II- ^ ‘ii!
bi,
If
I' I f
niate, and as if tubular. Siem often not central, thick, but unequal,
rai'ely straight, l | - 3 inches in length, solid, fleshy, paler than the pileus.
Plants seldom solitary, yet scarcely gregarious.
A variable plant, but not liable to be confounded with any
other, if the above character and description be attended to.
Its nearest affinity is with H . candidum, which, however, is
well marked by its very white colour, and short, diaphanous,
scattered spines of the hymenium. F r i e s has kept H y d .
7'ufescens of P e r s o o n distinct: it is said to be minutely
downy, and the pileus suhtiliter zonatus; which certainly implies
some distinction. I am, however, hy no means convinced
of its specific difference, especially as B o i . t o n ’s figure of H y d ,
imbricatum (t. 88.) is quoted. F r i e s indeed observes p rio ris
vai'ietas insignioi'.
H y d . repandum is much used on the Continent as food.
It is regularly sold in Austria. In France it has the provincial
names of Eurchon, Rignoche and Arresteron. In the
Vosges, it is called Barbe de vache and P ied de mouton.
When prepared for the table, it is commonly broiled with fresh
butter, pepper and salt, and fine herbs. M. P a u l e t , however,
says it is better to plunge it it into boiling water, and, without
draining, dress it a la graisse et au bouillon. With butter
alone, it is rather tough, and it requires a more liquid vehicle,
as it has but little juice of its own.
Fig. 1. A section o f a mature plant. Fig. 2. Spinous processes o f the hymenium.
Fig, 3. Sporuliferous cells and sporules ;— the two last magnified.