mm m -
yl:l '
r : l
T
i i
to pass from the base towards the extremity. When the pileus is cU-
vided longitudinally b y a knife, it is b e a u tiM y
white, somewhat like fine beef. The cobur of the pilmis is at fi st
red, passing into a pale yellow towards the b a s e ; m age it becomes
deeper, and at length of a fine chocolate colour. The surface is rendered
more or less rough, b y minute, prominent, rigid points which
may be denominated abortive tubes, as they are the termination
fibres which, under other circumstances, would have formed perfect
ones. The Hymenium is whitish or yellowish, and composed of a multitude
of tubes between a quarter and h a lf an inch in length, perfectly
distinct from each other, b u t so connected to the - b s ta n c e of the pileus
as not to be separated from it, as m the genus Boletus.^ In the
young state, the first appearance o f tubes is in the form of mmute co-
L r e d warts, situated at a little distance from each
ino- spaces being filled up with a fibrous juicy mass, which gradually
S i p T T . ; .h f b==o„e a „ .lo p .d . S o™ of .ho w o » „ 00
nical, Others furnished with a spreading radiated border of short filaments
which close the orifice, and act as a veil to the infant tu b e s . the
r n ic i:i ones are probably merely unexpanded. In this
of the tubes, they are very short, scarcely more th an a h ne i»
and barely possess a cavity. As they become more developed, they
elongate, approximate b y the simple enlargement
gradually acquire an open orifice by the disappearance of the fimbriated
veil. When a t their full growth, they are in complete contact, 2-4 lines
in length, of a white colour, sometimes tinted with p ink and even green
and q fite open at the extremity, which is now only a little ragged. Aset
very minute. Sporidia minute, globose.
To m y fr ien d S ir W i l l i a m J a r d i n e , B a r t, in w h o se ey e s
no d ep a r tm en t o f n a tu r a l h isto ry is d e fic ien t in a b a c t io n s , th e
p r e sen t work is in d eb ted for a r ep r e sen ta tion o f on e o f our ra ie r
L d m o st cmiousFungi. I t is on ly th e
my own knowledge of its having been found north of the Tweed
Fistulina hepática has at first sight a near resemblance to a
niece of bullock’s liver, whence the specific name; hut the similarity
to an animal substance is not confined to external appearance,—
the interior has the same ; and it is said to have somewhat
of an animal flavour when dressed. I ^ s very geneially
eaten and esteemed on the Continent ; French calling it
Langue de boeuf. Foie de boeuf. Glue de
Chene, &c. ; the Tuscans Lingua de Castagno ; the ^^diMn-
tese Langhe. Old authors on the Materia Medica c úU tH y -
nodrys a name given to it by S o l e n a n d e r , accoidmg to P e r -
L o n ; hut the latter, with his chamctenstic °f ^
ence, does not mention in what work, though he has very unnecessarily
snhstitnted it for that oí Fistulina.
Ti'i.x 1 7? hmatica Fig. 2. A part of a pibus divided, natural size. Fig. 3.
^Mature tubes. Fig. 4. A portion of the hymemum, shewing the progress o f
the tubes from the young state. Fig. 5. Sporidia ; magnified.