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Tlie largest fungus contained in the group denominated
Gasteromycetes by F r i e s , Gastromyci by L i n k , and Der-
matocarpi by P e r s o o n . A specimen recently communicated
to me by Mr N e i l l , measured twelve inches in diameter; hut
this is greatly inferior to many others mentioned hy naturalists.
B u l l i a r d says its ordinary size is about that of a man’s head,
hut he himself found them occasionally eighteen, twenty, and
twenty-three inches in diameter. He mentions further, that he
had received accounts of others which were nearly nine feet in
circumference. L i g h t f o o t , too, asserts that specimens have
been gathered in Padua in Italy weighing twenty-five pounds,
and measuring two yards in circumference,—a size by no means
improbable. Their growth is also extremely rapid.
We are informed by Dr W i t h e r i n g , that the “ fumes
of this, when burnt, have a narcotic quality, and, on this account,
it is sometimes made use of to take a hive, without destroying
the bees. It is also sometimes used as a styptic, and
to carry fuel in from a distance.”
It will scarcely be credited, that the puff-balls should be
considered an article of food in any country; nevertheless we
are assured by M a r s i g l i , that the Italians used to take not
only the present species, but several others, while in the young
state, and fry them for the table. I cannot ascertain, however,
whether they still retain any reputation, but P e r s o o n
having excluded them from his “ Champignons comestibles,”
we may infer the contrary.
In some parts of England, the species now described has
received the names of Puckfist and Frog-cheese. h
Fig. 1. Sporidia andflaments, magnified.
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