II. HELVELLA. Linn.

Fungoidea fungiformia. Mich. gen. p. 204. Boleto-Lichen. Juss. Act. par. 1728. p. 268 sq. Elvellæ 1. Helvellæ spec. Linn. - Gled. meth. p. 36. sp. 1. Afzel. in V. A. H. 1783. p. 303 Link diss. 1, p. 40. Nees syst. p. 175.

CHAR. Receptacle pileate cap-shaped, supported in the center, deflexed bent downward, somewhat inflated, sinuous, concave underneath and sterile, covered above and on the margin with a hymenium the spore-bearing surface. Hymenium smooth, persistent. Asci spore sacs fixed. — Stipe constantly present, continuous with the center of the receptacle, hollow or filled with flocculent medulla. Adult pileus mitra-shaped like a bishop's miter, compressed, lobed, dry, pruinose underneath. Substance waxy-membranous.

OBS. Persistent fungi, somewhat fragile, almost odorless and tasteless, harmless, found on the ground or on very rotten wood, mostly autumnal. In the natural series, they are in the middle between Morchellas and Helvelloideous Pezizas; they merge completely into Discina. H. esculenta is an aberration approaching Morchellas by its costate ribbed pileus.

HISTOR. The genus, taken very differently by various authors, as the synonyms indicate in their proper places. Linnaeus, the author of a name of doubtful origin, first took it properly; then he himself and his followers corrupted it more and more with foreign species. Persoon's arrangement is secondary for us. Knowledge of the forms is owed to Micheli, Schaeffer; of the species to Afzelius etc. Everyone from Linnaeus etc. unites them.

DIVIS. according to the nature of the pileus:

I MITRAE. Pileus waxy-membranous, at first adnate, finally undulately plicate folded. (1-6.)

II PEZIZOIDEAE. Pileus submembranous, smooth, always free. (7-13.)