MERULIUS. 187 



Entire plant resupinate, smooth, so thin as to he almost 

 like a membrane, of no regular form, effused, of a pure -white 

 colour, changing when dry to a pinkish-brown, the margin 

 membranaceous, and between byssoid and laciniate. My 

 specimen is 2-3 inches in breadth. Pores occupying almost 

 the whole substance of the plant, very shallow, minute, 

 more resembling:: somewhat hexagonal little pits or cavities 

 than pores, the dissepiments very thin. Spores very minute, 

 globose. (Grev.) 



The present minute but very curious species forms a mere 

 pellicle, in its dry state of an uniform dull-brown, scarcely 

 distinguishable from the bark on which it grows ; but when 

 examined with a moderate magnifying power, the regular 

 often hexagonal reticulations exhibit a very elegant appear- 

 ance, like the cells of a honeycomb, but quite superficial. 

 (Berk.) 



Merulius pallens. Berk. 



Pale-reddisb, adnata, fleshy, somewhat gelatinous, thin, 

 inseparable, margin indeterminate ; folds poriform, pores 

 minute ; spores globose, 4 yu, diameter, 



MeruUus imllens, Berk., Outl., p. 296; Stev., Fung., p. 229. 



On fir and oak. 



Merulius serpens. Tode. 



Crustaceo-adnate, thin, almost glabrous, pallid then red- 

 dish, margin byssoid, white ; hymenium with the folds at 

 first free, then anastomosing and forming variously formed 

 pores ; spores cylindrical, 4x2 /x. 



Merulius serpens, Tode, Abh. Hall. i. p. 355 ; Stev., Fung., 

 p. 229. 



On rotten pine. Extending in a wavy manner for 2 in. or 

 more. Closely adnate, inseparable. 



Merulius rufus. Pers. 



Crustaceo-adnate, often effused for 1-3 in., substance 

 soft, smooth, reddish flesh-colour, sometimes with a purple 

 tinge, margin almost smooth ; hymenium distinctly and 

 equally porous ; spores subglobose, 5 /x diameter. 



MeruJius rufus, Pers., Syn., p. 498 ; Stev., Fung., p. 229. 



On dead wood. General appearance and hymenium of 



