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._
[Illustration]
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.)
[Illustration:
TUBER NIVEUM or TERFEZIA LEONIS.
By courtesy Rev. A.B. Langlois.
A. Plant. B. Interior (section). C. Asci.
D. Spore.
]
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.)
[Illustration:
TUBER ÆSTIVUM.
(Common Truffle.
A. Plant. B. Section showing interior.
]
=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.)
[Illustration:
PACHYMA COCOS—“TUCKAHOE.”
After Century Dictionary.
A. Mass of Tuckahoe. B. Showing
method of growing around a root.
]
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.)
[Illustration]
1.
A. Exterior skin, bark, rind, cortex, scurf, warts, spines,
bristles—peridium. Plants with long spines—echinate.
B. Inner rind or true peridium. [A.B.—peridia (plural of peridium).]
C. Columella—those filaments springing from the base and rising, which
do not unite freely with those issuing from the inner peridium. This
mass of threads is usually conical, but sometimes globose.
D. Capillitium—a soft mass of cottony threads interspersed with minute
dust-like spores; the space occupied is called the gleba.
E. Coarse empty, sterile cells. The space they occupy is called the
subgleba.
F. Echinate spores magnified.
G. Spines (magnified) which fall off and leave the inner peridium
exposed.
2.
A. Lycoperdon echinatum.
B. Spines (magnified) which fall off and leave tesselated inner peridium
exposed. (After Morgan.)
As has been stated, the two Cohorts in which a hymenium or spore-bearing
surface is present are called Hymenomycetes and Gastromycetes. In the
first the hymenium is exposed, as in the common mushroom. In the
second—Gastromycetes—the hymenium is at first enclosed in a sac or
peridium, as in the common puff-ball.
The botanical description of Gastromycetes, given by M.C. Cooke, is:
“Hymenium more or less permanently concealed, consisting in most cases
of closely-packed cells, of which the fertile ones bear naked spores on
distinct spicules, exposed only by the rupture or decay of the insisting
coat or peridium.’
The Gastromycetes are usually large, ground-growing fungi. A few grow
upon wood. The peridium is of dense structure, usually globose and of
considerable thickness. It commonly consists of two layers. These form
the sac holding the spore-bearing structure, which is called the gleba.
The gleba consists of innumerable chambers or cells, curved and
branched, and only to be distinguished by magnifying. The primary
structure is retained in some species throughout the life of the plants,
excepting changes due to growth and maturing, or in others these cells
or chambers are large and few, and form distinct peridiola, which
contain the spores.
The maturing of the plant and the consequent changes in the gleba is
accompanied by various transformations of the peridium.”
It is impossible within the scope of this book to even name all the
genera of Gastromycetes. Professor Morgan’s table of the families and
table of the genera of Lycoperdaceæ are here given. The orders are
defined as are some of the genera, and the edible species are described.
TABLE OF FAMILIES OF GASTROMYCETES.
_A._ TERRESTRIAL.
_(a)_ _Peridium double._
I.—=Phalloi´deæ.= Page 570.
Peridium becoming transformed into a receptacle of various shape, with a
volva at its base. Gleba becoming dissolved into a dark green mass of
jelly.
II.—=Lycoperda´ceæ.= Page 577.
Peridium sessile, usually with a more or less thickened base or
sometimes stipitate, at maturity filled with a dusty mass of mingled
threads and spores.
_(b)_ _Peridium single._
III.—=Scleroderma´ceæ.= Page 615.
Peridium discrete from the gleba, often with a columella; cells of the
gleba subpersistent.
IV.—=Hymenogastra´ceæ.=
Peridium concrete with the gleba, indehiscent; cells of the gleba
persistent. (No edible species reported. _C. McIlvaine._)
_B._ EPIPHYTAL.
V.—=Nidularia´ceæ.=
Peridium cyathiform, open at the top, containing one or more distinct
peridiola. _Morgan._
(Small. No species reported edible. _C. McIlvaine._)
_A._ TERRESTRIAL.
(_a_) _Peridium double._
FAMILY I.—=PHALLOIDEÆ.=
=Receptacle= and =gleba= at first enclosed in a universal volva composed
of three distinct layers, the central one being gelatinous at maturity.
=Spores= minute, elliptic-oblong, smooth, when mature involved in mucus.
_Massee._
=Spores= 3–5µ in length. _Morgan._
There are but few edible species within the family, and those edible
only when very young. The family embraces the very offensive fungi known
as stink-horns.
TABLE OF GENERA.
I.—=PHALLEÆ.=
Receptacle consisting of an elongated stipe bearing the gleba on a
conical pileus at its apex.
1. PHALLUS. Page 571.
Pileus attached only to the apex of the stipe, dependent free all around
below.
2. MUTINUS. Page 575.
Pileus wholly adnate to the summit of the stipe.
II.—=CLATHREÆ.=
Receptacle a hollow clathrate body, with the gleba attached to the upper
part of the inner surface.
3. CLATHRUS.
Receptacle composed of obliquely anastomosing bars and sessile.
