CHAPTER VII. 



POLYPORACEAE. TUBE-BEARING FUNGI. 



In this family the cap has no gills on the upper surface, but, instead, there 

 are small tubes or pores. This class of plants may be naturally divided into two 

 groups: The perishable fungi with the pores easily separating from the cap and 

 from each other, which may be called Boletaceae; and the leathery, corky, and 

 wood} 7 fungi, with pores permanently united to the cap and with each other, 

 making the family Polyporaceae. 



In each group the spores are borne on the lining of the pore. A spore print 

 may be made in the same manner as from mushrooms having q-jH s . The color of 

 the spores does not enter into the classification as in the case of the Agaricini. 

 The distinctive characteristics of these genera may be stated as follows : 



Pores compacted together and forming a continuous stratum i 



Pores each a distinct tube, standing closely side by side Fistulina 



i. Stem central, and stratum of spores easily separable from the 



cap Boletus 



i. Stratum of tubes not separating easily, cap covered with 



coarse scales Strobilomyces 



Stratum of tubes separating, but not easily ; tubes arranged in 

 distinct, radiating lines. In Boletinus porosus the tubes do 



not separate from the cap Boletinus 



Stratum of pores not separable from cap; plant soft when 



young, but becoming hard, corky, stipitate, shelving Polyporus 



Boletus. Pill. 



Boletus, a clod. There are very many species under this genus and the be- 

 ginner will experience much trouble in separating the species with any degree 

 of assurance. The Boletus is distinguished from the other pore-bearing fungi by 

 the fact that the stratum of tubes is easily separable from the cap. In the 

 Polyporus the stratum of tubes cannot be separated. 



Nearly all Boleti are terrestrial and have central stems. They grow in warm 

 and rainy weather. Many are very large and ponderous; fleshy and putrescent. 

 decaying soon after maturity. It is important to note whether the flesh changes 



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