i i
which may not however be so familiar to many of my readers
as the two former. The existence of prickles, or spine-like
processes, on the under surface of the pileus in the more
typical genera and species, is the characteristic mark, as gills
and tubes were of the two former. The pretty Hydnum auri-
scalpium, which is common upon fir-cones, will have attracted
the notice of many from the elegance of its form and colouring;
and the esculent fT. repandum (Plate 17, fig. 2), which is
a common inhabitant of our woods, must be known to every
one who has observed the differences which exist among these
plants. There are, however, abundant species which will reward
a closer research by their own peculiar beauties. One
or two are gelatinous, and a few acquire considerable firmness
of texture. Some consist almost entirely of spines, with
scarcely any pileus, while others are as regular in form as
a Mushroom. A few are repeatedly branched, resembling
a cauliflower. In one genus, Hericium, which may perhaps
reward future researches in this country, the spines are extremely
large and perfectly erect, and have the appearance of
ivory. The Fungi of this third subdivision are called Hydnei,
after the typical genus Hydnum.
We noticed before, that in the lower Gill-bearing Fungi,
the hymenium is sometimes almost destitute of folds, thus
preparing the way for an important group in which the characteristic
point is the absence of-projections or depressions
on the hymenium. The species are often very common and
widely diffused. An oak-truuk, when felled and decorticated,
is soon covered with a bright-yellowish, velvety Fungus, with
a smooth hymenium of the same colour, Stereum hirsutum
(Plate 17, fig. 7), while a felled poplar, left, as is usual, with
the bark on, is in like manner adorned with a beautiful and
somewhat similar lilac Fungus, Stereum purpureum. They
are scarcely ever fleshy, but for the most part coriaceous, with
an admixture of waxy, membranous, or gelatinous species.
As in the former instances, many are resupinate; but in general,
the stem is less common than in the other groups, and
when present, not very distinct from the pileus, hut confluent
with it. In the genus Thelephora (Plate 17, fig. 4, 5, 6) there
are slight traces of folds, and in a few species of Stereum there
are bristles or bristle-shaped processes, which on a careless
view might confound them with the species of the Tooth-
bearing Fungi. They vary extremely in colour, and sometimes
assume the brightest blue, the most brilliant vermilion, and
other vivid tints. The group is called Auricularini, from some
of the most characteristic being ear-shaped.
We have hitherto seen, at least in the higher forms, something
like a pileus, which indeed may gradually he attached
by its upper surface, so as to present to the eye nothing more
than the hymenium. There is however a group in which the
pileus vanishes altogether, so that the club-shaped receptacle
is covered with the fructifying surface. I f the stem is branched,
we may have every variety of tree-like form. The yellow Clavaria
fastigiata of our meadows, or the white, candle-like
bundles, Clavaria vermiculata, so common on our lawns in
autumn, are examples familiar to every observer of Nature.
(See Plate 18, fig. 2, 3, 4, 5.) In the one case, each plant is
simple; in the other, the whole presents a strongly branched
and closely packed mass. Here, again, we have the most
beautiful colouring, though several of the finest European species
have not yet been noticed in our woods. One or two
common species occur on sticks or fallen trunks, which are
decidedly gelatinous in point of texture and consistence. These
Fungi are named Clavati, from their club-like form.
There yet remains another group of allied Fungi, distin