322 Transactions. — Botany. 



or warts here and there, due to the out-growth of the hyphae 

 of the trama. P. cohcmhinus, Quelet, is the present species 

 with the bhiish-grey pileus. 



Edible ; celebrated from early times for its excellent flavour. 



67. Pleurotus algidiis, Fries, Syst. Myc, i., p. 190; Sacc, 

 Syll. v., no. 1496. 



Pileus rather fleshy, at first resupinate, then expanded and 

 horizontal, reniform or semicircular, glabrous, covered with a 

 thin viscid pellicle, reddish-brown, grey, or umber, sessile or 

 prolonged behind into a short stem-like base; 1-5-3 cm. across; 

 gills radiating from the point of attachment of the pileus to 

 the matrix, rather broad, crowded, yellowish ; spores sub- 

 globose, 5-6 fjL diameter. 



On rotten wood, stumps, &c. Dannevirke, New Zealand. 

 Europe, United States, Chili. 



Usually csespitose and imbricated. 



68. Pleurotus atro-coeruleus, Fries, Epicr., p. 137; Austr. 

 Fung., p. 35 ; Massee, Brit. Fung.-Flora, ii., p. 379 ; 

 Sacc, Syll. v., no. 1492. 



Pileus at first resupinate, sessile, soon distinctly reflexed 

 and becoming horizontal, obovate or reniform, downy, rarely 

 almost glabrous, rugulose when dry, due to contraction of 

 the cuticle, usually blackish-blue, rarely brownish; 2-5-5 cm. 

 long, up to 2-5 cm. broad ; flesh soft, upper stratum (pellicle) 

 slightly gelatinous, up to 4mm. thick, blackish- brown; lower 

 layer (or flesh proper) thin and whitish ; gills at first radiating 

 from a point inside the margin, then converging towards the 

 base, broad, whitish, at length tinged with yellow; spores 

 7-8 X dfx. 



On rotten trunks. Dannevirke, New Zealand. Austraha, 

 Central Africa, Europe, United States. 



Sessile, gregarious, somewhat imbricated. Smell pleasant. 

 Distinguished by the dusky colour of the pileus and by the 

 dark-coloured gelatinous cortical layer. 



69. Pleurotus mitis, Pers., Syn., p. 481; Austr. Fung., p. 33; 

 Sacc, Syll. v., no. 1425. 



Pileus horizontal, reniform, even, glabrous, without a viscid 

 pellicle, whitish, or often with a more or less decided rufescent 

 tinge, 1-5-2-5 cm. across ; flesh very thin, tough, white ; gills 

 adnate and slightly decurrent, closely crowded, narrow, 

 simple, white ; spores elliptical, slightly curved, 4x2^; when 

 young the pileus is spathulate and the stem quite distinct, 

 truly lateral, and up to 1 cm. long, sometimes very short, 

 compressed and broadened towards the pileus, powdered with 

 white squamules. 



