ia 
MurritL: PoLyporacEaE oF NortuH AMERICA 601 
11. Inonotus fruticum (B. & C.) 
Polyporus fruticum B. & C. Jour. Linn. Soc. Bot. 10: 310. 
1868. 
This species was named from its habit of growing upon shrubs. 
In shape it varies from thin and dimidiate to nearly spherical, ac- 
cording to its position on the branch and the size of the branch. 
If on a small twig it frequently encircles it. The pileus is very 
soft and spongy and the pores become almost black. Orange and 
Oleander are mentioned as hosts. Several well-preserved speci- 
mens are among Wright’s Cuban collections at Kew. 
SPECIES INQUIRENDAE 
Polyporus aureonitens Pat. & Peck, Rept. N. Y. State Mus. Nat. 
Hist. 42: 25. 18809. 
This species is based on material collected in New York by 
Peck and described by Patouillard. It occurs on birch, alder and 
maple. There are several specimens of it in the herbarium here 
collected in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. In his 
riginal publication, Peck says it is related to P. radiatus, but is 
distinguished by its paler color, often lineate-zoned pileus and paler 
Spores. In a recent letter to me, Dr. Peck distinguishes P. g/om- 
fraius from P. aureonitens as follows: “2. glomeratus differs from 
P. aureonitens in its darker colors, more uneven surface of the 
pileus, entire absence of concentric lines or narrow zones on the 
Surface of the pileus, which is more irregular and wavy on the 
Margin, and never shining. Its spores in mass are of a brighter, 
ticher, yellow color. The two are readily distinguished at sight 
Y any one who has seen them growing.” 
By referring to Sowerby’s description of the young stages of 
.. radiatus, it will be seen that the zonate pileus and yellow mar- 
gin are present in that species. Also excellent European speci- 
Mens from Bresadola and others, called by them young P. radtatus, 
seem to differ in no particular from New York specimens of 
P. aureonitens, Tt can hardly be imagined that two such eminent 
Mycologists as Peck and Patouillard could have confused Ameri- 
“an and European species in this way, but they may not aes had 
at hand good material of the young stages for comparison. In 
View of the above facts, I have thought it best to defer the settle- 
