LONCYEAR ON MICHIGAN FUNGI. 113 



A PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE SAPROPHYTIC FLESHY FUNGI 

 KNOWN TO OCCUR IN MICHIGAN. 



PREPARED BY B. O. LONGYEAR, AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, MICH. 



This list is composed of those species of fungi commonly comprised 

 under the term Saprophytes, those species which derive their nonrishnient 

 from dead or decaying organic matter, as distinguished from Parasites, 

 those species which exist at the expense of living organisms. It is not 

 possible, however, to draw a sharp line of distinction between the Sapro- 

 phytic and Parasitic species of fungi. Thus there are some species 

 which, while ordinarily considered as Saprophytes, may under certain 

 conditions take on a parasitic habit. Examples of such species ma}' be 

 found among the pore-bearing fungi quite a number of which are capable 

 of establishing themselves in wounded places on tree trunks, living at first 

 on the dead tissues surrounding the wound but eventually attacking the 

 living tissues as well. Such fungi are commonly known as wound fungi. 

 Still other species normally spend part of their existence as true parasites 

 while they complete a second stage of growth as saprophytes deriving part 

 of their nourishment from the tissues killed during the parasitic stage. 

 Therefore as no sharp line of demarcation exists between saprophytes and 

 parasites the term Saprophytic Fungi is here used only in a general sense 

 to indicate those species not commonly addicted to a parasitic mode of 

 living. 



Among the most familiar examples of saprophytic fleshy fungi are 

 those commonly known as mushrooms, toadstools, puffballs. shelf or 

 bracket fungi, cup-fungi, etc. And among these plants occur the largest 

 and showiest species of fungi as well as those of the highest structural 

 types. Thus some of them, as the giant puffball, often attain a weight 

 of several pounds, others assume strange and pleasing forms while strik- 

 ing and even beautiful colorings are not rarely present. A few of them 

 are known to. be highly poisonous while a comparatively large number 

 possess edible qualities of a high order. 



So far comparatively little work has been done with this class of plants 

 in Michigan. The late Prof. G. H. Hicks, while instructor in botany at 

 the Michigan Agricultural College from 1891-1893, made a considerable 

 collection of such material but published very little in regard to it. This 

 material, which was recently purchased by the botanical department of 

 the Agricultural College, contains several species which have served to 

 extend this list. 



Mr. Henry C, Beardslee has given valuable aid in the preparation of this 

 list by furnishing a list of eighty-two species of fungi collected by him 

 near Avery lake in Montmorency county. 



Mr. R. E. Matteson has also kindly furnished a list of species identified 

 by him near the city of Grand Rapids. 



Thanks are also due the following persons for specimens sent to us 

 from time to time : 



Dr. R. H. Stevens, president of the Detroit Mycological Club, Detroit, 

 Michigan. 



Dr. Harold Wilson, Detroit. 

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