New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-24
A REMARKABLE FUNGUS.
THE VEGETABLE CATERPILLAR.

James buCkland In The English Illustrated Maya
New-Zealard has been described. perhaps not in
aptly. as a land of wonders. but among the many
have been made known to science since the colon
ization of this country few surpass in curousness
At first sight one almost might be pardoned for
disputing the genuineness Of this singular curt.
after the manner of the late Mr. Barnum's cleverly
constituted cons mermaid 1t was some time even be;
riddle should be described under the fauna or flora
OF New-zealand At one period Of its existence II
Is as Huch an animal as a vegetable, but as II Is
vegetable and nothing else in its final stage. n has
insects sabe sfe with ns from kinds
OF parasites. both animal and vegetable; The veg
class Of fungi In the bush
various fungi which attack certain winged insects
among the number These fungi vary considerably.
although their action regards the insects is APP
fructuous stage push through the skin and dis
In all proba bty the action Of the Cordyceps.
jet Of this article is called by the Maors~woad
have been the same bad the caterpillar not been
fungus in order to scatter its spores had to push
a long stem through the earth and develop It's
the origin of this strange looking object.
The fungus and the caterpillar together ordi-
length of little over three inches, The image
ton of the STEM is found buried. The part which
shoots above ground through the dead leaves and
decaying vegetation is covered for three or four
inches from the apex downward with closely set
spores. So much does this terminal part resemble
the head OF diminutive bulrush that the settlers
In some districts calls the awhcto the "bulrush
caterpillar. AS rule the fungus has but one
stem which. springng from point between the
PACK OF the head of the caterpillar and the first
fold OF the neck, curves and twists less
according TO the number OF Instructions meets In
lts progress. until 1t. reaches the open air. after
the stem bfurcates before II reaches the surface
the terminal part of both branches being as usual
covered with densely packed spores. Occasionally
put rarely, one hnds an awhetO with stalk at
either end OF the body. and both fertile i have
peen told that specimens have been found having
a many branched STEM producing as many as
nine points all fertile. | have dug up dozens OF
these curious objects during my sojourns with the
natives in the interior. but 1 have
across of this kind All the same ] do not
for an instant wish to call the into dispute
For the rest. the accompanying drawing which
is truthful copy OF an awheto in my possession,
VIII give you general idea Of what the vegetable
caterpillar is like-an idea which will be strength
ened If you will imagine tho whole thing TO re-
semble. both In color and appearance q piece of
dried leather. You will observe that the stem OF
this specimen did not reach the surface without
meeting with two severe checks by the way.
which appears to be made always tail foremost
invariably maintains upright or an almost IN,
right position and the fungus. making straight for
the light shoots away from the head of the insect
like a bowsprt from the stem of a cutter
The awheto is found in the BUSH and is plentiful
In the southern parts of the North Island and I'm
the Naper. Iaupo and Rotorua districts You
may look Tor " anywhere among the dead vegeta-
ton ittering the ground in the localities which IL
frequents, although. as Il rule the higher YOU as
cend the density timbered ranges the more likely
are you 10 meet with success But as we do no,
know upon what tree or shrub, the larya feeds