Catalogue of Fungi

An ornate woodcut headpiece depicts floral and scrollwork motifs.

I. I.

For many years now, I have endeavored to investigate the delights of nature with which she has enriched the region of Jena in the mineral, living, and animate kingdoms. Especially, whether because of the singularity of their forms and their own peculiar spirit, or because of the shady groves that conceal them, or the spring and autumn that kindly nourish them, or for some other cause, I do not know, but the entire vegetable army of cryptogama hidden-marriage plants, or spore-bearing plants, or so-called plants bereft of flowers, invited me most sweetly to observe them. And among these, with the opportunity and leisure for the necessary reading of works written on mosses, ferns, and algae lacking, I rendered the fungi, which are less explored, my own for the pleasure of my mind. I collected, painted, and described as much as the shortness of my life and talent, while it lasted, allowed me to contribute to this chosen labor. Finally, when my native sky had to be exchanged for another, and the hope of accomplishing more and of having more ample leisure appeared very cloudy, I did not think it ill-advised to offer these same fragments, however meager, to the supporters of science and friends of nature, as nature granted. Yet—

For many years now, I have made it my business to examine those beauties with which nature has gifted the region of Jena in regard to all three kingdoms. Among all plants, the cryptogamic or flowerless ones drew my attention the most, although I cannot determine whether I should attribute this interest to their strange form, which is entirely different from the rest, the shady groves, the pleasant spring and autumn in which they appear, or some other cause. And even among these, my choice fell especially on the fungi, which are less explored and make the reading of so many writings, for which I had neither time nor opportunity, less necessary than the others. As much as my age and mental faculties currently allowed me, I have collected, drawn, and described these plants; and since I had to exchange my birthplace for another, and could not well know whether I would soon have sufficient leisure for more such work, I held it advisable to present these fragments, just as I had received them from the hands of nature, to her friends. However, since I have not yet found a secure way—