FOMES. 217 



I. PLEUKOPUS. 

 Stem lateral 



Fomes lucidus. Fr. 



Horizontal, flabelliform or subreniform, laterally stipitate, 

 pileus 26 in. across, corky then hard and woody, sulcato- 

 rugose, blood-red with a chestnut tinge, polished, shining, 

 pores | ^ in. long, minute, whitish then cinnamon ; stem 

 variable in length, rugose, coloured and polished like the 

 pileus; spores 7 x 5 /x., brown. 



Polyporus lucidus, Fries, N. S., p. 61 ; Berk., Outl., t. 16, 

 f. 2. 



On trunks, &c, Stem varying from less than 1 in. to 

 6 in. long, readily known by the deep-red pileus and stem 

 that are highly polished, as if varnished. Pores averaging 

 I mm. across. 



Pileus 2-6 inches broad, generally more or less oblique, 

 very variable in thickness, rugose, often marked with con- 

 centric grooves or ridges, chocolate-brown, the edge often 

 tawny or bright chestnut, shining as if varnished, with 

 occasionally a vitreous appearance. Pores very minute, 

 subrotund, pale, equal, at length cinnamon. Stem 6-10 

 inches high, 1 inch or more thick, rugose, marked occasion- 

 ally with transverse lines of growth, shining like the pileus ; 

 sometimes obsolete. Both the pileus and stem are occasion- 

 ally marked with minute wavy wrinkles. A most beautiful 

 and highly curious species, occurring in most parts of the 

 world. (Berk.) 



Pileus of a coriaceous or corky, firm substance, very in- 

 constant in its form, pileus 48 inches in breadth, usiially 

 more or less reniform, sometimes flabelliform, rarely orbicular ; 

 nearly plane, rugose, and marked with concentric lines or 

 grooves, glabrous, shining as if highly varnished. Colour 

 yellowish at first, then bright chestnut, in old age almost 

 black. Flesh thick, very firm, delicately fibrous, pale, at 

 length reddish ; the pores of the same colour, equal, roundish, 

 very minute, either short or rather long, according to cir- 

 cumstances. Stipes either almost wanting, or 6-10 inches in 

 height, mostly erect and lateral, rarely centrical or ventrical. 

 It is often an inch or more in thickness, very hard, of the 



