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Webster 1913 Edition
Agaric
Ag′a-ric
(?; 277)
, Noun.
[L.
agaricum
, Gr. [GREEK], said to be fr. Agara
, a town in Sarmatia.] 1.
(Bot.)
A fungus of the genus
Agaricus
, of many species, of which the common mushroom is an example. 2.
An old name for several species of
Polyporus
, corky fungi growing on decaying wood. ☞ The “female agaric” (
Polyporus officinalis
) was renowned as a cathartic; the “male agaric” (Polyporus igniarius
) is used for preparing touchwood, called punk or German tinder. Agaric mineral
, a light, chalky deposit of carbonate of lime, sometimes called
rock milk
, formed in caverns or fissures of limestone.Webster 1828 Edition
Agaric
AG'ARIC
,Noun.
In botany, mushroom, a genus of funguses, containing numerous species. Mushrooms grow on trees, or spring from the earth; of the latter species some are valued as articles of food; others are poisonous. The name was originally given to a fungus growing on the larch. This species is now frequent in the shops, and distinguished by the name of female agaric. From this fungus is extracted a turpentine, of which three fourths of its weight is a resinous substance; the rest, a slimy, mucilaginous, earthy matter, tenacious and almost insoluble in water. It is used in dyeing, but is little esteemed in medicine.
The Agaric of the oak is called touch-wood, from its readiness to take fire.
Agaric mineral, a calcarious earth, or carbonate of lime, resembling a fungus in color and texture; found in fissures of rocks, and on the roofs of caverns. It is sometimes used as an astringent in fluxes, and a styptic in hemorrhages. It occurs in a loose semi-indurated form, white or whitish red, or yellow, light and friable. Kirwan mentions three varieties.