Part 51
Readily distinguished by the bay or umber-brown disk, and the minutely-warted spores. _Massee._
North Carolina, _Curtis_; California, _H. and M._; Minnesota, _Johnson_; Nebraska, _Clements_; New York, _Peck_, Rep. 25.
Alabama. On ground, Alabama Bull. No. 80, West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On ground. Frequent. July to October. _McIlvaine._
Esculent. _Cordier._
P. badia is frequent on bare ground, along wood roads, etc. In the West Virginia mountains it occurs where there have been brush fires. It is a meaty plant, without much flavor. It must be cut fine and slowly cooked if stewed, or can be quickly fried in a hot buttered pan. It has more flavor fried crisp than stewed.
=P. cochlea´ta=—spiral. Sessile, cespitose, variously contorted and plicate, fleshy, brittle, disk umber-brown, externally paler and pruinose, sometimes altogether paler and leather-color or pale dingy-ochraceous, 2–3.2 in. diameter; when solitary or almost so, at first globose, then expanding with the margin involute, finally spreading and irregularly plicate; excipulum spongy and cavernous, due to the loose weft formed by interlacing, hyaline, thin-walled, flaccid, septate hyphæ, cortex compact, running out into irregular groups of cells that form the scurfy exterior; asci cylindrical, apex slightly truncate, 8-spored. =Spores= obliquely 1-seriate, hyaline, continuous, smooth, usually 2-guttulate, 16–18×7–8µ; paraphyses slender, septate; tip slightly clavate, often curved and sometimes branched.
The entire substance is brittle and rather watery, and usually assumes a yellowish tint when bruised. Smell and taste almost none.
Sometimes the ascophores are closely crowded, hence irregular and much contorted, and resembling a foliaceous Tremella or a small specimen of Sparassis crispa. _Massee._
New York. Ground in woods. Helderberg mountains and Greenbush. June. _Peck_, Rep. 23; Alabama, _Peters_, Ala. Bull. No. 80; North Carolina, _Curtis_; Massachusetts, _Frost_; Ohio, _Lloyd_, Rep. 4.
This species is quite insipid and somewhat leathery, but Mr. Berkeley has seen it offered for sale under the name of Morell. _Badham._
Esculent. _Cordier_, _Cooke_.
=P. lepori´na= Batsch.—_lepus_, a hare. =Cup= 1–3 in. high, 1–3 in. broad, gregarious, often cespitose; margin involute, divided to the base on one side; disk even or rarely wrinkled, a shade darker than the exterior; paraphyses slender, hardly thickened at the summits, but almost invariably crooked. This fine species grows as large as O. onotica at times, but is not so brightly colored, being throughout of a sober tan-color, resembling common wash leather used for cleaning plate. _Phillips._
Asci cylindrical, 8-spored. =Spores= obliquely uniseriate, hyaline, smooth, continuous, 1–2 guttulate, elliptical, 12–15×7–8µ; paraphyses filiform, septate, apex slightly swollen, and usually strongly curved.
On the ground in woods, among leaves, etc. _Massee._
California, edible, _H. and M._
Esculent. _Cordier._
=P. onotica= Pers. Very variable in form, usually elongated on one side and ear-shaped, but sometimes almost equal-sided and entire, 1–3 in. high, up to 2 in. wide, becoming narrowed to a more or less wrinkled, short stem-like base; disk pale orange, usually with a rosy tinge, externally pale tawny-orange. Asci elongated, narrowly cylindrical, 8-spored. =Spores= obliquely 1-seriate, hyaline, smooth, colorless, ends obtuse, 1–2-guttulate, 14–15×8–9µ; paraphyses straight, septate, apex clavate.
On the ground in woods, among leaves, etc. _Massee._
North Carolina, _Curtis_; Iowa, _Fitzpatrick_ (Ll. R. 4); New York, _Peck_, Rep. 28.
Esculent. _Cordier._
=P. unici´sa= Pk.—implying one incision. =Cup= large, thin, split on one side to the base, sessile or with a short stem, externally wrinkled, minutely pulverulent under a lens, yellow, within pale-yellow slightly tinged with pink. =Spores= elliptical, usually containing two nuclei, 12–15µ.
Ground in woods. Croghan. September.
The cups are about two inches broad. The species is related to P. onotica. _Peck_, 26th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Minnesota, _Johnson_; Mt. Gretna, Pa. On ground in mixed woods, gravelly ground. September to October. _McIlvaine._
Many specimens were found scattered and in patches, and were eaten. They were of slight flavor but good.
