The Polyporaceae of North America. II. The Genus Pyropolyporus* 



15y William Aliiionso Murrill 



The luiropean species of this genus were first separated into a 

 distinct generic group by Quelet in his " Enchiridion Fungorum " 

 published in 1886. His genus PhcUinus established at that time 

 contained four species, P. igniarius (L.), P. fitlvus (Scop.), P. con- 

 chatus (Pers.) and /'. saliciuus (Pers.), and was characterized as fol- 

 lows : " Pileus velvety, persisting ; context corky ; pores small, 

 fulvous brown ; spores ovoid, fulvous. Plants lignatile." The 

 name PhcUinus, however, is preoccupied by Phelline assigned in 

 1826 to a genus of the Ebenaceae. The new name Pyropolyporus 

 here proposed refers to the use of some species of this group in 

 ancient times for the purpose of keeping fire. 



Synopsis of the ^ortli American Species 



1. Pileus thick, ungulate, woody, margin obtuse, tubes several times stratified, the 



upper layers not dying before the lower. 2. 



Not as above. ll- 



2. Context yellowish brown. 3- 

 Context reddish orange ; plants growing on trunks o{ Juniperus. lO. 



3. Spores hyaline. 4- 

 Spores yellowish brown. 7* 



4. Pileus becoming more or less rimose with age. 5* 

 Pileus covered even in age with a smooth horny crust. 6. 



5. Pileus simple, sulcate, sometimes polished, margin usually narrow and rounded ; 



not found on species oi Prunus. I. P- igniarius. 



Pileus terraced, imbricate or semiresupinate, rarely sulcate, never polished, margin 



broad, making an obtuse angle ; found on species of Prttnus. 2. P. fulvus. 



6. Context ferruginous, surface dark brown marked with narrow black concentric lines, 



tubes thin-walled, 5 to a mm. 3- P- crtislosus, 



Conte:a tawny, surface black without lines and more sulcate, tubes smaller, thick- 

 walled, 7 to a mm. 4- •^- Calkimii. 



7. Pileus soon becoming rimose. °' 

 Pileus not rimose, broadly sulcate, zonate, tubes thin-walled, spores 3/^ in di- 

 ameter, spines large and abundant ; growing on Quercus. 5. P. Everhartit. 



* Read by invitation before the Botanical Society of America at Washington, Jan- 

 uary I, 1903. 



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