Mycological System

2
GASTEROMYCETES.

HISTORY. A very significant order, worthy of the greatest attention, but, as it is quite mutable, it must be observed with diligence. It is indeed accepted by all Authors, but extended more or less regarding its limits. Already established by Michelius (Fungor. distrib. IV.) and adorned with many excellent genera, it was soon confused under the protean genus Lycoperdon. The genera, gradually restored by various people, were well stabilized by Persoon. Already, I fear, too many have been proposed. They are hardly of greater dignity than tribes in other genera, for example Agaricus. I have preserved all that facilitate the knowledge of species, and are in some way limitable. The species are not numerous, often distinguished too subtly; they are harder to limit as they are more sporadic and lack certain regions, unlike other fungi. Meanwhile, various genera are significantly opposed in this respect, for example Geaster and Lycoperdon, Trichia and Physarum. I have studied to explain the synonymy, as is custom, and the morphology of each genus more fully. The historical element is preeminent with me, such that I would rather illustrate a doubtful synonym or species than insert a new one. — The history of the vegetation of each suborder must be treated separately; in general, I will only observe that all Fungi pertaining to this group are superficial and freely evolved, for which reason the same types return even in remote lands. Nevertheless, various regions have their own private