1910] The Hydnums of ISToeth Carolina 187 



5. Hydnellum floriforme (Schaeff.) Banker 

 Hydnum aurantiacum (Batsch) A. & S. 



Plates 19, 20, and 28. 



Plants terrestrial, solid, firm and stocky, mostly very irregular, 

 with protuberances, cavities, channels and proliferations, often con- 

 fluent. Caps thick, passing gradually or rather abruptly downward 

 into the stout stems; 3-7 cm. wide, usually about 4-5 cm.; surface 

 finely tomentose on unweathered parts; color a rich orange salmon 

 in younger parts, deepening towards the center to a strong, deep rust 

 color (ferruginous and cinnamon rufus — Ridgway). As the plant 

 ages the bright colors fade to a deep rusty brown, and then to almost 

 black as decay sets in. In drying, the lively colors of fresh plants 

 are well retained. Plesh of the cap duplex, the upper layer soft, 

 corky (very friable when dry), rather thin, about 0.3-1 mm. thick, 

 colored like the surface; on exposure to rain becoming collapsed, 

 denser and scarcely obvious; lower layer also rather thin usually, 

 tough, firm and elastic, a deep reddish brown with zones of yellowish 

 brown, or the zones blackish ; odor in drying faint, but distinct and 

 fragrant. It is not at all like fenugreek, and remains undiminished 

 after years. 



Spines small and slender, only about 1.5 mm. long, greyish tan 

 near the margin deepening to a rich reddish brown, and in age to a 

 deep brown. 



Stem thick, short, very firm, subequal, about 0.7-1.3 cm. thick, 

 usually somewhat enlarged below; surface undergoing the same 

 changes of color as the cap; no spongy outer layer; the firm, solid 

 flesh distinctly zoned. 



Spores (of ^o. 1211) purplish .brown, roughly s].herical and 

 coarsely tuberculate, 3.8-4.2 x 4-5/*. 



The plant is rather frequent in both pine and deciduous woods, 

 but seems to prefer pines. According to Fries it grows in pines and 

 has no odor. In general appearance this species is much like //. 

 scroUculatum except for the lively colors. For other figures of this 

 species see Gillet, Champ, d. Fr., PI. 313 (78), and Schacffer, Fung. 

 Bav., etc., PI. 146., fig. 4. 



