THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 103 



•covered with a thin appressed pubescence which disappears with age. 

 The pilei are white when young and soft fleshy; they become grayish 

 with age and more or less corky. The thin margin is incurved. The 

 pores are white and small. 



Polyporus fioriformis Quel. 



Imbricato-multiplex ; pileus tough, fleshy, subcoriaceous, subsessile, 

 dimidiate, longitudinally radiate-wrinkled, from white to grayish, 

 sometimes the margin grayish-subzonate, 2 — 3.5 cm. broad ; pores small, 

 subrotund, then oblong-lacerate or fimbriate, white ; flesh white, rather 

 bitter or subacid ; spores hyaline, subcylindrical, 4x2 microns ; basidia 

 clavate 56 x 15 — 20 microns. 



On fragments of larch wood near the ground in mountainous re- 

 gions. Externally resembling P. candidus; also like P. osseus, but its 

 habit and growth are different and the flesh is never "osseous." 



This is a small species plainly belonging to the tribe of the Meris- 

 moidii. A few specimens were found near Shanagolden in August 

 1904, and a few on the university grounds, Madison, August 18, 1906, 

 both specimens were growing on very rotten wood. The largest speci- 

 mens are 2 cm. long and 2 cm. wide ; pure white. When moist, tough, 

 fleshy, soft. When dry they become hard and brittle. Not all the 

 specimens are radiately wrinkled nor are they all grayish-subzonate 

 near the margin, but this may be because our specimens are young and 

 rather immature. 



Closely related to P. osseus, but smaller and more imbricated. 



Polyporus osseus Kalchb. 



Imbricated, multipileate, white ; pilei variously formed, nearly dimi- 

 diate, concave or depressed, variously confluent, elastic, tough, later 

 firm, glabrate, smooth, white within. Stipes short, out of a common 

 bulb. Pores decurrent, small, later torn, discolored. 



Rare. Found only once growing out of the top of a pine stump. 

 The specimens are immature. The largest pileus was 5 cm. broad and 

 7 cm. long. The average thickness is about 1.5 cm. They are pale 

 greyish-white, but darkened a little when dry. When fresh they are 

 fleshy-tough, elastic, heavy like putty. When dry they are hard and 

 heavy. The surface is smooth, and the margin slightly incurved. The 

 spores are small, white ; tubes short. Stipe very short, thick. 



Easily distinguished by the heavy, elastic substance of the pileus. 



