662 
Mushrooms  and  Fungi. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t  December,  1896. 
which  gives  it  a  variegated  or  butterfly  appearance,  hence  its  name. 
The  gills  are  very  broad  and  blackish.  It  is  quite  common  from 
July  to  November.  No  cheaper  or  more  effectual  spree  is  by  Nature 
provided. 
In  the  order  of  Hydnei,  having  teeth-like  protuberances  upon 
which  the  spores  are  born,  there  are  a  few  edible  varieties.  Their 
occurrence  is  not  frequent  in  this  section  of  the  country.  Among 
them  is  the  Hydnei  repandum,  which  grows  upon  the  ground,  and 
some  of  the  Medusa-like  growths  found  upon  trees  ;  they  are  suffi- 
ciently tender  for  food  ;  the  others  are  too  tough. 
The  order  Polyporei  (^dli-i),  having  tubes  in  which  the  spores 
are  produced,  and  from  whose  many  mouths  they  are  shed,  includes 
many  delicate  and  valuable  species  in  its  first  sub-genus,  Boletus. 
They  all  grow  upon  the  ground  ;  none  of  them  are  poisonous.  One 
— the  Boletus  felleus,  a  large,  handsome,  brown-topped  fungus — is 
excessively  bitter ;  this  bitterness  does  not  leave  it  on  cooking  and 
renders  it  unpalatable.  The  Boleti  are  found  in  great  quantities  in 
woods  and  on  their  margins.  There  are  over  seventy  species. 
When  they  appeal  to  the  eye,  and  are  not  water-soaked  or  wormy^ 
they  make  tasty  meals.  The  tubes  are  detachable  and  should  be 
removed  from  the  long-tubed  species.  Cook  half  an  hour,  broil,  fry 
or  roast  like  chestnuts.  The  species  of  Polyporus,  seen  growing 
everywhere  upon  trees  and  fallen  branches,  are  too  woody  to  masti- 
cate, excepting  the  Fistulina  hepatica,  or  liver  fungus,  which  grows 
from  stumps  and  the  decaying  crannies  in  trees.  It  is  superior  to 
any  tenderloin  ever  cooked.  It  resembles,  somewhat,  a  calf's  tongue,, 
but  I  have  seen  it  a  foot  and  more  in  width.  I  have  tried  to  culti- 
vate it  by  planting  pieces  of  it  in  stumps,  but  have  not  yet  had  a 
single  result  other  than  disappointment.  I  believe  it  can  be  done,, 
and  it  is  well  worth  persistent  effort.  When  we  can  grow  such 
excellent  steaks  from  stumps,  beef  will  be  cheaper. 
The  Clavarerei  grow  from  the  ground,  generally  in  woods,  and 
are  frequently  branched  like  deer  horns.  They  cannot  be  mistaken. 
None  are  poisonous.  Many  make  the  most  savory  of  stews.  Some 
are  tough  as  shoe-strings.  They  are  often  found  in  large  patches 
and  tufts.  They  could  be  used  as  the  mallow  and  Iceland  moss  are 
in  confections. 
The  Lycoperdons,  or  puff  balls,  are  numerous  in  species.  They 
are  all  edible  when  the  flesh  is  white,  not  tinged  with  yellow,  or 
