DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME FAMILIAR MUSHROOMS. 135 



Cap may measure 8 inches in breadth, and 

 is of a reddish-yellow color, overlapping like 

 the shingles of a roof (imbricated). It is 

 wavy and rather smooth. Flesh light yellow- 

 ish, then white, splitting open. Pores are 

 minute, even, sulphur yellow. They retain their 

 color much better than the pileus. The plants 

 are generally without a stem, but there may be 

 a short stem, which is lateral. They grow in 

 clusters, all fastened together and one above the 

 other, and of all sizes. We saw this fungus 

 first in a dense woods, where its bright color 

 at once attracted our notice. It was growing 

 in a large cluster, closely packed one over the 

 other. It is said to be good for food when young 

 and tender. 



POLYPORUS LUCIDUS = bright. 

 The Shining Polyporus. 



One can never mistake this fungus. Its sur- 

 face looks as if covered with varnish, rather 

 wrinkled, a bright dark-red color, and its shape 

 is varied and singular. We have seen it some- 

 times shaped like a fan, and like a lady's high 

 comb, or in some fantastic form. Stevenson 

 says it is a light yellow color and then becomes 

 blood red chestnut. It is first corky, then 



