lxii
Journal of Proceedings.
also with the party, Cryptogamic Botany in all its branches was well
represented.
The section of the Forest searched included the district of High Beach,
Great and Little Monk Woods, and the Woods near Theydon Bois. The
gatherings were very large, and in the presence of such a band of accom-
plished botanists very few species went unnamed. The ladies of the
party set out their spoils in open baskets with moss and fern, thereby
revealing the wealth of colour and beauty that is to be found in the com-
monly despised mushrooms. Many of the baskets would vie in appearance
with the finest bouquets, and they afforded hints for the decoration of
rooms at seasons when flowers are not abundant, for an hour's gathering
would furnish a collection of brilliantly coloured forms with which an
artist might be enraptured.
Hygrophorus eburneus was very abundant, a white and sticky species,
said to be edible; a close ally and "consort" of this plant was also
frequent in H. cossus : the latter is much more glutinous, its top is slimy,
and the whole plant is rich in the potent odour of the he-goat, or—to
those who are not fortunate enough to know this odour—the scent of the
larva of the Goat Moth (Cossus ligniperda). The viscid tops of the speci-
mens of H. cossus were covered with dead flies, at first probably attracted
by the odour and then caught and suffocated by the gluten. Some of the
younger members claimed these Fungi as undoubtedly "carnivorous
plants" ; they carefully placed them in their baskets, determined (they
said) to look for and find pepsine, distended fungus-cells, and digestive
cavities ! Another handsome ally is H. chrysodon: this was once or twice
met with ; the plant is named "chrysodon" from its fancied resemblance
in colour to the beautiful golden-greenish stone named "chrysolite." One
gentleman found a vegetable beaf-steak, Ustulina hepatica; and another
botanist, who had gathered one the day before, brought it to the Forest
cut up in slices between bread in the form of sandwiches. This was an
inveterate fungus-eater, for he even dispensed with mustard, and secured
the necessary pungency by the insertion of thin slices of the fiery Lac-
tarius piperatus. We cannot all go to such lengths ! One or two speci-
mens of the gorgeous vermilion-coloured Cortinarius cinnabarinus were
found with many examples of its handsome, but more soberly tinted ally,
C. cinnamomeus. Agaricus rubescens was very frequent; this plant is
commonly said to be edible, although Mr. Berkeley cautiously omits any
reference to its esculent qualities. Dr. Wharton stated that this plant is
not only good for food, but is excellent for its production of a refined and
appetising ketchup, not so rich as that peculiar to the mushroom, but a
delicate nepenthe, fit for the gods. The beautiful "consort" of Agaricus
rubescens was present in A. pantherinus, perhaps as edible as the last, but
seldom or never changing to sienna-red when broken or bruised. The
golden-yellow edible Chantarelle, Cantharellus cibarius, was frequent; so
also was its duller-coloured but more elegant ally, C. tubaeformis,
Russulas, so called because many of the species are red in colour, were