68 Transactions British Mycological Society. 



RESUPINATE HYMENOMYCETES FROM THE 

 NEIGHBOURHOOD OF WEYBRIDGE, SURREY. 



By E. M. Wakefield F.LS. and A. A. Pearson F.L.S. 



All the species recorded in this paper were found during 

 the winter months of 1917-18. They are an interesting 

 series, including as they do six species and two genera new 

 to the British Fungus Flora, with one species new to science. 



The resupinate basidiomycetes make a very suitable study 

 for the winter months. Very little else can be found. The 

 fleshy agarics disappear with the first serious frost and after- 

 wards only appear sporadically. The frost doubtless affects 

 the resupinates also, and the specimens found in or after 

 frosty weather are not in good fruiting condition. They 

 also dislike too much wet. On the whole, however, they 

 would appear to be among the hardiest members of the tribe, 

 and this is partly explained by their protected position under- 

 neath logs and sticks resting on the ground. Frequently 

 a sporophore would appear actually to touch the ground, 

 but there is presumably sufficient room, due to the 

 inequalities of the soil, for the spores to escape from this 

 confined position by means of the air currents that pass 

 underneath the wood. 



A large number of species take part in breaking down 

 the tissues of old logs and sticks. In the notes attached 

 to the specific descriptions of Bourdot and Galzin, some 

 species are designated as " lignivore," others " peu 

 lignivore," and so on, Long experience and careful 

 observation are necessary before the exact part played by 

 any particular species can be judged. Certain species are 

 well known to cause rot in worked timber, and in the woods 

 it is easy to conclude that the common Irpex obliquus is an 

 active agent in destroying old wood. Other species, how- 

 ever, do not allow of such ready judgments. Protodontia 

 uda, for instance, was growing on damp wood in the last 

 stage of decay. Was this decay due to the action of the 

 fungus, or had the wood reached a spongy crumbling 

 condition before it was attacked by the Protodontia ? The 

 answers to such questions are of considerable interest. 



