Fungi: Their Nature and Uses

by M. C. Cooke

The Lactarii, which are so abundant in the forests of Europe and North America, appear to grow more and more scarce towards both the south and north. The same may be stated in regard to Russula.

The genus Marasmius is dispersed throughout the globe, and everywhere presents numerous species. In inter-tropical countries they are still more abundant, and exhibit peculiarities in growth which probably might justify their collection into a distinct group.

The genera Lentinus and Lenzites are found in every region of the world; their principal centre, however, is in hot countries, where they attain a splendid development. On the contrary, towards the north they rapidly decrease in number.

The Polypori constitute a group which, unlike that of the Agarics, especially belongs to hot countries. The Boleti constitute the only exception to this rule, since they select the temperate and frigid zones for their special abode, and some of them at times find their way to the higher regions of the Alps. No one can describe the luxuriance of the torrid zone in Polypori and Trametes, genera of Hymenomycetes, which flourish beneath the shade of the virgin forests, where perpetual moisture and heat promote their vegetation and give rise to an infinite variety of forms. But though the genus Polyporus, which rivals Agaricus in the number of its species, inhabits, in preference, warm climates at large, it nevertheless exhibits species peculiar to each country. This arises from the circumstance that the Polypori, for the most part, live upon trees, and are dependent on this or that particular tree for a suitable habitat; and the tropical flora being prolific in trees of all kinds, a multitude of the most varied forms of these fungi is a necessary consequence. Hexagona, Favolus, and Laschia are common in inter-tropical countries, but they are either entirely absent or extremely rare in temperate climes.

When the majority of the species of a genus are of a fleshy consistence, it may generally be concluded that that genus belongs to a Northern region, even if it should have some representatives in lands which enjoy more sunshine. Thus the Hydna are the principal ornaments of Northern forests, where they attain so luxuriant a growth and beauty that every other country must yield the palm to Sweden in respect to them. In an allied genus, that of Irpex, the texture assumes a coriaceous consistence, and we find its species to be more especially inhabitants of warm climates.

Most of the genera of Auricularini are cosmopolitan, and the same is true of some species of Stereum, of Corticium, etc., which are met with in countries of the most different geographical position. In tropical countries, these genera of fungi assume the most curious and luxuriant forms. The single and not considerable genus Cyphella appears to be pretty uniformly distributed over the globe. The Clavariæi are equally universal in their diffusion, although more plentiful in the north; however, the genus Pterula possesses several exotic forms, though in Europe it has but two representative species. That beautiful genus of Hymenomycetes, Sparassis, occupies a similar place next the Clavariæi, and is peculiarly a production of the temperate zone and of the coniferous region.

The fungi which constitute the family of Tremellini prevail in Europe, Asia, and North America, and exhibit no marked differences amongst themselves, notwithstanding the distances of the several countries apart. It must, however, be stated that the Hirneolæ for the most part inhabit the tropics.

We come now to the Gasteromycetes—an interesting family, which exhibits several ramifications or particular series of developments. The most perfect Gasteromycetes almost exclusively belong to the warmer division of the temperate, and to the tropical zone, where their vegetation is the most luxuriant. Of late the catalogue of these fungi has been greatly enriched by the addition of numerous genera and species, proper to hot countries, previously unknown. Not uncommonly, the exotic floras differ from ours, not merely in respect of the species, but also of the genera of Gasteromycetes. It must, besides, be observed that this family is rich in well-defined genera, though very poor in distinct specific forms. Among the genera found in Europe, many are cosmopolitan.

The Phalloidei present themselves in the torrid zone under the most varied form and colouring, and comprise many genera rich in species. In Europe their number is very restricted. As we advance northward they decrease rapidly, so that the central districts of Sweden possess only a single species, the Phallus impudicus, and even this solitary representative of the family is very scarce. In Scania, the most southern province of Sweden, there is likewise but one genus and one species belonging to it, viz., the Mutinus caninus. Among other members of the Phalloidei, may be further mentioned the Lysurus of China, the Aseröe of Van Diemen’s Land, and the Clathrus, one species of which, C. cancellatus, has a very wide geographical range; for instance, it is found in the south of Europe, in Germany, and in America; it occurs also in the south of England and the Isle of Wight; whereas the other species of this genus have a very limited distribution.