MITRATI.

ORIGIN, habitat, time, duration. Almost all well-known species are European, although the same species are found in North America, the furthest parts of Siberia, etc. Loureiro and others testify that peculiar species, and perhaps even genera, occur in the tropics. In general, they only love humus-rich and shaded places; if one or another individual were to be found on wood, it would be entirely consumed by decay. No species has been found in underground locations. Most are autumnal or vernal, rarely weather-dependent, but some seem to appear in more abundant quantities in certain years. No species is perennial, nor ephemeral, but they last for about 14 days. When dried, they are persistent.

VIRTUES & Uses. Mild, nutritious, lacking juice, one species is said to be bitter. They are hardly infested by the larvae of insects. Most are accepted as food; only the Leotia gelatinosa gelatinous Leotia is harmful.

SYNOPSIS of the genera distinguished by the character of the hymenium and the receptacle:

• 1. MORCHELLA. Receptacle pileate shaped like a cap, rounded. Hymenium lacunose pitted with holes with ribs.
     2. HELVELLA. Receptacle pileate, deflexed, lobed. Hymenium smooth.
     3. VERPA. Receptacle conically deflexed, equal. Hymenium smooth or wrinkled.
     4. LEOTIA. Receptacle capitate-pileate having a head-like cap, with a revolute margin. Asci fixed.
     5. VIBRISSEA. Receptacle capitate-pileate, with the margin attached to the stipe, soon free. Asci erupting.
• 6. RHIZINA. Receptacle crustaceous, bullate blistered, supported by the margin and fibrils. Hymenium smooth.