1916] | 
BURT—THELEPHORACEAE OF NORTH AMERICA VI 217 
Type: in Herb. Schweinitz. 
Fructification effused, soft, felty-membranaceous, separa- 
ble, in color varying from Saccardo’s umber to bister, rarely 
fuscous, the margin thinning out and barely 
determinate; in structure 200-1200, thick, 
with hyphae concolorous with the fructifica- 
tion, thick-walled, even, loosely interwoven, 
branching at a wide angle, abundantly no- 
dose-septate, 414-5u in diameter or rarely 
би; basidia with 4 sterigmata; spores con- Fig. 7 
colorous, globose, or subglobose and flattened Eo Sige 
on one side, echinulate, about 6 in diameter, x 640. 
or 6-9 X 6-7и. 
Fructifications 4-10 cm., and more, long, 2-5 em. broad. 
On rotten wood and bark of both frondose and coniferous 
species. Canada to North Carolina and westward to Mon- 
tana, and in Bahama Islands. July to November. Probably 
common. 
H. spongiosus belongs in the group with H. fuscus, H. um- 
brinus, and H. spiniferus. The absence of a vinaceous com- 
ponent in its color is a useful character for separation at a 
glance from H. fuscus. If the surface of H. spongiosus is 
viewed with a lens, the component fibers are seen running 
in all directions, as in felt or blotting paper. H. wmbrinus 
has its hyphae lacking clamp connections, i. e., not nodose- 
septate, and its basidia form a compact hymenium. H. spin- 
iferus differs by having its hyphae spiny. 
Specimens examined: 
Finland: Mustiala, P. A. Karsten, authentic specimen of 
Hypochnus obscuratus. 
Canada: Quebec, Ironsides, J. Macoun, 255. 
New Hampshire: Chocorua, W. G. Farlow, 14. 
Vermont: Middlebury, E. A. Burt, three collections; Lake 
Dunmore, E. A. Burt. 
New York: Albany, H. D. House (in N. Y. State Mus. Herb. 
and in Mo. Bot. Gard. Herb., 15833). 
North Carolina: Schweinitz, type (in Herb. Schweinitz). 
Indiana: Miller, E. T'. & S. A. Harper, 758. 
