OF BRITISH FUNGI. 77 



be rejected. Some species become blue almost immedi- 

 ately upon wounding. Those with reddish stems, or 

 with the edges of the tubes, i. e. the under surface of 

 the pileus, red or crimson, should also be rejected. 



The large B. satanas, the very name of which 

 conveys suspicion, should be guarded against. It is 

 occasionally found in woods. The under surface of the 

 pileus appears of a blood-red colour, as also the stem. 



The spores of the Boleti may be collected for examina- 

 tion in the same manner as already described for the 

 Agarics. In many instances they will be found to be 

 coloured, and in some of a beautiful roseate tint. The 

 prevailing colour will be some shade of palish or reddish 

 brown, white being the exception rather than the rule. 



The genus Polyporus has the pores not easily sepa- 

 rable, they being closely packed and united together. 

 The substance of the hymenophorum descends between 

 the pores, where it is called the trama. This is not the 

 case in Boletus ; for in that genus the hymenophorum 

 is quite distinct from the pores. 



This genus is a very large one, and contains every 

 intermediate texture of substance from succulence or 

 pulpiness to the hardness and density of wood. We 

 remember a slice from one of the latter species being 

 sent to us for identification, with a number of specimens 

 of wood, and which was supposed to be " some kind of 

 palm wood." Forms are as varied as texture, and colour 

 as devious as form. Some have stems which are central, 

 others that are lateral, but the majority are without 

 stems at all. 



