1921\ The Thelephoraceae of North Carolina 151 



at the mouths and are seated directly on the substratum or are sur- 

 rounded at base by a very deUcate weft of threads, the subiculum. 

 The smooth hymenium covers the inside of the cups. Basidia club- 

 shaped with usually 4 sterigmata. Spores smooth, white (at least in 

 S. poriaeformis). Distinguished from Cyphella by the more densely 

 crowded cups which often arise from a superficial weft, and in some 

 species by the more elongated, cylindrical cups. 



A pecuHar genus that has been placed usually in the Polyporaceae, 

 but is probably better treated in the Thelephoraceae as its relation- 

 ship to Cyphella seems obvious. It is placed next to Cyphella in 

 Engler and Prantl's system (Hennings), and also by Bourdot and 

 Galzin (Bull. Soc. Myc. Fr. 26: 225. 1910), which see for a good 

 treatment of the French species. See also Rabenhorst, Krypt. 

 Flora Deutschland, etc. 11: 390. 1884. 



To represent this genus we are including only one species. In 

 American herbaria are represented commonly about ten other species 

 among which the most widely distributed are S. anomala, S. Candida, 

 S. ochracea, S. stipitata and S. villosa. All or nearly all known species 

 grow on dead wood and branches or dead herbs (one is said to grow 

 on dung). 



Solenia poriaeformis (DC.) Fuckel. 



Plates 15 and 30 



Plant forming encrusting, non-removable patches quite variable 

 in size and irregular in outline, which often fuse to make much elon- 

 gated areas with rather definite margin; composed of a layer next 

 the bark made up of extremely delicate, interwoven, white threads, 

 about 1.2-2.5[ji, thick, in which are imbedded for about ^3-^2 their 

 depth, minute, circular, or somewhat flattened cups, about 4 or 5 

 to a millimeter, which usually cover the entire surface and nearly 

 touch when expanded, are about 90-1 10[x deep and are covered all 

 over the outside with white, granular, easily removable powder, while 

 the inside is covered with the smooth hymenium. Under moderate 

 power the cups look like citron covered with sugar powder, and when 

 the powder is rubbed off they are seen to be deep brown, contrasting 

 strongly in section view with the white felt in which they are sitting. 

 Wall of cups about 30-40[jl thick, brown, the hymenium occupying 

 a little less than half of this thickness and less dark than the closely 

 woven outer part; margin incurved and partly closing the cups even 



