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XV. A Preliminary List of the Hymenomycetal Fungi of
Epping Forest ; A Contribution to the Botany of the
County.
By M. C. Cooke, M.A., LL.D., A.L.S., &c., and
James L. English.
[Read November 26th and December 17th, 1881.]
[This list of the Fungi of the family Hymenomycetes,
occurring within the Forest Districts, is intended only as a
prodromus of the more extended and exhaustive catalogue to
which we may look forward as the result of the persevering
labours of our botanical members and others. It enumerates
all the species of the family (338 in number) yet identified
with certainty as growing within the prescribed district,
which lies on both sides of the line separating Provinces I.
and II. of Professor Boulger's sketch-map of the County
(Plate VI.). The list has been compiled by Dr. Cooke [" C."]
from his notes of personal visits to the Forest, and from
materials furnished as the result of many years' observation
by Mr. English, of Epping ["E."], with the addition of a
few species noted by Mr. Worthington G. Smith. The
indication of precise localities is purposely avoided, as being
almost useless ; fungi are very capricious and evanescent in
their places of growth, slight local changes often resulting in
the appearance of species in new stations, or in the destruction
of old and well-known habitats. The word "Epping" ap-
pended to Mr. English's records must be taken with rather a
wide interpretation : it includes the woods near the town of
that name, with Monk Woods, Theydon Woods, &c.,—in
short, the northern section of Epping Forest.
The list will doubtless be considerably extended as the
Cryptogamic flora of Essex is more thoroughly investigated;
but it is thought best to print it as it stands, to serve as an
indication of the riches of the Forest, and as a guide to