4. SIMBLUM.
Receptacle composed of obliquely anastomosing bars and stipitate.
5. LATERNEA.
Receptacle composed of a few vertical columns and sessile.
_Morgan._
[Illustration:
Photographed by Dr. J.R. Weist. PLATE CLVIII.
PHALLUS RAVENELII.
]
I.—=PHAL´LEÆ.=
=Receptacle= consisting of an elongated stem bearing the gleba on a
conical pileus at its apex. =Stem= cylindric, hollow, composed of one to
several layers of round-celled tissue; the gleba occupying the outer
surface of the pileus.
GENUS I.—=PHAL´LUS= Mich.
=Stem= hollow within, the wall composed of several layers of
round-celled tissue. =Pileus= attached only to the apex of the stipe,
dependent free all around below, the gleba occupying its outer surface.
_Morgan._
The following synoptical tables will exhibit the prominent distinctive
features of the species of Phallus of this state (New York) and the
United States, so far as I am able to get them from the published
descriptions and the specimens at my command.
NEW YORK SPECIES OF PHALLUS.
Denuded pileus reticulate with coarse deep pits or
cells
Veil exposed, reticulate with small perforations P. Dæmonum
Rumph.
Veil none P. impudicus L.
Denuded pileus porous, veil not perforate, P. Ravenelii B.
concealed and C.
UNITED STATES SPECIES OF PHALLUS.
Denuded pileus reticulate with coarse deep pits or
cells.
Veil exposed.
Large and reticulate with large perforations. P. indusiatus
Vent.
Smaller and reticulate with small perforations. P. Dæmonum
Rumph.
Smaller and plicate. P. duplicatus
Bosc.
Veil none. P. impudicus L.
Denuded pileus even or merely porous.
Veil short, concealed beneath the pileus. P. Ravenelii B.
and C.
Veil none. P. rubicundus
Bosc.
_Peck_, 32d Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
I.—HYMENOPHAL´LUS.
An indusium or veil surrounding the stipe and dependent from its apex
beneath the pileus.
a. _Veil reticulate, hanging below the pileus._
=P. Dæ´monum= Rumph. =Volva= globose, not very thick, pinkish; segments
3 or 4, irregular. =Stem= cylindric, tapering at each end, cellulose;
the veil reticulate, somewhat expanded and bell-shaped, hanging nearly
to the middle of the stem. =Pileus= bell-shaped, somewhat oblique; the
surface reticulate-pitted after deliquescence; the apex truncate,
smooth, perforate. =Spores= elliptic-oblong, 4×2µ.
=Plant= 9 in. high. =Volva= 2 in. in diameter. =Stem= 1⅛ in. thick at
the middle. =Pileus= 2 in. in height; the lower edge of the veil hangs
about 4 in. from the apex of the stem. The short veil and the smooth
ring at the apex will distinguish this species from the next. _Morgan._
Growing on the ground in woods.
Ohio, _Morgan_, _Lea_; Maryland, _Miss Banning_; New York, _Peck_.
Mt. Gretna, ground in mixed woods, August, 1899. _McIlvaine._
Several specimens were found; but two in the early or ovum stage. In
this condition the species is edible. Quality same as P. impudicus.
=P. duplica´tus= Bosc. =Volva= depressed globose, thick, flabby white;
segments 3–5, acute. =Stipe= fusiform-cylindric cellulose; the veil
reticulate, hanging down to the volva, sometimes much expanded, often
torn and shreddy with pieces adherent to the stipe. =Pileus=
campanulate, reticulate-pitted after deliquescence; the apex acute, not
regularly perforate. =Spores= elliptic-oblong, 4×2µ.
=Plant= 6–8 in. high. =Volva= 2½ in. in diameter. =Stipe= 1¼ in. thick
in the middle. =Pileus= 2 in. in height. The long veil usually clings
close to the stipe though sometimes swinging free and much expanded. In
this species the gleba extends over the apex and there is no thick
smooth ring encircling the perforation as in the preceding species (P.
Dæmonum). _Morgan._
Growing in woods about old stumps and rotten logs. West Virginia, in
woods, along mountain trails; Mt. Gretna, Pa., in mixed woods, summer.
_McIlvaine._
In the forests of the West Virginia mountains, P. duplicatus is
frequent. Before rupture of the volva the plant is a semi-gelatinous
mass, tenacious and elastic. It has little taste or smell. Cut in slices
and fried, or stewed, it is a tender, agreeable food.
_b. Veil not reticulate, concealed beneath the pileus._
=P. Ravenel´ii= B. and C. =Volva= subglobose or ovoid, pinkish; with an
inner membrane, the lower half of the veil surrounding the base of the
stem; segments 2 or 3. =Stem= cylindric, tapering at each end,
cellulose; the veil membranous, scarcely half as long as the pileus and
concealed beneath it. =Pileus= conico-bell-shaped; the surface not
reticulate-pitted after deliquescence; the apex smooth and closed or
finally perforate. =Spores= elliptic-oblong, 4–5×2µ.