152 Guide to the Mushrooms 



FISTULINA hepatica (Fr.) from the Greek, 

 resembling liver. "Beefsteak mushroom." 



Cap. — 4- to 8 inches broad, dark red, streaked 

 with lighter shades of red; at first having little 

 glands that have the apjDearance of a tongue_, these 

 disappear in mature growth. 



Flesh.— Soft, jelly-like, thick, viscid. 



Tubes. — Pale reddish yellow, verj^ short at first 

 tlien longer. 



Spores. — Elliptical, yellowish. 



Stem. — Very short, at one side (eccentric), ex- 

 panding into the cap which in reality forms but m 

 continuation of the stumiD like stem. 



Ring. — None. 



Volva. — None. 



Odor. — Slightly acid 



Taste. — Acid; dissappears in cooking. 



Habitat. — On decayed stumps and trunks of 

 trees, principally chestnut. Frequent June to Sept. 

 Common in most parts of the U. S. 



Edible. 



POLYPORUSI'brumalis (Pers.) 



"The Winter Poly2Dorus." 



Cap. — 1 to 3 inches broad, convex, then plane, 

 somewhat depressed at center, surface very hairy, 

 ranging in color from a smoky-brown to nearly 



