184 



POLYPOREI. 



Polypoms. pileus, and not separable from one another; they are at first 

 rudimental or altogether wanting, then round, angular, or torn. 



Persistent fungi, most of them 

 growing on wood, not fully formed 

 before expansion like Boleti, but 

 growing gradually and indefinitely. 

 Odour, if any, slightly acid. 



A genus holding the like central 

 place in this order as Agaricus does 

 in the former one, of immense extent, 

 and specially abundant in the number 

 of its species in warm countries on 

 account of the greater variety of trees. 

 Fr. Hym. Eur. p. 522. 



A few are edible, but not recom- 

 mended. 



LXIII. Polyponcs perennis. 

 third natural size. 



I. MESOPUS (MS, middle ; TTOVS, a foot). 

 One- Pileus entire or excentric. Stem distinct, 

 vertical, simple, of the same colour at the 

 base, and not definitely blackish. 



A. Carnosi (caro, flesh). Pileus fleshy, fragile or pliant (but not coriaceous), 

 zoneless. White- spared, growing on the ground, edible, autumnal. 



* Pileus unpolished, scaly orfloccose. 

 ** Pileus polished, smooth. 



B. Lenti (lentus, tough, pliant). Pileus fleshy-pliant then coriaceous, zone- 

 less. White- spared, growing on trunks., persistent. 



* Pileus unpolished, scaly or villous. 

 ** Pileus even, smooth. 



C. Spongiosi (spongia, a sponge). Pileus at first spongy-soft, absorbing 

 water, tomentose, then corky or coriaceous. Stem curt, irregularly shaped. 

 Pores irregularly shaped, pruinose, changing colour, but the spores (of all of 

 them?) white. A very varied group, of striking appearance, mostly growing on 

 the ground. At first they appear as a rooting, somewhat crustaceous mass, 

 effused and encrusting, shapeless, spongy and juicy, tomentose ; from this is 

 evolved a pileus, which is sometimes remarkably regular, with a central stem, 

 and of large size, sometimes by growing into one another irregular and lobed, 

 nay dimidiate. They only last in a dead state to the following spring, but there- 

 after are covered over with a new stratum of pores. In all these respects they 

 are analogous to Thelephorce (e.g. Th. terrestris}. Most of them rare, confined 

 to certain localities. 



D. Subcoriacei (corium, a hide, leather). Pileus at the first indurated, 

 arid, when full grown corky or coriaceous. Stem definite. Pores at first 

 sprinkled over with a white bloom. Substance of a ferruginous colour. Grow- 

 ing on the ground or trunks, more rigid than the Spongiosi, more regular and 

 persistent, but not reviving. 



* Pileus tomentose, velvety. 

 ** Pileus very smooth. 



II. PLEUROPUS (irtevpov, the ribs or side ; irous, a foot). Pileus pliant or 

 corky, horizontal, not circular. Stem simple, ascending, corticate, either defi- 



