ure 367.--Hydnum coralloides. One-fourth natural size.
Entire plant white.]

This species grows in large, beautiful tufts on decaying logs, in damp
woods. It grows from a common stem, dividing into many branches and then
sub-dividing into many long and coral-like shoots, composed wholly of
attenuated interlacing branches tapering to a point. The spines grow
from one side of the flattened branches. It only needs to be seen once
to be recognized as a coral-like mushroom. It is pure white at first,
becoming creamy or dingy-white with age. It seems to delight in damp,
hilly places, yet I found it to be abundant at Sidney, and to some
extent about Bowling Green, Ohio, where it was very level. It is
plentiful around Chillicothe. One hickory log, from which the specimen
in the figure was taken, furnished me several basketfuls of this plant
during three seasons, but at the end of the third season the log
crumbled away, mycelium having literally consumed it. It is one of the
most beautiful fungi that Dame Nature has been able to fashion. It is
said that Elias Fries, when a mere boy, was so impressed with the sight
of this beautiful fungus, which grew abundantly in his native woods in
Sweden, that he resolved when he grew up to pursue the study of
Mycology, which he did; and became one of the greatest authorities of
the world in that part of Botany. In fact, he laid the foundation for
the study of Basidiomycetes, and this beautiful little coral-like fungus
was his inspiration.

It is found principally on beech, maple and hickory in damp woods, from
July to frost. I have eaten it for years and esteem it among the best.

_Hydnum septentrionale. Fr._

THE NORTHERN HYDNUM.

[Illustration: Plate XLIX. Figure 368.--Hydnum septentrionale.

Grew from a small opening in a living beech tree.]

Septentrionale, northern. This is a very large, fleshy, fibrous plant,
growing usually upon logs and stumps.

There are many pilei growing one above the other, plane, margin
straight, whole. The spines are crowded, slender and equal.

I have found a number of specimens about Chillicothe that would weigh
from eight to ten pounds each. The plant is too woody to eat. Besides,
it seems to have but little flavor. I have always found it on beech
logs, from September to October.

A very large plant grows every year on a living beech tree on Cemetery
Hill.

_Hydnum spongiosipes. Pk._

[Illustration: Figure 369.--Hydnum spongiosipes. One-th