BOVISTA, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Fungi. This name was given it by Dilleniue, and is a Latinised version of Bofist, its German name. lit ninny parts of England its common name is Bullfice, and some writers call it Bull Puff-Ball. The genus Bovista was at one time included under Lycoperdon [LvcorennoN], and the typo of the genus, Borista gigantea, was called by Linntans Lycoperdon Boriata. The present Lycoperdon Borista is the common or Wolf Puff-Ball. The difference between the genera is, that Lyco perdon has a single peridium, while Borista has a double one.
The Borista gigantea, Bull Puff-Ball, Frog's Cheese, and Bullfice, is interesting on account of the enormous size it attains. It has the form of a flattened ball, at first of a perfectly white colour. Speci IIIC118 have been gathered measuring as much as 9 feet in circumference. When they have attained their full size, they begin to change colour ; the external peridium cracks and peels off, the inner one also bursts at the apex. The interior is composed of a mass of tissue, which when young is white and moist, but at length becomes coloured mud dry, and on being pressed emits a largo quantity of powdery matter, which on being examined is found to consist entirely of sporules. On examining the mass inside it is found to consist of filaments which are mixed with epornles. Burnett says, " It is probably the smoke that arises from these fungi when burned, or some of their allies, the Lyeoperdons, which forms tho secret method advantageously employed by seine persons who keep bees, in order to stupify the insects without killing them, while their hives are being robbed of all their honey." Gemrde says, " The common people use this fungus to kill or smoulder their bees." This practice has recently led to a curious discovery. Mr. IL B. W. Richardson,
if surgeon, living at Mortlake, struck with the fact of its stupifying bees, was induced to try its effects upon other animals. Cats end dogs baring been submitted to the action of smoke from the burning fungus, they were found to be narcotised in the same manner as if under the influence of ether or chloroform. A dog with a large tumour of the abdomen was narcotised, and whilst under its influence the tumour was removed, the animal giving no sign of pain. The narcotic principle seems to be formed during the process of combustion. Mr. Richardson found that it was capable of producing the death of animals. At present no advantage aee1118 to be gained by adminis tering this vapour instead of ether or chloroform ; at the same time, it is an interesting fact in the history of the properties of plants. It is curious that this fungus it stated by Dr. Bulbam to be amongst those which are eatable. He mays however that "no fungus requires to be eaten so soon after gathering as this," and adds, iu a note, that ho has been informed that it is sometimes served on state occasions at the Freenanona' Tavern. Tho best way of cooking it is "to cut it into slices, and fry these in egg and broad crumbs." In Mr. Richard son's experiments the dried fungus was employed. An Italian species, constantly present in the water') supplied to the cisterns of London for drinking purposes.
the B. furfuracea, which grows in great abundance on the heaths near Florence, is collected and sold in the markets, and, according to Micheli, is an esteemed article of food.
(Bischoff, Medicinisch-Pharmaceutische Botani ; Burnett, Outlines of Botany; Association Medical Journal, No. xxii.)