[Vor. 1 
150 ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 
gelatinous or waxy and separating from the context in a thin 
elastic layer when fresh or when moistened, the mouths flesh- 
colored to reddish purple or purplish black, circular, minute, 
averaging 5-6 to a mm. 
On dead wood of deciduous trees. Common. 
The waxy separating hymenium, reddish purple in color, will 
serve to distinguish this species. The plant has been known as 
Polyporus dichrous Fries. 
MERULIUS Haller ex Fries, 
Syst. Myc. т: 326. 1821; Haller, Hist. Stip. Helv. 3: 150. 1768. 
Hymenophore formed from a mycelial mucedinous context 
and giving rise to shallow irregular pores formed by the inter- 
section of obtuse folds of the hymenium; resupinate or pileate, 
more or less waxy in texture. Growing on rotting wood. 
This genus is a very natural one and forms a transition stage 
from the Polyporacee to the Thelephoracee through the genus 
Phlebia of the Hydnaceew. No special study of the genus has 
been made and only the two common species are included here, 
although several others have been reported from the state. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES 
Pileus always present, distinctly pinkish red when fresh. ........1. M. rubellus 
Pileus when present whitish or somewhat flesh-colored but not distinctly 
CoL o. Peg АМЕ D DEM 2. M. tremellosus 
I. M. rubellus Peck, Bot. Gaz. 7: 44. 1882. 
Pileus sessile or effused-reflexed, dimidiate, often imbricate, 
8-5 x 5-7.5 x 0.2-0.5 cm., coriaceous-cartilaginous, scarcely 
waxy or gelatinous, deep pinkish red, often fading with age, 
finely tomentose, azonate, margin thin, acute; context white 
or light colored, tough when fresh, soft when dry, 1-4 mm. thick - 
tubes short, less than 1 mm. long, formed by anastomosing veins, 
averaging 1-2 to a mm., cream-colored or whitish; spores (teste 
Peck) minute, elliptical, hyaline 4-5 x 2.5-3 y. 
On dead wood of deciduous trees. Common. 
This plant is distinguished from the next one by the firmer 
consistency and the color, although the color of the pileus often 
fades in mature plants. Hard (Mushrooms f. 353) gives а 
good illustration of the plant. 
