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brown variety), more or less covered with prominent scales, formed
p a rtly of the substance o f the plant, partly o f hair-like fibres from the
epidermis. Flesh soft, white,’sometimes changing to a light reddish hue
on being divided. Lamettoe numerous, free, broad, ventricose, o f a b rittle
substance, fine pink, red or flesh colour, becoming dark vinous, fuscous,
or even nearly black. Stipes firm, solid, 2-5 inches high, b u t mostly
short, thick, white, sometimes rather bulbous at the base. Veil annular,
white, variable, b u t mostly subpersistent.
This highly esteemed fungus, the Common Mushroom of
this country, the Champignon of the French, and Pratiolo of
the Italians, was well known to the ancients, as might have been
proved by numerous synonyms, had our limits allowed of their
introduction. It will suffice here to mention, that it is the
Muxrii sècobip/oç of D i o s c o r i d e s , the Callus rubens of P l i n y ,
Prateolus of C æ s a l p i n u s , &c.
On tbe Continent, where a number of different kinds of
fungi are constantly consumed as regular articles of diet, we
would naturally expect a variety of provincial names for the
different species. Accordingly, for the present species, we have,
besides Champignon, the following names :—Paturons, Potirons,
Envinassas, Cabalas, Champignons des près. Champignons
du fumier. Champignons de couche, &c. The neighbouring
and equally wholesome species, Ag . Georgii, bas often
been confounded with the present one, but is called universally
in France Boule de neige. I f the reader wishes to form an
idea respecting tbe almost incredible extent to which the eating
of fungi is carried in different parts of Furope, he will find
much information upon the subject in P a l l e t ’s Traité des
Champignons; P e r s o o n , Sur les Champignons comestibles;
two works published by T r a t t i n i c k in Germany, and in Professor
P a l l a s ’ Voyage dans plusieurs Provinces de I’Fmpire
de la Russe, vol. i.
The Common Mushroom is found throughout the w'hole of
Furope, even in Lapland : as far as Japan in Asia, on the authority
of T h u n b e r g ; in Africa (Barbary), D e s f o n t . Atlant.
p. 433. : and in America, according to M u h l e n b e r g and
Dr S c h w e i n i t z .
Fig. 1 . A mature plant, dissected, nat, size. Fig. 2. Sporules, magnified__
The other figures represent the plant in different ages.