eines 
The Polyporaceae of North America. II, The Genus Pyropolyporus * 
By WILLIAM ALPHONSO MURRILL 
The European species of this genus were first separated into a 
distinct generic group by Quélet in his “ Enchiridion F ungorum ”’ 
published in 1886. His genus Phellinus established at that time 
contained four species, P. igniarius (L.), P. fulvus (Scop.), P. con- 
chatus (Pers.) and P. salicinus (Pers.), and was characterized as fol- 
lows: “ Pileus velvety, persisting ; context corky; pores small, 
fulvous brown; spores ovoid, fulvous. Plants lignatile.” The 
name /hellinus, however, is preoccupied by Phelline assigned in 
1826 to a genus of the Ebenaceae. The new name Pyropolyporus 
here proposed refers to the use of some species of this group in 
ancient times for the purpose of keeping fire. 
Synopsis of the North American Species 
I. Pileus thick, ungulate, woody, margin obtuse, tubes several times stratified, the 
upper layers not dying before the lower. - 
Not as above. si 
2. Context yellowish brown. : 3- 
Context reddish orange ; plants growing on trunks of Jumiferus. 70. 
3. Spores hyaline. : Hcg 
Spores yellowish brown. as 
4. Pileus becoming more or less rimose with age. 4 
Pileus covered even in age with a smooth horny crust. 
5. Pileus simple, sulcate, sometimes polished, margin usually narrow and rounded ; 
not found on species of Prunus. BS f. igniarus. 
Pileus terraced, imbricate or semiresupinate, rarely sulcate, never polished, margin 
broad, making an obtuse angle ; found on species of Prunus. 2. P. fulvus. 
6. Context ferruginous, surface dark brown marked with narrow black concentric lines, 
tubes thin-walled, 5 to a mm. 3. P. vole oaiouat 
Context tawny, surface black without lines and more sulcate, tubes smaller, thick’ 
walled, 7 toa mm. 4. P. Calkinsit. 
8. 
7. Pileus soon becoming rimose. ‘ vp 
Pileus not rimose, broadly sulcate, zonate, tubes thin-walled, spores 3u i- 
ameter, spines large and abundant ; growing on Quercus. 5. P. Everhartit. 
* Read by invitation before the Botanical Society of America at Washington, Jan- 
uary I, 1903. 
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