POLYSTICTUS. 211 



first superficial and developing by degrees. Poh/sf ictus differs 

 from Tramctes, to which genus it is closely allied, by the 

 unequal length of the tubes in the latter, which run to 

 various depths into the flesh, whereas in Polystictus, as also 

 in Poli/porus, Fomes, and Poria, the tubes are of equal length, 

 i.e. originate from the sporophore at one common level, a 

 character seen in a section of the fungus through the sporo- 

 phore and stratum of tubes. 



I. MESOPUS. 



Stem central. 



Polystictus perennis. Fr. (figs. 16, 17, p. 184.) 



Pileus plano-infundibuliform, 1-3 in. across, thin, cori- 

 aceous, tough, velvety becoming smooth, zoned, clear cinna- 

 mon, then yellowish brick-red ; stem firm biit not hard, 

 ■§—1^ in. high, thickened below, minutely velvety ; pores very 

 short, minute, angular, dissepiments becoming torn ; at first 

 with a white bloom, then naked ; spores elliptical, hyaline, 

 4-5 X 2-5 fji. 



Pohfporus perennis, Fries, Syst. Myc. i. p. 350 ; Sowei'by, 

 Brit. Fung., t. 192. 



On the ground under trees, &c. ; also on trunks. Pileua 

 funnel-shaped or expanded and only umbilicate ; stem central, 

 whole plant elastic when growing. 



Autumn and winter, remaining through the following 

 summer in a growing state. Pileus 1^2 in. broad, varying 

 in depth of colour, cup-shaped when young, nearly plane 

 when old ; often confluent, zoned, soft and velvety and 

 marked with little raised radiating lines, giving it a striated 

 appearance ; margin fimbriate or laciniated. Pores small, 

 roundish or angular, at length torn, decurrent. Stem 1 in. 

 high, vaiying greatly in thickness, very tough, velvety, 

 bulbous at the base. (Berk.) 



Polystictus cinnamomeus. Sacc. 

 Pileus rather corky, flaccid, piano-depressed or subinfun- 

 dibuliform, velvety, becoming smooth, vivid cinnamon, shin- 

 ing, with evanescent brown zones, f-ll in. across, pores 

 rather large, angular, brownish-cinnamon, when dry fulvous ; 

 stem 1-li in, long, 2 lines thick, velvety, for the most part 



p 2 



