I 



192 



MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



Europe, and is not unknown in America. In most locali- 

 ties, however, it is not common. Its natural habitat is upon 



the roots of various coniferous trees, upon which it produces 

 the so-called "root-rot". The conditions in the mine would 

 seem to be very favorable for this fungus. It w T as practi- 

 cally the only one which was found occurring upon the 



pine timbers. 



A considerable number of different species were found 

 growing upon the oak timbers. A single sporophore of 

 Fomes applanatus (Pers.) Wallr. was seen which came from 

 the mine. It was perfectly normal in every way. 



Lenzite8 betulina (L.) Fr. was found somewhat sparingly 

 upon the oak timbers, and in most cases was normal in ap- 

 pearance 



Polystictus versicolor (L.) Fr. was also quite plentiful 

 upon the oak timbers. It was very white in color, and did 

 not exhibit the glistening zones on the upper surface at 

 all distinctly, but otherwise seemed to be normal. 



One of the more common fungi upon the oak was Merul- 

 ius lacrymans (Jacq.) Fr. var. verucifer Quel. This was 

 noted as being quite frequent in some of the mines, but was 

 not seen in others; it is one of the most destructive fungi 

 occurring in the mines, as a large proportion of the timbers 

 which had been removed were affected with a dry rot such 

 as is caused by the action of this fungus. A rotted stick six 

 inches in diameter when struck sharply upon the ground 

 would break in two very easily, thus showing the extreme 

 weakening effect of this fungus upon the wood tissues. 



Several other species of fungi were found occurring rather 



sparingly upon the oak timbers. Stereum spadiceum Fr. 

 was found in a few cases. Bulgaria inquinans (Pers.) Fr. 

 was found upon several of the timbers. It occurred in con- 

 siderable number upon those timbers where it was found 

 at all. 



Hydnum Erinaceus Bull, of a rather peculiar type was 

 found hanging from the oak timbers. It grew in the form 

 of a rounded mass, hanging pendant from the lower end 

 of a stout stem several inches in length, and about an inch 





