1916] FomeEs OFFICINALIS (Vill.) 187 
Though not recorded by American botanists before 1886, Fomes 
officinalis had been collected in America much earlier than this. Dr. 
D. Lyall made collections as early as 1860, probably all from British 
Columbia. Two specimens collected by him are preserved in Kew 
Gardens and listed in the Official Guide to the Museum of Economic 
Botany No. 2, 1895. Through the courtesy of the Director of the Royal 
Botanic Gardens, Kew, I have received fragments of both, and the 
following information: ‘‘In the case in question in Museum No. 2, there 
are two specimens of Fomes officinalis from British North America, 
both collected by Dr. D. Lyall. Fragments of these specimens are 
enclosed, numbered (1) and (2), and the following details may be added. 
(1) Abnormal specimen, and appears to have been covered at some 
time with varnish. Only the Kew label is attached, bearing the data— 
‘British North America, Dr. Lyall, 1862’, together with the infor- 
mation as to its use by the Indians which is quoted in the Museum 
Guide. There is the further note on the label that about one table- 
spoonful of the powder is used as a dose. 
“I have been unable to find out whether this information was fur- 
nished by Dr. Lyall. On looking up the records I have found only two 
lists from Dr. Lyall where fungi are mentioned, one dated 1859 and 
the other 1860. Both are lists of specimens sent from the British North 
American Boundary Commission, and in each case the item is given 
generally as a ‘collection of fungi, lichens, etc.’, with no details. A 
list was evidently sent with the 1859 consignment, but it has not been 
possible to find this. 
‘““(2) A better developed specimen, growing on burnt wood. The 
Kew label gives the information—‘ British North America, East Koote- 
nay River, Dr. Lyall, 1862’. On the back of the specimen, however, 
there is a pencil note with the locality and date 1861. 
“The dates on the specimens are later than those of either of the 
Boundary Commission lists mentioned above, but it is possible that 
the Kew dates are merely those of the year when the specimens were 
deposited in the Museum. 
‘No information is available as to the host plant’. 
My own acquaintance with this fungus began in 1905 on finding a 
single fruiting body on a white pine log in the outskirts of Toronto, 
Ontario. I have since made further collections from the same general 
locality and have discovered that it occurs widely throughout the 
province—always on the same host, Pinus strobus. Mr. J. W. Bartlett, 
Superintendent of Algonquin Park, who has been intimately acquainted 
with the white pine areas of Canada for nearly half a century, informs 
me that it was well known to many of the early settlers and gathered 
