174 DECADES OF FUNGI. 



552. P. (Mesopus) Jii/poplastus, n. s. ; pileo orbiculari rigido ligneo 

 profunde nmbilicato opaco brunneo zonis obscurioribus crebris picto 

 laevi, margine repando; stipite cylindrico tenui laccato sursum com- 

 presso dilatato ; hymenio albido ; poris puuctiformibus ; contextu albo. 

 Spruce, n. 53. 



Hab. Panure, with n. 205. 



Pileus 2^ inches across, orbicular, very deeply umbilicate, hard, woody, 

 though rather thin, opaque brown, nearly even, painted with numerous 

 darker zones. Stem 4^-6 inches high, i of an inch thick, straight, 



r 



laccate, deep red-brown, dilated at the apex and compressed. Hyme- 

 nium concave, nearly white ; pores punctiform, abruptly ending where 

 the stem enters the pileus. 



The above is described from the most perfect specimen, which was 

 placed with n. 205, a very different species. Under n. 53 was sent 

 another specimen, with a lateral pileus, but with the stem remarkably 

 dilated above ; so different however in general appearance that it might 

 easily have been considered as distinct, though an attentive examnia- 

 tion shows its identity with the other. 



553. P, (]\Iesopus) diabolicuSy n. s. ; pileo crassiusculo rigido um- 

 bilicato depresso, primum subtiliter velutino, cito glabrescente, mar- 

 gine primum integro, demum crenato lobato ; stipite cylindrico sub- 

 laccato laevi, disco orbiculari affixo ; hymenio brunneo postice libero ; 

 poris puuctiformibus. Spruce, n. 195. 



Hab. On dead trunks. February, 1853. Panure. 



Pileus 4-6 inches broad, umbilicate, depressed, at first minutely 

 velvety in the centre, but soon becoming smooth and shining, deep 

 bay, sometimes producing new pilei from its surface, entire or strongly 

 lobed and crenate; edge in young specimen erect, but afterwards 

 arched. Stem 3 inches or more high, -^ inch thick, of the same 

 colour as the pileus, with a smooth, rigid, almost laccate cuticle, firm, 

 solid, cylindrical. Hymenium dark umber, free behind and separate 

 from the stem ; pores punctiform, very minute. 



Allied to P. varius, but most distinct. 



554. P. (Mesopus) ru/o-alralus,' u. s.; pileo tenui orbiculari um- 

 bilicato pruinoso velutino glabrescente radiatim lineato rufo ; stipite 

 tenui; hymenio pallido; poris puuctiformibus. Spruce, n. 196. 



Hab. On decayed trunks of trees. Panure. 



Pileus 1^ inch broad, at first reddish umber, clothed with short, 

 pale, velvety pubescence, then smooth, deep red-brown, umbilicate. 



