rvoL. 2 



710 ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 



gists. P. Curtisii was described by Berkeley, in 1849, 1 from 

 plants collected in South Carolina by Curtis. P. Tsugae was 

 more recently described by Murrill 2 from plants collected in 

 New York City on decaying trunks and stumps of Tsuga 

 canadensis. Ganoderma sessile was described at the same 

 time and by the same author. 



In Murrill 's first treatment of this section 3 Polyporus 

 lucidus was reported as a synonym for P. pseudoboletus, the 

 latter name being used for the plant. The species was re- 

 ported as occurring in most of the states east of the Missis- 

 sippi River with the exception of the New England states. 

 P. Curtisii was there listed as a synonym for P. pseudoboletus 

 with the remark that specimens referred to P. Curtisii were 

 only variations of the other species, due to age, rapidity of 

 growth, and perhaps to differences in the host. The next 

 species described was Ganoderma sessile and that was de- 

 scribed as differing from G. pseudoboletus in being annual 

 and sessile, with a very acute margin and a more rugose sur- 

 face. It was reported as occurring in Indiana, New York, 

 Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, and Kentucky. In the 'North 

 American Flora,' 4 six years later, the names Ganoderma 

 pseudoboletus and Polyporus lucidus were both entirely 

 omitted and P. Curtisii was restored as a specific name. No 

 comment was made as to why this was done, nor as to what 

 disposition was made of the numerous collections previously 

 referred to Ganoderma pseudoboletus. The writer has seen 

 material referred to G. sessile by Murrill, and the supposition 

 is that all collections, except those belonging under Polyporus 

 Curtisii, were referred to his new species Ganoderma sessile. 

 This supposition is borne out by the fact that the description 

 of that species is there so amended as to include stipitate 

 forms also, while the species as originally described was 

 limited to sessile forms. We must also conclude that G. 

 sessile was regarded by its author as distinct from Polyporus 

 lucidus of Europe, else that name or an older one would have 



1 Lond. Jour. Bot. and Kew Gard. Misc. 1: p. 101. 1849. 



2 Bui. Tor. Bot. Club 29: p. 601. 1902. 

 * loc. tit. 



*N. Am. Fl. 9: p. 120. 1908. 



