_Bot. Char_. The word _Boletus_, which has at different times, and under different mycologists, been made to represent in turn many very different funguses, is now restricted to such as have a soft flesh, vertical tubes underneath, round or angular, slightly connected together and with the substance of the pileus, open below, and lined by the sporiferous membrane; the cap horizontal, very fleshy, the stalk generally reticulated, some have an investment; the flesh of many changes colour. They are all innocuous, according to Vittadini, which is not strictly the case, though many species hitherto reputed unwholesome, or worse, appear to lose their bad properties by drying. The kinds generally eaten are _B. edulis_ and _scaber_. GENUS 8. FISTULINA.[149] _Bot. Char._ _Hymenium_ formed of a distinct substance, but concrete with the fibres of the pileus; _tubes_ at first wart-like, somewhat remote, radiato-fimbriate, closed; at length approximated, elongated, open. Esculent species: _F. hepatica_. GENUS 9. HYDNUM.[150] _Bot. Char._ In this genus the under surface presents a series of conical teeth or bristles of unequal length, solid, continuous with the flesh of the pileus and covered entirely by the sporiferous membrane. The species composing it have no investments; the _flesh_ is dry, frequently corky or coriaceous; the _pileus_ irregular in shape, and its margin arched and undulated. There are no dangerous species, but which to eat must depend upon the united consent of the stomach and of the teeth. Esculent species: _H. repandum_. [In the last five genera of this tribe, namely, _Sistotrema_, _Irpex_, _Radulum_, _Phlebia_, and _Thelephora_, there are no esculent species.] TRIBE 2. _CLAVATI._[151] _Hymenium_ above, smooth; _receptacle_ club-shaped or cylindrical, with no distinct margin; _substance_ fleshy. GENUS 15. CLAVARIA. _Bot. Char._ _Receptacle_ erect, homogeneous, smooth, not distinguishable from the stalk, simple or entirely covered by the hymenium. All the species in this genus are good to eat. [In the remaining six genera of this tribe there are no esculent species.] TRIBE 3. _MITRATI._ _Receptacle_ bullate, pileiform, margined; _hymenium_ superior, never closed. GENUS 22. MORCHELLA. _Bot. Char._ _Receptacle_ hollow and confluent with stalk, club-shaped, or, like the pileus, fissured above with lacunæ more or less deep, limited by thick folds, anastomosed with reticulations, entirely covered with sporiferous membrane; _flesh_ waxy in texture; _stalk_ constant. There are two esculent kinds, _M. esculenta_ and _semilibera_; the _esculenta_ and _hybrida_ of Sowerby. GENUS 23. HELVELLA. _Bot. Char._ _Substance_ fleshy; _margins_ sinuous; only the upper portion of the pileus sporiferous. Esculent species: _H. crispa_, _lacunosa_, and _esculenta_. [In Genera 24 to 26 there are no esculent species.] TRIBE 4. _CUPULATI._