THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 67 



Common on fallen oak or hickory branches. Specimens have been 

 found near Madison, Oakfield, Hazelhurst, Crandon, and Bangor. 

 The largest specimens are about 4 to 5 cm. in breadth, 2 to 3 cm. long 

 and 2 to 4 mm. thick. The specimens are usually more or less concen- 

 trically sulcate, with a very acute margin. The pubescence is thick and 

 soft, whitish when young but turning to a pale brownish gray, espe- 

 cially when exposed to sunlight while growing. 



The pores are smaller and more acute than those of its nearest rela- 

 tive — P. hirsutus. The substance of the pileus is white, corky and of 

 very light weight. 



This species is often mistaken for a small form of P. hirsutus. It dif- 

 fers, however, in the more acute margin, the smaller lighter colored 

 pores, the softer context and in its color. 



Polystictus molliusculus Berk. 



Whitish, pileus corky, thin, radiately wrinkled, zonate, velvety-stri- 

 gose ; margin often lobed ; the context floccose, white. Pores medium, 

 subrotund, then thin, acute, lacerate. 



Morgan says of this species that the pilei are ''usually imbricated 

 and usually effuso-reflexed ; the zones of soft strigae are sometimes a 

 little deeper colored. The dried plants are very light and of an isabel- 

 line or alutaceous hue." P. fibula Fries, an allied form, he says, dif- 

 fers from it in its uniform and more conspicuous pubescence not ar- 

 ranged in zones. 



Two specimens were found at Bangor in the fall growing on elm; 

 a few old and discolored ones were found at Sparta on birch. Some of 

 them are imbricated but none effuso-reflexed. The best formed speci- 

 men measures about 4 cm. wide and 1.5 cm. long; the white, zonate 

 flesh of the pileus is about 4 mm. thick or as thick as the length of the 

 longest tubes, and looks about the same as that in P. hirsutus. Some 

 of our specimens are somewhat thickened behind. The zones are 

 marked by glabrous, somewhat brownish bands. The margin is thin 

 and somewhat curved downwards ; in older specimens it is often waved 

 and lobed. 



This species seems closely allied to P. hirsutus, P. zonatus, and P. 

 fibula. It differs from them in its glabrous zones and the shorter and 

 softer pubescence. 



Syn.: Coriolus biformis (Kl.) Pat.; 19, 32, p. 653. 



