Monograph of the Truffles

structure and appearance are so linked that they should certainly be written down under the same family. For this reason, I have decided to separate the history of the Tuberaceae truffle family from that of the edible Fungi mushrooms and to weave it into a monograph of its own. By this method, I have satisfied my own desire for studies of this kind, as well as the wishes of the Mycologists fungi experts, and easily those of Fries Elias Magnus Fries, a prominent mycologist himself. The manifold opinions and controversies regarding the peculiar structure of these vegetables, and their mode of nutrition and propagation, were not to be covered over in complete silence. Therefore, I have thought it proper to place a very brief specimen of Anatomy structural study and Physiology study of life processes—especially of the genuine Tubera truffles—before the description of the genera and species. Finally, in the description of the genera and species, as is usually done in such works, I have not omitted the history of each genus and its relations with neighboring and analogous genera of other Classes taxonomic categories, and I have performed the same task regarding the individual species.

Furthermore, this Monograph specialized treatise, which I submit to your judgment with a trembling heart, most kind Reader, is indeed very far from the desired goal. For species not previously described or seen are constantly being dug up here and there. I shall endeavor, if fate allows, to collect these in an orderly fashion and to add them to this specimen, by way of a supplement, once they have been determined.