MERULIUS. 187 



Entire plant resupinate, smooth, so thin as to be almost 

 like a membrane, of no regular form, effused, of a pure white 

 colour, changing when dry to a pinkish-brown, the margin 

 membranaceous, and between byssoid and laciniate. My 

 specimen is 2-3 inches in breadth. Pores occupying almost 

 the whole substance of the plant, very shallow, minute, 

 more resembling somewhat hexagonal little pits or cavities 

 than pores, the dissepiments very thin. Spores very minute, 

 globose. (Grev.) 



The present minute but very curious species forms a mere 

 pellicle, in its dry state of an uniform dull-brown, scarcely 

 distinguishable from the bark on which it grows ; but when 

 examined with a moderate magnifying power, the regular 

 often hexagonal reticulations exhibit a very elegant appear- 

 ance, like the cells of a honeycomb, but quite superficial. 

 (Berk.) 



Merulius pallens. Berk. 



Pale-reddish, adnate, fleshy, somewhat gelatinous, thin, 

 inseparable, margin indeterminate ; folds poriform, pores 

 minute ; spores globose, 4 yu, diameter. 



Merulius pattens, Berk., Outl., p. 296 ; Stev., Fung., p. 229. 



On fir and oak. 



Merulius serpens. Tode. 



Crustaceo-adnate, thin, almost glabrous, pallid then red- 

 dish, margin byssoid, white ; hymenium with the folds at 

 first free, then anastomosing and forming variously formed 

 pores ; spores cylindrical, 4 x 2 p.. 



Merulius serpens, Tode, Abh. Hall. i. p. 355 ; Stev., Fung., 

 p. 229. 



On rotten pine. Extending in a wavy manner for 2 in. or 

 more. Closely adnate, inseparable. 



Merulius rufus. Pers. 



Crustaceo-adnate, often effused for 1-3 in., substance 

 soft, smooth, reddish flesh-colour, sometimes with a purple 

 tinge, margin almost smooth; hymenium distinctly and 

 equally porous ; spores subglobose, 5 ^ diameter. 



Merulius rufus, Pers., Syn., p. 498 ; Stev., Fung., p. 229. 



On dead wood. General appearance and hymenium of 



