1914] 
OVERHOLTS—THE POLYPORACEJE OF OHIO 125 
were the character constant one might well question the advisa- 
bility of separating the species on а character that requires the 
use of the oil-immersion lens for its detection. 
This and the following species are included in the genus 
Fomes by Saccardo, and many writers have followed his example. 
Why this should be done is not clear, for both species are always 
annual and the tubes are never stratified. Тһе following 
illustrations will aid in determination: Atkinson, Mushrooms 
f. 188; Bot. Gaz. 46: f. 2., and Hard, Mushrooms f. 332. 
61. P. Curtisii Berk. Hooker's Jour. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 
1: 101. 1849. 
Pileus stipitate, reniform or flabelliform in outline, 3-12 x 3-20 
x0.7-2 cm., coriaceous-corky when fresh, corky when dry, 
covered with a thin chestnut or reddish varnish that soon begins 
to disappear, leaving the pileus yellowish or sometimes almost 
white, glabrous, zonate or concentrically sulcate, the margin 
rather thick, sometimes truncate; context in two layers, a yel- 
lowish or pallid upper layer, rather soft in texture, and a brown- 
ish lower layer next to the hymenium, firm or corky in texture, 
the whole 0.5-1 em. thick; tubes 0.3-1.2 сіп. long, not at all 
decurrent, the mouths white to brownish, mostly circular, 
averaging 3-5 to a mm.; stipe always lateral, cylindrical, per- 
sistently red-varnished and encrusted, sometimes bluish in 
color, the context in two layers as in the pileus, 2-10 cm. long, 
0.5-3 em. thick; spores brown, ovoid to elliptic, smooth or 
appearing minutely echinulate, with a heavy outer wall, 4.6-7.2 
х 8.5-11.8 y. 
On and about stumps and trunks of trees. Rare. 
This is typically a more southern plant and is rarely found 
north of the Ohio River. - It is distinguished from the preceding 
species by the yellowish color assumed by the mature pileus, 
the change in color being due to the disappearance of the reddish 
varnish. It is sometimes classed as a Fomes but is probably 
never truly perennial. For illustration see Atkinson, Bot. 
Gaz. 46: f. 1-8. 
