192 POLYPOREI. 



Poiyporus. lateral, even, smooth, gradually cinereous -blackish downwards. 

 Pores decurrent, minute, curt, round, unequal, whitish (inter- 

 nally watery) then cinnamon. 



In stature, form, &c. , it is not constant. The colour is commonly bay-brown 

 (fuliginous and very evidently virgate when old) but (compare Bolt. t. 168) 

 pale when young, and when full grown, as it is also internally, light yellowish. 

 It varies sessile ; also crowded in very large, irregularly shaped tufts, in habit 

 quite as in Schceff. t. 109, 1 10. 



On trunks and stumps, especially ash. P'requent. Aug.-Oct. 



Pileus 12 mm. -10 cent. (%~4 in.) broad. M.J.B. Name — varius, variable 

 (in size, form, colour, &c.) Fr. Hym. Eur. p. 535. Berk. Out. p. 239. C. 

 Hbk. n. 745. S. Mycol. Scot. n. 701. Batschf. 129. Vcntur. t. 57. f. 2. — 

 Rostk. 28. t. 24, /. 20. Buxb. C. v. /. 15. /. 2. 



15. P. elegans Fr.— Pileus 5-10 cent. (2-4 in.) broad, uni- 

 colorous, pallid ochraceous or orange, shining, equally fleshy, 

 then soon hardened, becoming woody, flattened, even, smooth ; 

 flesh white. Stem excentric or lateral, even, smooth, pallid, at 

 the first abruptly black and rooting at the base. Pores plane, 

 minute, somewhat round, yellowish-white, pallid. 



White when young. The pileus is not streaked, nor is it infundibuliform, 

 scarcely depressed. The flesh is thick to the margin. 



On trunks, chiefly birch. Frequent. July-Nov. 



Pileus 5-10 cent. (2-4 in.) broad. Name— elegans, elegant. Fr. Hym. 

 Eur. p. 535. Berk. Ojd. p. 239. C. Hbk. n. 746. S. Mycol. Scot. n. 702. — 

 Bull. t. 46. Fl. Dan. t. 1075./. *• Rostk. t. 11. Bolt. t. 83. 



* P. nummularius Fr. Smaller, thinner. — Pileus scarcely 2.5 

 cent. (1 in.) broad, somewhat regular. Stem equal, excentric. 



It merges in P. elegans without definite line of demarcation. On trunks. 

 Uncommon. Dec. Name — nummulus, a small coin. From fancied 

 resemblance of shape. Fr. Hym. Eur. p. 536. Berk. Out. p. 239. C. Hbk. 

 n. 746. 5. Mycol. Scot. n. 702. Rostk. I. 12. Bull. t. 124. 



16. P. petaloides Fr. — Pileus chestnut-fuscous, somewhat mem- 

 branaceous, spathulate, rugose, smooth, zoneless, flaccid when 

 moist. Stem lateral, ascending, compressed, smooth, not root- 

 ing, whitish, adnate at the base which is dilated in the for?n of a 

 shield. Pores decurrent, very short, very small, shining white. 



When dry it is involute and fragile, not becoming woody like preceding 

 species. 



On old stumps. Sibbertoft. 



Name- -from some fancied resemblance to the petal of a flower. Fr. Hym. 

 Eur. p. 536. B. & Br. n. 2023. 



