bo l e t u s im b r ic a t u s . im b r ic a t e d b o l e t u s .
BOLETUS imbricatus, coriaceo-fragilis, luteo-fulvus, subsessilis, imbncatus, came albescente, poris
folvis, brevibus.
BOLETUS imbricatus. jBull. Champ, p. 34. t. 366. Sowerby Fung. ml. 2. t. 86. Lamarck FI.
\ Fr. eel. S. ml. 2. p. 119- Lam. FI. Gall. Syh.p. 24. Lam. Diet. Suppl. ml. 1. p. 669-
BOLETUS'amaricans. ' Pers. Syn. Fung. p . 53 L
Class a nd Ord e r . CRYPTOGAMÏA FUNGL
\ [Natural Ord e r . FUNGI, 7ks^. D e Cand.']
Ge n . Char. Pileus sessile aut stipitatus, facie inferiore, et interdum superiore, instructa tubisgongylos recon-
dentibus. D e Cand.
F ungus magnus, aggregatus, imbricatus, subsessilis.
Pileus subrotundatus, convexus, undulatus, laevis, lu-
. . teo-fulvus, etiam cinnamomeus, margine palli-
diore, varie lobato, sinuate, putrescent© nigro.
Caro suberassa, fragilis, 02täte firma, coriacea, alba
(amara, radicis Gontianee luteas odorem redolet,
Bull.)
Pori numerosi, coaliti, pilei substantia arete connexi,
et faciem inferiorem omnino tegentes {fig- l.),
quandoque, basi prmcipue {Jig. 2.) nulli, breves,
flavescentes vel pallide fulvi, exemplaribus juni-
oribus minutis, etvixconspicuis {Jig. 3,), proce-
■ rioribus majoribus {Jig. 4.), seepe irregularibus.
F ungus large, collected in clusters, imbricated, sub-
sessile.'
P ileus roundish, convex, undulate, smooth, yellowish,
brown or even cinnamon-coloured, with the margin
paler, lobed, sinuose, when putrefying black.
Flesh somewhat thick, fragile, firm by age and coriaceous,
white (according to Bulliard bitter, yielding
a smell like that of the root of the yellow
Gentian^r 0;
Pores numerous, united to and.closely connected with
the substance of the pileus, either altogether covering
the under side {Jig. 1.), or sometimes but
principally at the base wanting {Jig. 2.), short,
yellowish or pale fulvous, in younger individuals
minute, scarcely visible {Jig. 3.), in the older
ones {Jig. 4.) larger, often irregular.
Bulliard’s figure of this large and handsome Boletus is sufficiently characteristic, nor does it in any particular differ
from our specimens, except in having the pores of a deeper and redder colour. Mr. Sowerby’s figure, made from
specimens gathered in the same spot as those here given, is excellent. No other author has yet described it as
British, and we believe it has only been found on trees in Kensington Gardens, where it has for many years appeared
on some decaying stumps quite close to the ground*, extending sometimes two or more feet around the
base of the trunks. It is a herbaceous perennial, growing from the same base for several years successively,
each cluster continuing from six to eight months : is in the greatest state of perfection in the months of August,
September, October and November.
In September our specimens were gathered by Mr. Graves, to whom I am indebted for many of the following
particulars respecting it.
In a young state its texture is so soft, especially if the. weather be moderately warm and damp, that it is
easily pierced by the blades of grass ; but as it advances in age, and when deprived o f moisture, the whole plant
hardens, and if gathered in this state, on drying it becomes coriaceous and almost ligneous; the fine fulvous brown
of the pileus, and even the paler colour of the pores, all become of a deep blackish purple. The taste is highly
disagreeable, and the smell extremely offensive; which latter property it retains long after it is perfectly desiccated.
Bulliard observes that the flesh is bitter, (whence Persoon has, without sufficient reason, we conceive, changed
the name to amaricans,) and that it yields a smell resembling that o f the Gentiana lutea ; from this circumstance
inferring that it may be usefully employed in the Pharmacopoeias. Even in its most vigorous state on being bruised
it is subject to decay, turning black and affording food for insects.
While in the act of gathering this plant, Mr. Graves observed that his hand, placed within the cluster, was sensibly
affected with a degree of heat from the Fungus, and that this continued to be emitted during many hours after
it was removed from the tree.
* The specimens figured in Bulliard were found at the height of forty feet from the ground on a tree in the forest of Fontainebleau. The
weight of the cluster was thirty pounds French, and from its great size the author says it resembled a huge lump of rock.