POLYPOREAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



259 



Distribution. — On old logs in Eastern Cape Forest Conserv- 

 ancy, found by J. D. Keet and the writer; also recorded from 

 Natal by J. M. Wood. 



The fungus can usually be recognised by its effused reflexed 

 pileus with rough white to tan coloured surface and relatively long 

 tubes the edges of which become lacerate dentate at an early age. 



10. Polyporus undatus, Pers. 



Plants largely resupinate with small reflexed pilei; surface- 

 tomentose, velvety, white becoming discoloured to a reddish-brown; 

 context white becoming light yellowish, fibrous corky, hard in dried 

 material; tubes 1 mm. to 2 mm. long, white to yellowish within; 

 mouths small, subrotund to irregularly angular, 6 to 7 to the mm. ; 

 edges white to yellowish, thin, often lacerate ; spores (according to 

 Lloyd) hyaline, globose, 3/x to 4ju, diam. ; hyphae 3/a to 4/x diam. 



Distribution. — Saprophytic on logs at Pietermaritzburg, Natal,, 

 recorded by the writer. 



11. Polyporus versiporus, Pers. 



Plants largely resupinate, widely effused with reflexed soft 

 and spongy pilei 2 mm. or less thick; surface tomentose, velvety, 

 creamy white; context thin, white, soft-fibrous; tubes 0-3 mm. to- 

 2 mm., elongated on decurrent portion; mouths large, unequal, 

 irregularly angular, 1 to 3 to the mm.; edges thin, creamy white, 

 becoming lacerate, spores large, hyaline, guttulate; hvphae 4/<. 

 diam. 



Distribution. — Pound on dead pieces of wood around Durban 

 by the writer. Common. 



The pilei are not always developed, and in their absence the 

 plant would be referred to the genus Poria. The plant is recog- 

 nised by the short tubes with large irregularly angular months. 



12. Polyporus versicolor (Linn), Fries. 



Pileus thin, sessile, or effused reflexed, coriaceous, imbricate- 

 to single, applanate, dimidiate to orbiculate, often attenuated at 

 point of attachment (spuriously stipitate), 1-5 cm. to 8 cm. by 

 1-5 cm. by 0-1 cm. to 0-2 cm. ; surface smooth, shining, velvety to- 

 villous, and marked with conspicuous zones of varying colours, 

 from whitish to yellow, brown or black ; context thin, less than 

 1 mm. thick, fibrous; tubes 0-5 mm. to 2 mm. long, white to yel- 

 lowish; mouths circular to angular 4 to 5 to the mm. ; edges white- 

 to yellowish, glistening, edges thin, becoming somewhat lacerate ; 

 spores hyaline, smooth, oblong or allantoid, 4-6/x to 6-34/x by l-2/i; 

 hyphae 4/x to 9j^. 



Distribution. — Common on dead logs and observed by the 

 writer as a wound parasite on peach trees in the Paarl and Stellen- 

 bosch districts, Cape Province. Rarely it is almost entirely 

 resupinate with a small reflexed margin. 



Polystictus azureus Fr. is a form of P. versicolor with a pre- 

 ponderance of blue. 



