THE AMERICAN SPECIMENS IN THE HER- 

 BARIUM OF FRIES. 



In the herbarium of Elias Fries at Upsala there are a number of 

 historical specimens from America, some of them I believe not to be 

 found elsewhere. 



SCHWEINITZ'S SPECIMENS. It is quite evident from both the writings 

 of Fries and Schweinitz, that the latter sent Fries quite a complete set of his 

 species from America. They are commented upon in Flies' Elenchus, and in- 

 cluded in his Kpicrisis. I hoped to find them at Upsala, but I believe that not 

 one of these original specimens has been preserved. This is unfortunate, for 

 some of them are missing (or very poor) in the Schweinitz herbarium at Phila- 

 delphia, and I had hoped to learn more concerning them at Upsala. 



There are a few of Schweinitz's species with names pasted on that were 

 evidently cut from a list which I supposed at first were in Schweinitz's writing. 

 They are indorsed, however, in the handwriting of Theodor Fries "Schwaegri- 

 chen Misit,' 1 which I at first thought was an error. I took the matter up with 

 Professor Fries and he looked up his father's correspondence and convinced me 

 that these specimens did come from Schwaegricheu, who was a German professor 

 at the University of Bonn. The names on the specimens appear to be in the 

 same writing as a letter from Schwaegrichen, who wrote that he sent a pack- 

 age of specimens from America, but does not mention that they are from Schweinitz. 

 They are all Schweinitzian species, however, and are undoubtedly authentic, but 

 I believe are probably a division of specimens sent by Schweinitz to Schwaegri- 

 chen. I hope some day to look up the herbarium of Schwaegrichen if it exists, 

 and may learn more from it concerning the species of Schweinitz. The follow- 

 ing are all the undoubtedly authentic specimens fiom Schweinitz to be found 

 at Upsala. The notes concerning them are my own views. 



Merulius brassicaefolius, the same I think as papyraceus of Europe 

 Merulius confluens, for me it is Merulius Corium Merulius incarnatus, nice 

 specimen of well known plant of America, never collected in Europe. It is the 

 same as Peck discovered was a " new species " and called Merulius rubellus. 



Polyporus cervinus. This is of much interest, being the only good specimen 

 that exists I think. 3 Recently Bresadola has published that cervinus is the 

 same as biformis, and he takes it as the name for biformis notwithstanding that 

 there is no question that biformis is the name used for the plant by Fries, 

 Berkeley, and all American authors. 4 I feel well acquainted with biformis as I 

 have collected it many times, have seen specimens in the museums and have re- 

 ceived it often from my correspondents, and I should never have referred the 

 Schweinitzian specimen of cervinus at Upsala to biformis. I do not know it 

 and it is surely a rare plant in the United States. I can not say that it should not 

 be referred as an unusual, abnormal form of biformis, but I do not believe even 

 that. 



Polyporus scutellatus, from Curtis "ex. herb Schweinitz." It is a well known 

 species Polyporus spissus. The best specimen I have seen of this Poria. It is 

 a peculiar American species with a number of aliases, discovered to be a " new 

 species " on various occasions, often described, but never correctly but once and 

 that was by Peck. Polyporus superficialis, surely the same as Poria viticola as 

 stated by Fries, if not a species of Europe. Polyporus Tulipiferns, too poor for 

 comments. Polyporus viticola, good specimens. 



3 As I write this article at Paris from my notes made at Upsala I do not have with me my not< 

 made in the herbarium of Schweinitz nor of Berkeley, and must trust to my memory, which 1 think 

 clear as to these points: that Polyporus cervinus is not found at Kew, and only very poor specimei 

 from which nothing can be told at Philadelphia. The specimen at Upsala is in perfect condition. 



<Asa matter of truth the original meanings of biformis and pergamenus have been transposed sine 

 Klotzsch published them. It is a long story and I shall not dwell on it now, for it is of no interest e: 

 cept from an historical standpoint or perhaps to the name-jugglers). The names biformis and pergameiu 

 and the plants that bear them are too well established to ever be changed. 



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