TOOTH-BEARING FUNGI, HYDNACE^ 



part of the United States on a variety of 

 trees, and it often attains a weight of five 

 pounds. P. tuberaster is cultivated in Italy, 

 where it is known as pietra fongaia. The 

 spawn of the fungus, in the form of a mass 

 of clay held together by profusely inter- 

 woven mycelium, is brought in from the 

 fields and forests. Masses of this spawn 

 are found weighing many kilo. Placed in 

 a cellar or other favorable situation and cov- 

 ered with fresh loam the sporophores will 

 often produce for several months. Among 

 other fleshy species of Polyporus sometimes 

 utilized is P. squamosus, in most countries 

 a common parasite of the various broad 

 leaved trees. This fungus occasionally at- 

 tains a diameter of a foot or more and is 

 perhaps the largest of the fleshy polypores. 



ToOTH-BEARING FUNGI, HyDNACE^E 



In the HydnacecB (tooth-bearing or 

 hedgehog fungi) the hymenium or spore- 

 bearing surface is confined to spines, teeth, 



177 