=P. auran´tia= Pers. (Plate CXXXVI, fig. 3, p. 508.) Sessile or protracted into a very short stem-like base, cespitose and irregular, or growing singly and then circular in outline and regular, becoming almost plane; thin, brittle, disk clear, deep orange or sometimes orange-red, externally much paler, or sometimes almost white, with a pink tinge, delicately tomentose, due to the presence of short, stout, blunt, 1–2-septate hyaline hairs; varying from ½-3.2 in. broad. =Spores= 15–16×7–8µ.
On the ground, often near stumps or among chips.
Sometimes crowded, large, with the margin raised and very much waved and more or less incised, at others scattered, smaller, almost or quite even and finally spread flat on the ground. Easily recognized by the large size, bright orange disk, pale, downy exterior, and the broadly elliptical spores covered with a delicate net-work of raised lines at maturity. _Massee._
Massachusetts, _Frost_; Rhode Island, _Bennett_; Minnesota, _Johnson_; California, _H. and M._; Alabama, _Peters_; New York, October, _Peck_, 23, 24 Rep.; Indiana, Richmond, November, _Dr. J.R. Weist_; West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. On ground. September to October. _McIlvaine._
Esculent. _Cordier._
At Mt. Gretna, Pa., patches of it twenty feet long, made the ground along a road on the margin of a woods golden with its clusters. The plants grew from sand mixed with leaf-mold. I have eaten it for fifteen years. Fair flavor.
*** Cupulares. _Subsessile, etc._
=P. repan´da= Wahlenb.—bent backward. Clustered or scattered, subsessile, contracted into a short, stout, stem-like base, which is often rooting; saucer-shaped, then quite expanded and the margin more or less split and wavy, sometimes drooping and revolute, extreme edge often crenate; 1.6–4 in. across; disk pale or dark brown or umber, more or less wrinkled toward the center, externally whitish, minutely granular. =Spores= obliquely 1-seriate, hyaline, smooth, continuous, elliptical, ends obtuse, 18–22×11–12µ; paraphyses septate, clavate and brownish at the tips. _Massee._
On the ground, often in beech-woods; also on decayed trunks.
New York, _Ellis_; Minnesota, _Johnson_; Ohio, _Lloyd_, R. 4. New York. Ground and decaying wood. Croghan. September. _Peck_, 28th Rep.
Specimens sent to the writer by Dr. W.B. Miller, Altoona, Pa., were 3½ in. across, and a beautiful velvety brown. Cooked they had a mushroom flavor.
=P. vesiculo´sa= Bull.—full of bladders. Clustered, often distorted from mutual pressure, sessile but more or less narrowed at the base, globose and closed at first, then expanding, but the margin usually remaining more or less incurved and somewhat notched; disk pale brown, externally brownish and coarsely granular from the presence of minute, irregular warts, 1.2–3 in. across. =Spores= obliquely 1-seriate, smooth, hyaline, continuous, elliptical, ends obtuse, 21–24×11–12µ; paraphyses slender, septate, clavate.
Var. _ce´rea_ Rehm. Similar in size, habit and general structure to the typical form; differing in the wax-yellow color, the more distinct stem-like base, and the slightly smaller spores, 18–19×10µ; very brittle. _Massee._
North Carolina, _Curtis_; California, _H. and M._; Massachusetts, _Frost_; New Jersey, _Ellis_; Ohio, _Lloyd_, Rep. 4; var. minor, _Sacc._; Nebraska, _Clements_; New York, _Peck_, Rep. 25.
Esculent. _Cordier._
II.—LACHNEA.
=P. odora´ta= Pk. =Cups= .5–3 in. broad, gregarious or scattered, thin, sessile, rather brittle when fresh, shallow, expanded or even convex from the decurving of the margin, at first brownish, then white or whitish, the hymenium ochraceous-brown; asci cylindrical, opening by a lid, .01-.012 in. long, .0006-.0008 in. broad, paraphyses filiform, obscurely septate, slightly thickened at the tips. =Spores= elliptical, even, 20–22.2×10–12.5µ.
Ground in cellar. Maine. June. _F.L. Harvey._
The plant when fresh has the peculiar fungoid flavor suggestive of that of chestnut blossoms. The species is apparently allied to P. Petersii, from which it may be distinguished by its larger spores and distinct but peculiar odor. The spores also are not binucleate, as in that species. In drying, the hymenium is apt to become blackish. _Peck_, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, Vol. 23, No. 10.
A cluster 4 inches across, in general appearance resembling P. repanda, was found by the writer at Mt. Gretna, Pa., June, 1898, growing from between the staves of an empty flour barrel which was exposed to the weather. The margin, instead of being revolute, turned inward (involute) until it touched the short stem. The cluster was eaten and had the flavor of P. repanda. In June, 1899, several pounds grew on and around the same barrel. Professor Peck recognized it as P. odorata.
