European Mycology

This fungus (its vulgaris common variety) occurs in many regions, but it is nowhere rare, nor is it common, and furthermore, it has been known since ancient times. The pileus cap of the young specimens is pubescent covered with soft hairs and tubercular, then it becomes smooth and scarcely zoned. The sinuses gills or pores run obliquely, and at the base, they are sometimes tooth-shaped.

Regarding its use, according to D. Trattinnick, it is prepared for tinder, and for erasing stains and writing (undoubtedly those painted with a lead-based pen). According to the celebrated St. Amans (Flor. Agen. Flora of Agen p. 559), it was formerly used in Italy to cleanse the heads of those who frequented baths; even now, in some regions of France, those living in the countryside use this fungus in place of a currycomb to brush horses, whence Adanson gave it the name Striglia currycomb. As Bulliard observed, it is never (?) harmed or devoured by insects, unlike D. betulina.

• trabea, sub-imbricated, leathery, somewhat smooth, sordidly brownish and opaque, with nearly simple, flesh-reddish lamellae gills. Syn. fung. add. p. 29. under Agaricus.

In Germany, it occurs more rarely on manufactured wood. The pileus is slightly wrinkled and covered with very thin down; otherwise, it is nearly the same size and shape as D. quercina. I have not seen this fungus again anywhere.

20. sepiaria, leathery, hard, flat on both sides, with a strigose-tomentose covered with stiff, matted hairs, wrinkled, spadiceous date-brown pileus,