Order Hymenomycetes. Tribe Pileati. 



Plate X. 



MERULIUS TREMELLOSUS, i^n.. 



Gen. Char. Hymenium veiny or sinuoso-plicate ; folds not distinct from the flesh of the pUeus, forming unequal 

 angular or flexuose pores. Named from Merula, a blackbird.^ 



Spec. Char. M. tremellosus ; resupinate, then free or reflexed, trembhng-fleshed {carnoso-tremeUosus), downy, 

 white ; margin dentato-radiate ; folds porous, various, ruddy, spores yellowish white. " The form is deceptive, 

 being pale in obscure places, but is immediately identified by its gelatinous cartilaginous substance. Mendius 

 spongiosus differs from it in having the pUeus shaggy and spongy, in other respects they exactly agi-ee." (Fries.) 



Hah. The foot of trees late in Autumn. 



Although this Fungus appears to be common in Germany, it is not described by any of om- English 

 authors, unless by Mr. Berkeley recently, ^ nor is there any plant noticed by the French or Italian Mycologists 

 with wliicli it can be identified. Its aiSiiity, at first sight, is -with PJdeMa mesenterica , but the ciuious basket- 

 work of its reticulated hymenium distinguislies it from that plant, the Phlebia being smooth, or shghtly 

 wi'inkled iu cb-jing. From the Thelexjlioras, and indeed from all the various sections formerly included under 

 the generic name Auricwlaria (from their resemblance to the ears of animals), it is also distinguished by 

 tliis membrane, which, in them, is even or papillate, smooth or corrugated, but never complicated into the 

 elegant mesh-work peculiar to Merid'ms tremeUosus. We have before introduced the genus Mendius in 

 the individual M. laeJiri/mans, with wliich the casual observer may suppose the present species has little 

 connection; yet the sheet of pores fr'om wliich the plant extends itself upwards into fronds, is very Kke the 

 resupinate cellular state of M. lackri/mam, wliich also, in favourable situations wiU form a globular irregular 

 mass, ajjproacliing to a pileate Fungus in its more commonly received acceptation ; though, be it remembered, 

 a pileus is not less a pileus, because it Kes on the ground (sessile), or topsy-turvy (resupinate) instead of 

 being elevated on a post (or stem) . 



On first approacliing Mendius tremeUosus, it appears not unlike a buff specimen of Polyporus hdybaceus, 

 being a complicated mass, similarly situated at the foot of a tree, and quite as much like a domestic fowl 

 as " La poule qui couve " is to the Grouse. It also in general growth resembles Badalia biennis, which has 

 a dehcately labjTinthed hymenium, but the Badalia is corky not gelatinous ; we have before remarked the 

 difference between PJdeMa mesenterica and our Merulins, and by the aid of its portrait, and a precise 

 verbal description, the student wiU avoid mistake ; it is always satisfactory to determine a species, otherwise 

 no danger can, in tliis case, arise from error, as none of the plants in question are deleterious, and none 

 recommended for food. Tliis Merulius then, forms a patch of reticulated pores, entirely resupinate upon the 



' Because some of the tribe are black ! But some are yellow ; so whether the bill or the body of the bii'd 

 suggested this fanciful name, may be decided by those who deem themselves competent. 



2 In that part of Lindley's ' Vegetable Kingdom ' devoted to the subject of Mycology, but, being out of print, 

 I have not seen it. 



