GUIDE TO THE MODELS OF FUNGI. 5 5 



attaining an enormous size and weight, sometimes nearly 30 lb. 

 It grows with rapidity when the weather is favourable, and may 

 reach its full size in a fortnight. Unlike Polyponts, Fistulina 

 perishes in about three weeks from the time of its first appearance. 

 Esculent and said to be nourishing, but very tough when young and 

 with a somewhat acid flavour not pleasant to all tastes. It is not 

 fit for the table till it is quite ripe, when it is most tender. 



Fistulina may be minced, soaked in boiling vinegar, and served 

 with minced veal and lemon. 



GENUS XV.—POLYPORUS Fr. 



In Polyporiis the tubes are connate with the substance of the 

 pileus ; they do not readily peel away, as in Boletus, nor are they 

 separate from one another, as in Fistulina. 

 Most of the species grow on stumps and 

 trunks, a few on the ground ; they are 

 generally persistent and often perennial, 

 adding new zones of growth. There are 

 126 British species oi Polyporus \ four only 

 of these are represented by models. ^--v'--.fisa=sc?-x,— ip*^-^ 



130. Polyporus lucidus Fr. — Pileus /^""^f S ^"^C^^Li^^ji,, 

 corky or woody, usually kidney-shaped '"^ J ^ 

 and broadly furrowed ; tubes long, minute, "^^-^^^^^^f!; 

 white, at length whitish-brown ; stalk hard, 

 ateral, usually long and irregular in form, 

 lustrous and of the same colour as the 



pileus. F'&- 47- — Poljporus squamosus 



„' , .^,-1 J I Fr. (One-seventh natural size.) 



Frequent on rotting stumps, and known 

 from every other British species of Polyporus by its shining-brilliant 

 crimson-chestnut pileus and stalk. 



This fungus has been found preserved in peaty beds in the 

 fens of the eastern counties ; it also occurs, with P. igniarius, 

 P. fonientariHs, and Dcednlea quercina, in the lake-side pile-dwellings 

 of Switzerland and Italy. 



131. Polyporus sulphureus Bull. — Pileus juicy-cheesy, fleshy, 

 undulated, somewhat smooth ; flesh light sulphur-colour, often 

 splitting, when mature and vigorous containing sulphur-yellow 

 milk; pores minute, plane, sulphur-yellow ; usually stem less. 



P. stilphweus, a beautiful and easily recognised species, grows, 

 often caespitose, on living trees and stumps ; it is frequent on old 

 yews. A well-marked characteristic is its distinct sulphur-colour, 

 sometimes spotted with saff"ron-red. This species is sometimes 

 luminous. 



132. Polyporus caesiusFr. — Pileus fleshy, unequal, silky; tubes 

 very small, unequal, long ; pores torn into teeth. The tubes change 



