* FETCH : 



aecompanied by a painting, which they assigned to the latter 

 species. Recent specimens, however, show that the painting 

 does not represent a resupinate species, but a full view of the 

 under surface of a pileus. 



Hydnum polymorphum was described as " Cuneiforme, e 

 mycelio communi effuso oriundum, postice radiate -rugosum 

 umbrinum, antice farinaceum luteum marginatum ; aculeis 

 acutis quandoque furcatis farinosis vel subgelatinosis. At first 

 spongy, 1^2 inches long, sometimes conchiform, sometimes 

 forming mere thick protuberances covered on one side with 

 prickles ; hymenium yellowish, thin, rufous ; mycelium 

 resembling that of Geaster mirabilis.'' 



Hydnum versicolor was " Recens nitide flavum, margine 

 elevato albo, mycelio albo lacunoso affixum ; aculeis alongatis 

 subacutis siccis olivaceis. Five inches across ; substance 

 spongy, white." 



The types of both species are in Herb. Kew. That of H. 

 versicolor bears a note by Thwaites : " The whole plant when 

 fresh of a beautiful bright yellow colour, except the growing 

 edges, which are white." The specimens are sections of the 

 pilei, exactly the same as the duplicates under H. polymorphum. 

 The type of the latter bears a note by H. J. Banker : " These 

 specimens are identical with Hydnum versicolor, and bear the 

 same number." This determination is correct. 



The fungus grows in large, imbricated plates, united behmd 

 into an irregular tuberculated mass, which may be 1 or 2 

 inches thick. The individual pilei are orbicular, up to 6 

 inches long and 8 inches broad. The upper surface is pale 

 yellow or pale tan, minutely tomentose, the extreme upper 

 layers being softly coriaceous, like kid leather. When old, it 

 becomes grayish-brown. Internally the pileus is white and 

 spongy, but strongly radially fibrillose when broken ; the 

 subhymenial layer turns purple-red when cut. The total 

 thickness is up to IJ inches. The margin is obtuse and white. 

 The hymenium is yellow to orange-yellow, becoming brown 

 when old, with terete, blunt, close-set aculei up to 1 • 2 cm. long. 



There is nothing on the fresh specimens, or on the Pera- 

 deniya herbarium specimen, to support the comparigon with 

 Geaster mirabilis. 



