History of the Fungi of the Rimini Territory

I began [with the Coral-like fungi], because they have a greater affinity and similarity to plants, since there is no other genus of fungi that has roots, a trunk, and branches, as we perceive the Coral-like ones to have. II. The Clavaria follow. III. The Boleti follow. IV. Membranous fungi, namely those that are either destitute of a stalk or bear a dubious one. V. Sulcate pileate fungi erupting from a volva. VI. Singular fungi equipped with a ring placed not far from the beginning of the stalks, around the peduncle. VII. Solitary fungi which by nature are gifted with a veil covering the furrows instead of a ring. VIII. Polymyces many-stemmed/clustered or clustered fungi gifted with a ring. IX. Singular umbilicate fungi. X. Clustered umbilicate fungi. XI. Simple solitary fungi, that is, neither umbilicate nor equipped with a ring. XII. Polymyces many-stemmed/clustered or simple clustered fungi. XIII. Thinner fungi abounding in much watery humor. XIV. Fungi we call Bubbles, because they are equipped with a very thin peduncle, and the entire form of the fungus emulates a bubble. XV. Fungi which I have taken from the Tuberaster truffle-like growth. XVI. Honeycombed fungi, which are called Suilli or Porcini by others. XVII. Puffballs. And thus the descriptions and history of our fungi are concluded.

However, since I have often observed in the books of even the most famous writers of natural things that appendices are placed at the end of the work, which are not accustomed to agree with the reason of the work, I have done what they were accustomed to do. For although I did not propose to wander outside the Rimini territory in my search for fungi, in the last place, by way of an appendix, I have added some species of fungi that are exotic with respect to this territory, which I received from friends.

Finally, know, excellent Reader, that for each description of a fungus, the number of the plate in which the icon of the fungus is shown is provided, and a capital letter is added, which corresponds to the icon engraved in copper with a similar letter. I have noted this, however, because it will perhaps cause confusion for impatient readers: because we engraved the images of the fungi on the plates without a determined order, for after we had distributed the icons of the fungi through the plates in their order, other fungi not previously observed by us presented themselves; wherefore it was necessary to overturn whatever order we established in the plates. We have consulted for this inconvenience also with an Index, through which, if the reader sees a certain icon of fungi in the plates and desires the description of it immediately, by approaching this Index, the plate having been found, he will also find the letter corresponding to the fungus, to which the number of the page on which the description of it appears is also attached.

When, moreover, you find the word "edible" in the descriptions, eat the fungus safely, if you wish, provided there is moderation in the matter. For Dioscorides teaches that fungi suitable for food, and sweet, when taken in greater quantity, also do harm; then, you should use those for cooking in the manner which we will teach; for we have made a trial of all of them on the stomach first. Farewell.