170 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Rand, Miller, Forsyth, Curtis, Hudson and others.17 Most of
these botanists paid some attention to fungi, but their interest
for the most part was small. It should not be overlooked
that several fungi are mentioned in Gerard, Johnson,18 and
John Parkinson's Theatrum Botanicum (1640).
The most famous name in Essex botany is undoubtedly
that of John Ray (1628-1705). His Synopsis methodica stirpium
Britannicarum completely overshadowed all previous works
on our flora and became the standard handbook of British
botanists for over a century.
There is no definite locality given for any fungus in the
first edition (1690), though the name of Samuel Dale is men-
tioned several times. The copy of this edition in the Depart-
ment of Botany is inscribed in Dale's handwriting—"Ex dono
Authoris. Samuel Dale, de Braintriam, Essexia." There are
two manuscript appendices, the Appendix tertia being—"1.
Fungus bulbosus fuscus duplici pileolo C.B. Dipsacoides Park.
Teasel Mushrome. On some hedg Banks in Bocking. [Lepiota
procera.] 2. Fungus pyxidatus coccineus. Scarlet cup
Mushrome. On some banks by the Road leading from Braintree
to Cogishall halfe a mile beyond Blackwater, [Sarcoscypha
coccinea.]
3. Fungus parvus ramosissimus albus." [Clavaria cristata]
Of the first thirteen fungi in this copy seven have a
letter E written against them in the margin. It is possible
that this means Essex: it is certain that it does not mean
edible. The names of these are:—
"Fungus campestris albus superne, interne rubens J.B.
17 A letter from James Petiver to Samuel Dale gives a further idea of tho botany of those
days:—
"Sir,
Mr. James Sherard & I designing a Botanical Itinerary thro some of the Hundreds,
and in hope of y good Company & information, he desires me to acquaint you, that we
intend God willing to be at Braintree on Tuesday next before Noon, for y remaining part of y'
day, & how we shall steer our course in our Jorney farther, we designing for Suffolk, Norfolk, &c.
I also give my self no small pleasure in expectation of seeing Mr. Catesby's late Acquisitions
from Jamaica, and wch I hope I shall be able to give you some light into, having just printed
something you have not yet seen relating to ye Trees of those parts, wch I shall bring with
me, who am
London Jun. 9 1716 Sr yr most humble Servt J.P.
18 According to Johnson, Gerard's Herball "is apparant by the worke it selfe, which you
shall finde to containe the Pemptades of Dodonaeus translated, so that divers chapters have scarce
a word more or lesse than what is in him . . . but that it might not appeare a translation,
he changes the generall method of Dodonaeus, into that of Lobel . . . To this translation
he also added some plants out of Clusius, and othersome out of the Adversaria, and some four'
teene of his owne not before mentioned." Fungi (Mushrums, or Toadstooles) are divided into
"Fungi vulgatissimi esculenti. Common mushrums to be eaten" and "Fungi lethales, Poisonous
or deadly Mushrums." Although Johnson added more than 800 plants in what Ray calls the
"Gerard Emaculatus," he says regarding fungi "Because the booke is already grown too volu-
minous I will only give you the figures of such as my Author hath here mentioned, with some
few others, but not trouble you with any more history."