=P. cocci´nea= Jacq.—scarlet or crimson. Geopyxis coccinea Mass. (Plate CXXXVI, fig. 2, p. 508.) Scattered or in groups of 2–3 specimens, stipitate; at first closed, then expanding and becoming shallowly cup-shaped, margin entire, .8–1.6 in. across; disk clear and deep carmine, externally whitish or pinkish, delicately tomentose, due to the presence of wavy, usually aseptate, hyaline, cylindrical hyphæ, 5–6µ thick. =Stem= .4-.8 in. long, 1.2–2 in. thick, whitish and tomentose. =Spores= 1-seriate, elliptic-oblong, ends obtuse, hyaline, wall rather thick and forming a hyaline border, straight, 25–30×8–9µ; paraphyses very slender, hardly thickened at the tips.
On rotten branches lying on the ground. Spring.
Readily distinguished among the large, stipitate Pezizæ by the deep rose-red or carmine disk and the whitish, tomentose exterior. The stem varies considerably in length; when the fungus springs from the underside of a branch the stem is often elongated and curved. The base of the stem is attached to the branch by a mass of whitish, tomentose mycelium. _Massee._
New York. Half-buried sticks. April and May. _Peck_, 23d Rep.; New Jersey, _E.B. Sterling_; Mt. Gretna, Pa., New Jersey. On sticks on ground. Spring. _McIlvaine._
This brilliant fungus is one of the beauties of the woods. Though small it attracts the eye by its deep carmine in striking contrast with the somber carpeting. It is frequent when in season. A half pint of it may be gathered from a few acres. Its substance is tenacious, taste pleasant. Mr. Massee mentions that it is abundant in some of the woods near Scarboro, England, and is regularly collected and sold along with moss for decorative purposes. Exquisite effects may be produced by arranging the brightly colored fungi among moss and leaves. “Fairy Cups,” they are called. Rosy must be the lips that do not pale beside them.
=P. calyci´na= Schum.—resembling a bud. Ascophores cespitose, gregarious or scattered, narrowed into a short, stout, stem-like base, rather fleshy, 1–3 mm. broad; disk orange-yellow, externally white and villose, hairs rather wavy, cylindrical, obtuse, colorless, minutely rough, 100–150×4–5µ; asci subcylindrical, apex obtuse, 8-spored. =Spores= 1-seriate or inclined to be 2-seriate above, hyaline, elliptic-fusiform, continuous, 18–25×6–8µ; paraphyses slender, hyaline, cylindrical.
On bark of larch and Scotch fir. _Massee._
North Carolina, _Curtis_; Massachusetts, _Frost_; New York. Gum spots on spruce, bark of pines, _Peck_, 22d Rep.
Esculent. _Cooke._
Cohort _PYRENOMYCETES_.
FAMILY.—=HYPOCREACEÆ.=
=HYPO´MYCES= Fr.
_Gr_—under; _Gr_—fungus.
Perithecia (the hollow narrow-mouthed cases which contain the spores) gregarious, with a cottony stroma in which they are more or less immersed. Mostly parasitic on various Hymenomycetes or Discomycetes; bright colored, with papilliform (nipple-shaped) or slightly elongated ostiola (apertures). Asci mostly cylindrical, 8-spored, without paraphyses. Sporidia oblong or fusoid, uniseptate, hyaline. Conidial stage represented by Asterophora, etc.
This parasite attacks several species of fungi, and so alters their structure and appearance that it is difficult to distinguish the host-plant. The attack is made in the extreme youth of the plant. The writer is fully satisfied from his own observation that H. lactifluorum and H. purpurea infest Lactarius piperatus. The milk cells are so changed by H. lactifluorum that they yield no milk. When attacked by H. purpurea the milk is a beautiful purple. In both cases the pepperiness of the host-plant is destroyed. I have seen the same host plant attacked by both forms of the Hypomyces. After the host-plant of Hypomyces lactifluorum is fully grown, and infested, it is frequently attacked by Hypomyces purpureus. Purple spots appear, which gradually spread until the entire plant is covered. This Hypomyces seems to affect the milk cells. A beautiful, profuse, purple fluid results.
The parasite is proving itself an enemy to fungi, but a friend to man. Upon L. piperatus and upon Amanita rubescens it very much adds to the weight of the plants, and improves the texture and edible qualities. The same may be said of L. volemus, but not to such a degree. Prof. M.W. Easton in August, 1899, found this species at Mt. Gretna, Pa., attacked by a parasitic fungus in such a manner as to destroy its milk-giving quality and completely transform its gills into a corrugated, granular surface.
