 

 natural groups, according as the colour of 

 the spores is white, pink, ferruginous, 

 purple-brown, or black. These divisions, 

 though presenting a few exceptional cases, 

 are on the whole satisfactory, and, after a 

 little experience, easy of determination. 

 These groups are divided into sub-genera, 

 according as they have a common wrapper 

 or volva surrounding the whole plant, or a 

 partial veil attached to the margin or 

 forming a ring upon the stem ; and then 

 from various conditions of the stem and 

 gills. Considering the fact that there are 

 at least a thousand good species, it may 

 readily be expected that some difficulties 

 exist in the arrangement, and that, the 

 species are not always easily determined. 

 Though, however, as in other parts of 

 the vegetable kingdom, the limits of spe- 

 cies are not easily defined, it may be 

 asserted that no more certain species 

 exist in the vegetable world, and that 

 they are not to be considered as mere 

 creatures of chance, without any stability. 

 Many of them are of great beauty and 

 elegance of form and colour, and are at- 

 tractive from a thousand differences of 

 sculpture, clothing, &c. They occur in 

 all parts of the world, but abound most 

 where the air is moist, with a tolerable 

 degree of warmth. Some species afford 

 the most delicious articles of food, while 

 others are deleterious even when taken in 

 small quantities. It is probable that the 

 number of esculent species is far more 

 numerous than is usually supposed ; but as 

 accidents are not unfrequent from con- 

 founding species altogether, or mixing poi- 

 sonous kinds with those which are whole- 

 some, they are far more neglected in this 

 country than they deserve. It is impos- 

 sible to give any positive rules for distin- 

 guishing those which are wholesome ; but 

 in general, where the taste of the raw 

 agaric is not decidedly unpleasant, there 

 is little danger, though even this is not 

 without grave exceptions. With proper 

 caution, the really useful kinds may readily 

 be determined w.thout the slightest risk. 

 The common mushroom, however, is said 

 to be poisonous in Italy, and as the bad 

 properties depend upon the degree in 

 Avhich the poisonous alkali is developed — 

 a circumstance which varies with climate 

 and situation — even those species which 

 are usually wholesome may at times prove 

 deleterious. 



Agarics grow in various situations. A 

 vast variety affect dead wood, fallen leaves, 

 and other matters when passing into a 

 state of decay. Some affect the half-dead 

 roots of grass, or large herbaceous plants, 

 as the Eryngo. Many grow in pastures, or 

 on the naked ground. Several occur only 

 on dung or in highly-manured land ; while 

 a few inhabit principally stoves and other 

 structures where the temperature is arti- 

 ficially kept up. Occasi onally they i 



