268 POLYPOREAE OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



recorded as being in the truncate margin of this species and that 

 the varnish on the surface is not persistent but disappears and 

 mature plants are ochre yellow. 



In some young specimens of P. lucidus from a willow stem 

 the margin of the pileus was practically white and the surface of 

 the same colour, the red varnish evidently not yet having formed. 



The fungus is often merely saprophytic but frequently becomes 

 •semi-parasitic and causes a rot in the trunks of attacked trees. 

 In the "South African Journal of Science," Vol. XIII, 1916, pp. 

 506-515, the writer described the rot of Salix trees caused by this 

 fungus. It is doubtful if Polyporus resinaceus, Boudier, can 

 always be distinguished from P. lucidus. The pileus in the 

 specimen seen by me was broadly attached, pulvinate and thicker 

 than P. lucidus, but in main characters it agrees with this fungus. 



38. Polyporus tabacinus, Mont. 



Pilei sessile, conchate, thin, flexible when fresh, often imbri- 

 cate, decurrent behind, 1-9 cm. to 7 cm. by 2 cm. to 4 cm. by 

 0-2 cm. to 0-5 cm.; surface concentrically zoned with raised zones, 

 velvety with thick coat of fine hairs, dark chestnut brown ; context 

 scanty, about 0-3 mm., fibrous, chestnut brown; tubes 1 mm. to 

 1-5 mm. long, lighter than context; mouths angular 4 to 6 to the 

 mm.; edges thin, dark coloured, brownish drab; setae present, 

 dark brown, 21jn to 28/x long, tapering to a point. 



Distribution. — Found by W. Haygarth in Ngoye Forest, 

 Zululand. 



Differs from other fungi described in this paper in the colour 

 and thick velvety pad on the surface. P. iodinus, Mont, is close 

 to P. tabacinus, and differs in the pore mouths being somewhat 

 larger. Polystictus spadiceus, Jungh. differs from P. tabacinus 

 only in being firmer and is considered synonymous. 



39. Polyporus patouiUardii , Rick. 



Pileus sessile, applanate, 5 cm. by 5 cm. by 0-5 cm. to 3 cm. ; 

 surface with a thin reddish black crust, rugulose, hard; context 

 dark brown, brittle, 1 mm. to 2mm. thick, shining; tubes 3 mm. 

 to 7mm. long, yellowish brown, with rigid, coloured hyphae in the 

 walls, simple to bipid; mouths minute, subrotund 3 to 4 to the 

 mm.; edges thick, entire, creamy white to yellowish; spores hyaline 

 in this specimen which is immature (teste Lloyd), elliptical, pale 

 coloured, 4ia to 6ju,; setae brown, scattered, projecting 18jj, to 24ia, 

 10/a diam. in thickest part; hyphae 4/x to 8ia. 



Distribution. — Found on live Scolopia mundii, in Eastern Cape 

 Forest Conservancy, by J. D. Keet. 



The dark brown brittle context combined with the presence of 

 rigid coloured hyphae in the pore walls would aid in the recog- 

 nition of this fungus. In the South African collection the rigid 

 brown hyphae in the pore walls and the setae are both present, 

 but this is evidently a varying character, for Mr. C. G. Lloyd 

 records specimens from Australia where both the setae and the 

 "igid coloured hyphae were absent. 