Professor Peck, to whom I submitted the parasite, thinks it a new species and calls it H. volemi.
Further study of Hypomyces and its effect upon fungi, and of the particular host-plants is desirable.
=H. lac´tifluorum= (Schw.) Tulasne—_lac_, milk; _fluorum_, flowing. (Plate CXXXVI, fig. 5, p. 508.) Asci long and slender, sporidia in one row, spindle-shaped, straight or slightly curved, rough, hyaline, uniseptate, cuspidate-pointed at the ends, 30–38×6–8µ.
The general appearance is much the same as that of H. aurantius (Pers.) Tul., but the sporidia are larger, rough and warted, and the felt-like mycelium is wanting.
In the affected species of Lactarius the gills are entirely obliterated, so that the hymenium of the agaric presents an even, orange-colored surface on which the subglobose perithecia are thickly bedded, with only their slightly prominent reddish ostiola visible. In decay the color changes to a purplish-red.
On Lactarius, especially L. piperatus.
New Jersey, _Ellis_; Alabama, _U. and E._; Minnesota, _Arthur_; Nova Scotia, _Dr. Somers_; on various species of Lactarius, 1895, Ala. Bull.; South Carolina, _Ravenel_; Pennsylvania, _Everhart_.
West Virginia, 1881–1882; Haddonfield, N.J., Mt. Gretna, Pa., August to October. _McIlvaine._
This fungus puzzled me for many years. August, 1896, I sent several specimens to Professor Peck of different colors—orange, red, whitish and purple.
Professor Peck kindly identified the specimens and wrote: “In one the matrix of the host-plant has not been so completely changed or transformed as in the other. It would be interesting to know what species of Lactarius it is that Hypomyces attacks. I have never been able to ascertain, and have sometimes thought it might be Cantharellus cibarius, but this specimen of yours indicates, rather, a Lactarius.”
Of the purple specimen he wrote: “This is a beautiful thing, and as I find nothing like it described I have given it a name—Hypomyces purpureus Peck.”
Well cooked, in small pieces, it is one of the very best.
=H. purpu´reus= Pk.—_purpureus_, purple. Subiculum effused, purple, permeating, transforming and discoloring the matrix; perithecia minute, sunk in the subiculum, the ostiola emergent, black; asci cylindrical; spores fusiform, uniseptate, purple, with a cusp-like point at each end, 35–40µ long, 7.5µ broad, oozing out and forming beautiful purple masses or patches on the surface of the matrix.
Pennsylvania. August. _Charles McIlvaine._
The species is similar in all respects to H. lactifluorum, except in color. It is apparently parasitic on some species of Lactarius, but the host plant is so transformed and discolored that the species is not recognizable. _Peck_, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, Vol. 25, No. 6.
H. purpureus Pk. was sent by the writer to Professor Peck in August, 1897, who wrote: “This is a beautiful thing and as I find nothing like it described, I have given it a name.”
Of itself H. purpureus is a minute parasitic fungus as above described. But it possesses the power of so altering the structure—changing form, shape and appearance—of the fungus upon which it has taken its abode that the host-plant, be it Cantharellus cibarius, Craterellus cantharellus or one of the Lactari, or whatever the species, becomes difficult to recognize, so that it is not yet certain upon which species it is parasitic. It may be upon many.
The present plant seems to be parasitic upon one of the Lactarii. It therefore becomes necessary to describe the host as it appears when possessed by the parasite. The plant is variable in shape from an irregular nodule to a distorted-capped, short-stemmed mass, 2–4 in. across, 1–3 in. high, hard, brittle, coarse in appearance and rough to the touch; deep orange, wholly or in part stained with a beautiful purple. The purple juice exudes and dyes everything with which it comes in contact. The growth is very heavy for its size.
To all appearances it is the same host as is attacked by Hypomyces lactifluorum, resembling it in every particular excepting in the purple stain and juice.
It is frequent in open oak and chestnut woods, but prefers oak. It grows from among leaves or from grassy spots. August to October.
While it is beautiful in its coloring it is not inviting in appearance as an edible. Yet sliced, cut small and stewed for twenty minutes it is one of the very best fungi I have eaten.
=H. vole´mi= Pk. Subiculum very thin, whitish or isabelline; perithecia minute, brown, nestling in the subiculum; asci very slender, 100–125µ long, sporiferous part 4µ broad. =Spores= oblong-fusiform, 12–15µ long, 4µ broad, commonly binucleate.
Parasitic on the hymenium of Lactarius volemus. Pennsylvania. _Charles McIlvaine._
The hymenium of the host plant is changed in appearance by the parasite, but the stem and upper surface of the pileus remain unchanged. _Peck_, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, 27, January, 1900.
