Figure 384.—Sparassis Herbstii.
This is a plant very much branched, forming tufts four to five inches high, and five to six inches broad; whitish, inclining to creamy-yellow; tough, moist; the branches numerous, thin, flattened, concrescent, dilated above, spathulate or fan-shaped, often somewhat longitudinally curved or wavy; mostly uniformly colored, rarely with a few indistinct, nearly concolorous, transverse zones near the broad, entire apices.
The spores are globose, or broadly elliptical, .0002 to .00025 inch long, .00016 to .0002 broad.
This species was first found by the late Dr. William Herbst of Trexlertown, Pa., and was named by Dr. Peck in his honor. The specimen in Figure 384 was found at Trexlertown, Pa., and photographed by Mr. C. G. Lloyd. The plant delights in open oak woods, and is found through August and September. It is edible and quite good.
Sparassis crispa. Fr.
Crispus, curly. This is a beautiful rosette-like plant, growing quite large at times, very much branched, whitish, oyster-colored, or pale yellow; branches intricate, flat and leaf-like, having a spore surface on both sides. The entire plant forms a large round mass with its leaf-like surface variously curled, folded, and lobed, with a crest-like margin, and springing from a well-marked root, most of which is buried in the ground.
No one will have any trouble to recognize it, having once seen its photograph. I found the plant quite frequently, in the woods about Bowling Green. It is not simply good, but very good.
Clavaria. Linn.
Clavaria is from clavus, a club. This is by far the largest genus in this family, and contains very many edible species, some of which are excellent.