[Vol. 5 



348 



ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 



Fig. 18 

 H. digitata. 

 Section, a, X 44 ; paraphyses, p, X500 



From type. 



of about equal breadth and equal to the loosely interwoven 

 layers; hyphae about 2 ju in diameter, concolorous with the 

 fructification; setae 50-60x6 /x, emerging up to 50 /*, tapering 



from base to a sharp 

 point, colored like 

 the fructification; 

 paraphyses colored 

 like other organs, 

 filiform, divided at 

 the apex into about 

 three short, finger- 

 like branches or 

 prongs; basidia and 

 spores not found. 

 Fructification 13x5 cm., broken off along three sides — 

 probably large. 



On bark of rotten logs in forests. Panama. March. 



E. digitata belongs in the group of species with stratose 

 fructifications, of which H. spreta is the best known. H. digi- 

 tata should be easily recognized by its bright ferruginous 

 brown color, fructification composed of very many and very 

 narrow strata, and paraphyses with digitately, or sometimes 

 pinnately, branched tips. Setae occur not only in the hymenial 

 surface but also rather sparingly in the other setigerous layers 

 throughout the fructification. 



Specimens examined: 

 Panama: El Boquete, Chiriqui, W. R. Maxon, 5559, type, 

 Smithsonian Survey of Panama Canal Zone (in N. Y. Bot. 

 Gard. Herb., and in Mo. Bot. Gard. Herb., 55469). 



23. H. spreta Peck, N. Y. State Mus. Kept. 30 : 47. 1879; 

 Sacc. Syll. Fung. 6 : 595. 1888. 



Hymenochaete laevigata Massee, Linn. Soc. Bot. Jour. 27 : 

 107. 1890. 



Type: in N. Y. State Mus. Herb. 



Fructifications resupinate, long and widely effused, adnate, 

 rimose, drying Argus-brown to snuff-brown, the margin thin- 

 ning out, velvety when young; in structure 300-500 n thick. 



