Hydnum Auriscalpium. is one of the species of the most
frequent occurrence, though requiring the eye of a person accustomed
to such plants, in order to discover it ; for it rises but
little above the surface of the ground, and, from its brown colour,
is easily passed over. From its general colour, its tomentose
surface, leathery substance, and erect lateral stipes, it is so
well marked, that scarcely any plant of the Order can be mentioned,
which has passed down from the old to the present time
so entirely free from confusion and uncertainty. Happy would
it be for the modern botanist could he escape from the toilsome
and ungracious task of detecting the faults and reconciling the
nomenclature of a synonymy often replete, not only with simple
error, hut with barbarous ignorance, and arbitrary innovation.
Fig. 1. A group o fH . Auriscalpium, o f different ages. Fig. 2. A mature plant
removed. Fig. 3. A lateral view o f the pileus, natural size. Fig. 4. A section
o f the pileus, and part o f the stipes. Fig. 5. One o f the spines o f the
hymenium. Fig. 6. A slice taken transversely from the same. Fig. 7. The- C(B and sporidia, magnified.