The edible qualities are in nowise affected by the parasite.
FAMILY.—=TUBERA´CEÆ.=
(Plate CLIII.)
Subterranean; ascophore irregularly globose, usually large, not rupturing.
To this family belongs the Truffle of commerce renowned for its flavoring qualities. It has not yet been found in America, though several fungi are ignorantly bought in our markets under that name; notably Coprinus comatus or maned mushroom. The writer has frequently been informed with all the logical force of genuine market-women that this was the real Truffle, because they raised it themselves.
Until quite recently but one species of Truffle has been reported as growing in America. This, Tuber niveum Desf. or Terfezia leonis Tul. was found by Rev. A.B. Langlois, St. Martinville, La. He reported it as growing plentifully, buried or nearly so in the red sand land along the Red river near Natchitoches. He writes me: “The people where it is found are looking for it with great care and are eating it with great relish. I had occasion to eat it once and I found it delicious.” He kindly sent the original illustration from which the accompanying drawing was made. It was taken from Jour. Myc., January, 1887, J. B. Ellis, who first published a description of the American representative of the species. He describes it as “subglobose, up to full two inches in diameter, strongly plicate or furrowed below, nearly smooth and pale reddish-brown outside, marbled-white within and of compact texture much like a potato, but softer. When first dug from the ground the color is pure white, the reddish tint being due to exposure to the air. The asci obovate or subglobose, 75–80×60–70µ. Each contains eight globose spores, thickly clothed with obtuse, elongated, wart-like tubercles and about 20µ in diameter. The home of the white Truffle is said to be in Northern Africa, though it is not uncommon in Southern Europe, where its growth is favored by mild winters.”
It is probable that the Truffle will be found in other southern states. Perhaps in the north, as Fries reports that two specimens were found near Linkoping, Sweden, and Mr. H.W. Harkness reports Tubers in the Sierras at the height of 7,000 feet. It is worth hunting for.
It is possible that the common Truffle—Tuber æstivum—will be found in America. Fame awaits the finder. A description of it with illustration is therefore given.
(Plate CLIV.)
=Tuber æsti´vum= Vitt. Peridium warty, of a blackish-brown color, the warts polygonal and striate; flesh transversed by numerous veins; asci 4–6-spored; spores elliptical, reticulated.
This plant, the common Truffle of our markets, is abundant in Wiltshire and some other parts of England, and probably occurs in many places where it escapes observation from its subterranean habit. _Badham._
It is cultivated largely in France. “Perigord Truffles” are a costly delicacy. The Truffle is of subterranean habit, growing under various kinds of trees and from 12–48 in. under ground. As it does not manifest its presence above ground, dogs and pigs are trained to find it by scent. An interesting chapter on Truffles will be found in British Edible Fungi, M.C. Cooke, 1891. Any plant of similar habit, when found, should be immediately sent by the finder to a known expert for identification.
Thirteen species of Tuber and several Terfeziæ are reported in California, and are described and beautifully illustrated in “California Hypogæous Fungi” by H.W. Harkness, “Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences,” 1899.
Terfezia spinosa Harkness closely resembles T. leonis Tul., and T. (sphærotuber) Californicum n. sp., found under oaks beneath vegetable humus in Alameda county, Cal., Professor Harkness remarks, is nearly identical with an edible species found in Italy. All species found in California are said to be edible, but to be too rare to be of food value.
(Plate CLV.)
There is a well known growth, found from New Jersey south to the Gulf and west to Kansas, called Tuckahoe (Pachyma cocos), (Plate CLV), an Indian name meaning a round loaf or cake, and famed for its edible qualities. Its exact place in plant growth has been variously determined. It is now conceded that it is the sclerotium or cellular reservoir of reserve material of some fungus. It is usually found attached to the roots of trees, in low marshy places. It grows several feet below the surface, and to the size of a man’s head. It varies in shape, being oblong or round, having a coarse brown covering, looking like a cocoanut. Its interior is white, compact, without cellular structure; it has no mycelium or trace of fructification. It contains as high as 77 per cent. of pectose and is therefore highly nutritious.
For full accounts see Torrey Bulletin, October, 1882; Smithsonian Inst. Rep., 1881, p. 693; article by Professor J. Howard Gore; also Garden and Forest, IX, p. 302.
The illustration is after that in the Century Dictionary, “Tuckahoe.”
SUB-CLASS BASIDIOMYCETES.
COHORT _GASTROMYCETES_. _Gr_—_gasteron_, a sac, etc.
(Plate CLVI.)
1.