HYDNUM, in botany; a genus of fungi, belonging to the cryptogamia class of plants. It is of the horizontal kind, echinated or beset with sharp-pointed fibres on its under part. One of the species, named the imbricatum, is a native of Britain, and is found in woods. It hath a convex hat, tiled, standing on a smooth pillar, of a pale flesh-colour, with white prickles. It is eaten in Italy, and is said to be of a very delicate taste.