TUBE-BEARING FUNGI. 



189 



There are several species which are related to the frondose polyp- 

 orus which occur in this country as well as in Europe. Polyporus 

 intybaceus Fr., is of about the same size, and the branching, and form 

 of the caps is much the same, but it is of a yellowish brown or red- 

 dish brown color. It grows on logs, stumps, etc., and is probably 

 edible. It is not so common at Ithaca as the frondose polyporus. 



Polyporus umbellatus Fr. This species is also related to the fron- 

 dose polyporus, but is very distinct. It is more erect, the branching 



FIGURE 183. Polyporus umbellatus. Caps hair-brown (natural size, often much 



larger). Copyright. 



more open, and the caps at the ends of the branches are more or less 

 circular and umbilicate. The branches are long, cylindrical and 

 united near the base. The spreading habit of the branching, or the 

 form of the caps, suggests an umbel or umbrella, and hence the spe- 

 cific name umbellatus. 



The tufts occur from 12-20 cm. in diameter, and the individual 

 caps are from 1-4 cm. in diameter. It grows from underground roots 

 and about stumps during summer. It is probably edible, but I have 



