Polyporacese 



Poiyporus. Several clusters grew on dead black oaks. The pilei overlap and 

 the wrinkled corrugated margins curve downward, giving them the 

 semblance of shells. From a distance a group looks like Pleurotus 

 ostreatus. The substance is juicy; while cooking it is at first bitter, but 

 this disappears. It becomes tender and well flavored. 



P. alliga'tus Fr. alligo, to bind to. In many cespitose layers, 

 fibrous-fleshy, rigid-fragile. Pilei tan-isabelline, imbricated, unequal, 

 zoneless, villous. Pores minute, soft, white, readily becoming stopped 

 up with flocci. 



Often clavate when young. Commonly wrapping round stipules and 

 grasses. Fries. 



Spores elliptical, pale, 6x7/1. Massee. 



Woodland Cemetery, Philadelphia. Among oak trees on grassy 

 ground. July, August, September. Mcllvaine. 



Tufts frequently weigh two pounds. When young the plant cooks 

 well, is tender and of sweet, pleasant flavor. When old it has a sour 

 unpleasant odor. 



IV. APUS. 



P. chio'neus Fr. Gr. snow. White pileilS i in. and more broad, 

 fleshy, soft, becoming even, smooth, zoneless, often extended behind, 

 margin inflexed. Pores curt, very small, round, equal, quite entire. 

 Fries. 



Always soft, fragile, hyaline-white when moist, shining white when 

 dry. Odor acid. Without a cuticle. Stevenson. 



Spores white, oval, 21x3^ W.G.S. 



New York. Decaying wood of frondose trees. Peck, 33d Rep. 



Angora, Philadelphia, Mt. Gretna, Pa. On standing and fallen 

 timber. June to September. Mcllvaine. 



This snow-white Poiyporus is too conspicuous to be passed unseen. 

 One does not expect to find snow-balls stuck against trees in August. 

 At a distance it resembles one. When young and fresh it is good. 



P. betuli'nus Fr. betula, birch. PileilS fleshy, then corky, hoof- 

 shaped, obtuse, zoneless, smooth, the oblique vertex in the form of an 

 umbo, pellicle thin, separating. Pores late of being developed, curt, 

 minute, unequal, at length separating. Fries. 



488 



