ASCOMYCETES 
189 
but those who are once accustomed to their flavour are 
mostly enthusiastic in their praise. Some persons, however, 
turn from them with disgust, declaring that they resemble 
nothing so much as an old shoe-sole stewed.” 
Tuber sestivum, “ Edible British Truffle.” Plate XVII. 1. 
Black with polygonal warts, section yellowish - brown, 
mottled with white. Occurring about 3 in. below the soil 
in plantations chiefly of oak and beech on calcareous and 
argillaceous soils. Usually the size of a green walnut, but 
specimens have been taken which turned the scale at 4 lb. 
Gregarious, occurring with other species. Scentless when 
young, smell strong and potent when mature. Much eaten 
by squirrels and other mammals ; also by insects, chiefly 
beetles. Berkeley records nine British species of Tuber. 
Asci of T. vufim are delineated on Plate XVII. 
Choiromyces meandriformis, “ White Truffle.” Plate 
XVII. 4. 
Colour, appearance, and size of an ordinary potato; 
section marbled with brown and white veins; white when 
young. Sometimes very large. I have taken specimens in 
Dorset more than 5 in. diam. Gregarious. Chiefly under 
oaks in hilly districts. Usually half buried in stiff soil. 
Scentless at first, fetid at maturity. 
Elaphomyces variegatus. Plate XVII. 7. 
About the size and shape of a green walnut, occurring 
2 in. below the ground in sandy fir woods. Its presence 
is usually betrayed by the head of its parasite, Cordyceps 
ophioglossoides, appearing above the ground. Elaphomyces 
grannlatns, a rare species, occurring in similar situations, is 
attacked by Cordyceps capitata (see p. 186). 
In addition to the above, nine other genera of truffles are 
briefly described by Berkeley in “ Outlines of British 
Fungology.” The majority of the species are either un¬ 
common or rare. 
