SOME EDIBLE AND POISONOUS FUNGI. 467 



small, SO that they can hardly be distinguished without the aid of a 

 hand lens, and thej^ do not lie in close contact with eacli other, as in 

 the genus Boletus, but are slightly separated, so that seen with the 

 naked eye the under surface looks papillated, like the surface of the 

 tongue. Tlie cut surface is streaked with red, like meat, and when 

 raw there is a slight but agreeable acid taste, which disappears on 

 cooking. Prepared for the table, the resemblance to a beefsteak is 

 remarkable; and, although better than some beefsteaks, it certainly 

 can not be said to be as good as the best. 



TEETH-BEARING FUNGI. 



The teeth-bearing fungi (Hydnei), popularly called hedgehog fungi, 

 are found in woods, both wet and dry, where they grow either on the 

 ground or on logs and trunks. Most of the species are too small and 

 woody to be eaten, but there are a few species which are eaten and 

 liked by some persons, but to others they have a bitter or slightly 

 resinous taste. 



Hydnum imbricatum is common in dry woods, especially conifer- 

 ous woods, and may be recognized by its blackish-brown color, look- 

 ing at times as if it had been burnt. The upper surface is cracked 

 and split into thick, wedge-like scales and the under surface is thickly 

 covered with ash-colored or bluish-gray teeth, or spines. Hydnum 

 repand'iim prefers damp and wet woods, is much softer and more 

 friable than the last-named species, and is also smaller and slenderer. 

 The color varies from white to brownish and reddish yellow, the teeth 

 being nearly white. ^ 



SOME OTHER EDIBLE FORMS. 



Of the family of the Thelephorei, in which the spores are borne on 

 a smooth or merely wrinkled surface, most of the species are small, 

 an '. our larger species are generally tough and leathery so that the 

 family is of little importance as food. 



The coral-shaped fungi (Clavarei) include a certain number of good- 

 sized species which frequent woods; none of them are poisonous, 

 and several are very palatable. The coral-like habit is shown on PL 

 XXIX, 1, and without stopping to describe any particular species, it 

 may be said that it is safe for the beginner to try any of the members 

 of this group, and he will find at least some of them worth trial. 



MORELS AND TRUFFLE3. 



Among the best edible fungi are the morels, whic^i arc not only 

 good when fresli, but can be dried, like the fairj^-ring fungus. PL 

 XXIX, 2a, representing a common morel {MorcheUa esculenta) , shows 

 the general habit of the genus, which would easily be recognized 

 from the figure. Botanically considered, the morels are not closel}^ 

 related to the toadstool family, although thejMiave a certain external 



