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Vegetable Productions 
southward and westward, growing more extensively in the* 
dense forests where the climate is moist, as at the Huoi\ 
River, on the sides of mountains, and towards Emu Bay 
and the Hampshire Hills. 
Nat. Ord. Fungi. Fungus family. 
“ An esculent fungus is found growing in clusters 
around swollen portions of the branches of the myrtle* 
tree of the Colony (Fag us Cunning hamii), in the western 
parts of the Island. It varies from the size of a marble 
to that of a walnut: when young it is of a pale colour, 
whitish, and covered with a skin like that of a young 
potatoe: this skin is easily taken off, and the remaining 
portion, when raw, tastes like cold cow-heel. When 
this fungus is matured, the skin splits, and exhibits a sort 
of network of a yellowish white colour.” It is in season 
about January. 
Agaricus campestris ? Common Mushroom. 
This, which seems to be precisely similar to the com¬ 
mon esculent mushroom of England, needs no description. 
It is very plentiful in many parts of the Colony, and 
has a very fine flavour. 
The large white fungus, called in the Colony punk, 
which grows from the stringy-bark, is said to have been 
eaten, when fresh, by the Aborigines. 
Mylitta Australis. Native Bread. 
“ This species of tuber is often found in the Colony, 
attaining to the size of a child's head : its taste some¬ 
what resembles boiled rice. Like the heart of the tree 
fern, and the root of the native potatoe ( Gastrodia ), 
cookery produces little change in its character.” Mr. 
Backhouse states that he often asked the Aborigines 
how they found the native bread, and universally received 
the answer— <c a rotten tree.” The Rev. Mr. Garrett, 
of Bothwell, has recently informed me that, on the dry 
