ESCULENT FUNGI OF GREAT BRITAIN. 379 
and springing up most plentifully where fires have 
been made. Spring. 
Desc. Plant 2-5 inches high. Pileus roundish or oval, 
from the size of a pigeon's to that of a swan's egg, 
closely contracted at the base, round the stem ; cellular 
like a honey-comb, cells deep. Stem hollow, white, 
cylindrical, somewhat dilated towards the base. Scent 
agreeable. 
All the Morells are excellent ; and as, in old authors, and 
many modern ones, several species are confused together, 
the following observations apply to the genus y or all the 
species collectively. 
The Morelle is one of our most celebrated fungi for the 
table. Clusius places it among his principal edible mush- 
rooms, and every botanist since his time has more or less 
commended it. 
Throughout the greater part of Europe it is known by 
the names of morille^ morchelle, morcJielen, spagniole^ 
spongignole^ spongiola, and pungola. The name Morchell 
seems, from Cameearius, to have originated with the 
Germans, who, according to Parkinson, " be much de- 
lighted with them." In Piemont they are called spugnino^ 
spugnolo buono, and tripetto. 
The best manner of dressing the Morelle, I shall trans- 
late from Persoon's Traite, p. 257. " Besides the use 
made of Morelles in many ragouts, they are also served by 
themselves, and much esteemed. After having well washed 
them to remove the soil they are liable to contain in the 
areolae of the pileus, they must be well drained and dried, 
and then put into a stew-pan, along with butter, pepper^ 
salt, parsley, and sometimes a little ham. They require 
about an hour's cooking ; and as they do not produce much 
moisture themselves, it is necessary to add a little gravy 
