Fungi with Pores — Polyporaceae 



their attractive colours. They exhibit phosphorescence in early 

 stages of decay. The tubes are minute and short and of a 

 bright sulphur colour. Only the young plants should be used 

 for food. 



Polyporus squamosus 



Polvponts squamosus is found often on decayed ash trees and 

 sometimes on others. The cap has a thick lateral dark stem and 

 is pale yellow tinged with brown, and covered with dark scales. 

 It is reported to have been found seven feet in circumference, 

 with a weight of forty-two pounds, and that it attained this 

 growth in the short time of four weeks. 



Polyporus lucidus 



Polyporus lucidus has a lateral stem which, with all but the 

 margin of the cap, is highly polished, as if varnished, and is in 

 colour a rich mahogany brown. 



Polyporus arCUlariuS (See Plate Facing Page 142) 



Cap — Dark brown, minutely scaly, depressed in the centre; 

 margin stiff, edge hairy, no flesh. 



Tubes — Dingy cream colour. Openings oblong, almost diamond- 

 shape, resembling the meshes of a net, drawn from stem to 

 the margin of the cap, the meshes smaller on the margin, 

 and simply marked out at the top of the stem. 



Stetn — Dark brown, minutely scaly, mottled, with a ground 

 work of cream colour. Older stems are roughened at 

 the base with whitish hairs. Hollow. 



Spores — Creamy white. 



Habitat — The specimen pictured was found growing on decayed 

 branches of an oak tree in North Carolina. 



Polyporus versicolor* 



Polyporus versicolor has a leathery cap, thin and rigid, plane, 

 depressed at the attached portion, velvety, shining with varie- 

 gated two-coloured zones. The pores are minute, round, with 

 acute and ragged edges. White, then yellowish. It is common 

 on decaying tree trunks and upon telegraph poles. 



Squa-mo'-sus Lu'-9l-dus Ar-cu-la -rl-us Ver-sk -6-15r 



* Known also as Polystictus versicolor 



112 



