3 to 7 mm. thick and from 2 to 7 cm. long. Pores cinnamon, small, 

 slightly decurrent, when young small (4 to mm.) shallow, subregu- 

 lar, when old larger, more irregular, somewhat torn. Spores ellipti- 

 cal, 4-5 x 8-10, smooth, pale colored, (subhyaline under the micro- 

 scope). 



HISTORY. A frequent plant both in America and Europe. It is the most 

 common Polystictus of this section that we have. It is somewhat similar to the 

 preceding species but usually larger, more zonate and can always be recognized 

 by its dull color. 11 It grows in more sandy open places and is not so character- 

 istically a "woods" species as the preceding. The specific name, perennis, is 

 attributed to Linnaeus and is really a misnomer, for the plant is not perennial 

 in the sense that it revives the second season. It often persists over the winter 

 and the weathered specimens bleach almost white on top. Such specimens 

 frequently reach me. In common with other related species, Polystictus peren- 

 nis has the curious habit of growing around and enclosing sticks and blades of 

 grass etc. when they are in the way of the growing plant. Two or more plants 

 coalesce if they grow where they touch each other. Such a specimen consisting of 

 perhaps a dozen united individuals was named Polyporus connatus by Schweinitz. 12 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 



Europe, France, F. Fautrev, L. Rolland, Professor J. Lagarde, C. G. Lloyd : 

 Germany, Dr. O. Pazschke, Otto Jaap, Professor Kriiger, E. Engelke : England: 

 E. W. Swanton*: Austria, Ant. Weidmann, E. Wulff, Tirol, Rev. G. Bresadola , 

 Belgium, Prof. Ch. Van Bambeke : Italy, M. Bezzi*: Denmark, Rev. A. Breitung: 

 Sweden, C. G. Lloyd. 



America, Canada, James Fletcher, P. L. Ricker, Miss Isabel M. Walker : 

 Minnesota, Miss Daisy Hone, Dr. M. S. Whetstone : Wisconsin, Chas. E. Brown : 

 Michigan, H. C. Beardslee, C. G. Lloyd : Vermont, E. A. Burt: New Hampshire, 

 Miss Kate A. Jones*, Margaret L. Sewall, H. E. Warner, F. L. Sargent: Mass- 

 achusetts, L. W. Riddle, Geo. E. Morris, Simon Davis*, Missouri, Dr. N. M. 

 Glatfelter, N. L. T. Nelson*, Pennsylvania, Caroline A. Burgin*: Illinois, H. C. 

 Beardslee : Washington, D. C., F. J. Braendle. One of Mr. Braendle's collections 

 is surely perennis but too bright color. The other tends towards focicola. 



Forms. 



POLYSTICTUS SIMILLIMUS. This is in my opinion a small, more slender 

 form with pores not so decurrent. I get it from both Europe and America and 

 such forms are starred in above list. 



POLYSTICTUS PROLIFERUS (Fig. 202). A curious form (?) or sport, 

 has been received from M. Bubna, Cleveland, Ohio. It is not perfect, but the 

 margin of the pileus develops a number of proliferous pilei. The spores, 6x9, 

 and the texture is more flexible, also color brighter than Polystictus perennis, 

 but on the scanty material we have we would prefer to consider it as a possible 

 sport rather than a wonderful " new species." 



POLYSTICTUS FOCICOLA (Fig. 203). Pileus same as Poly- 

 stictus perennis but usually smaller. Stipe similar. Pores large ( i 

 mm or more) rather shallow. Spores elliptical, 5 x 10, pale colored, 

 smooth. 



11 One collection I have from F. J. Braendle, Washington, D. C., is bright color but so evi- 

 dently P. perennis in size and habits and general appearance that notwithstanding its color 1 

 should without hesitation refer it to perennis. It shows that even the " key " characters some- 

 times fail. 



12 The specimen is still in good condition at Philadelphia. Fries erroneously referred 

 Schweinitz's species and the error has been copied by every writer on the subject since. 



