Cryptogamie Illustrée, ou Histoire des Familles naturelles des Plantes Acotyledonées a'Europe Famille des Champignons

Abstract

THE numerous introductions to the study of fungi, whether as articles of food, objects of physiological and botanical interest, or as the cause or aggravator of disease both in the animal and vegetable world, which are constantly issuing from the press, or whose speedy appearance is announced, are a certain proof of the daily increasing appreciation of the importance of a tribe which has often been considered as the mere offscourings of the earth, and worthy only of the title of “abominations.” These publications of course are of very different value, and the glowing terms in which they are announced sometimes lead only to disappointment after an inconvenient outlay. As a striking instance, Valenti-Serini's work on doubtful or poisonous fungi of the neighbourhood of Turin may be mentioned, which was characterised in the “Annals of Natural History” as “this important work,” its true characters being admirably exposed by Mr. Worthington Smith in “Seemann's Journal of Botany;” and unsparing as the remarks are, I consider that they are completely justified. It is simply a disgrace to the Academy under whose auspices it is published.*

Cryptogamie Illustrée, ou Histoire des Familles naturelles des Plantes Acotyledonées a Europe. Famille des Champignons.

Par Casimir Roumeguère. (Paris: J. B. Baillière. 1870.) 4to., pp. 164, figures 1700.