114 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



The substratum is nearly always a coniferous log, though Peck 

 himself collected it (var. stalactiticus) (plate 19, figure 2) on birch 

 logs, and the writer has several collections from different deciduous 

 hosts. 



Two other varieties were described by Peck (see var. tenuis 

 also above) : Var. Uiherculosa with the surface roughened by 

 unequal prominent tubercles (plate 19, figure 4) and var. vesicu- 

 losa " with shallow scattered pores as if formed from ruptured 

 vesicles" (plate 19, figure 3). All these appear to belong to the 

 species and probably represent isolated occurrences of anomalous 

 forms owing their existence to abnormalities of growth or affected 

 by the nature of the substratum on which they grew. 



Peck noted a strong subacid odor to fresh specimens of the 

 species. This has not been noted by the writer and no mention 

 is made by various careful collectors who have sent in material of 

 the species. 



Through the kindness of Dr J. R. Weir, of Missoula, Montana, 

 the writer has had the opportunity of examining a large series of 

 collections of a western species sent for determination. At first 

 these were referred to P. p u 1 c h e 1 1 a by the writer. After 

 examination of a larger series of specimens the writer identified 

 certain collections with P. s u b a c i d a . Further correspondence 

 with Doctor Weir gave undoubted indications that a much larger 

 number of the collections should be so referred, and a more recent 

 comparison verifies the opinion. These western specimens differ 

 from those of eastern collections in a few particulars, and in the 

 absence of connecting forms would hardly be referred to the same 

 species. The chief difference is in the thickness of the fructifica- 

 tion. Specimens more than i cm thick are not unusual, and Doctor 

 Weir states that specimens an inch or more in thickness are some- 

 times found. Such specimens are of course perennial. This con- 

 dition is not much different from that often shown by P. p u 1 - 

 chella, where some specimens are quite thin, and others i cm 

 or more thick. The color is somewhat different in these forms, 

 with more yellow in young specimens and with thicker and older 

 specimens of a smoke gray color. 



Redescription (based on eastern collections only). Annual, 

 effused from a few centimeters to a foot or more, separable or on 

 uneven surfaces more unseparable, with a light-colored, sterile, 

 tomentose margin, 5 to 6 mm broad or narrower in mature speci- 

 mens ; subiculum thin, white, not conspicuous ; tubes when well 



