in fact, it seems to me they occur on different conditions of the host. Polyporus 

 borealis is a most abundant species in Sweden, covering the logs and stumps 

 of Abies. Ptychogaster grows on the same host, but only on very rotten wood 

 when it is in the last stage of decay. This may be the explanation of it, that 

 when there is abundant food material for the plant it produces the normal 

 form, but after it has exhausted the food material then it turns into the 

 conidial form. This is contrary, however, to the general rule, by which conidial 

 forms come first. 



PTYCHOGASTER HEPATICUS (Fig. 266). We gave an 

 account of Fistulina hepatica on page 6 of Old Species Series, but at 

 that time we were not acquainted with the conidial form. It is said 

 to be quite common in connection with the normal form, but we have 

 seen it but once (sent by E. B. Sterling, New Jersey). It has little 

 resemblance to Fistulina hepatica. 37 It forms a solid, compact ball. A 

 section shows a mottled appearance (Fig. 266) due to the changed 

 condition of the tubes. The spores are very abundant, hyaline, smooth, 

 and very irregular as to size. They vary from almost globose 4x5 

 to elliptical 5 x 10. 



NOTELETS. 



A LARGE POLYPORUS GIGANTEUS. Monsieur Maurice Barbier in- 

 forms me of the collection at Dijon, France, of a specimen of Polyporus 

 giganteus weighing nine kilogrammes (about 18 pounds). 



THE SCLEROTIUM OF POLYPORUS UMBELLATUS. It has been 

 published by Bommer, and it is known in France, that the rare Polyporus um- 

 bellatus is developed from an underground sclerotium. I was first so in- 

 formed by Professor Patouillard, and have before me a letter from Monsieur 

 Maurice Barbier which mentions it. I hope the next one of my correspondents 

 who finds this rare plant will dig it up and dry it with the sclerotium attached. 

 I have only collected the plant once, and was not then aware that it had a 

 sclerotium. 



IS IT PERENNIAL? Among the many errors that pass current in 

 European mycology is the statement that Polyporus lucidus is a "Fomes". It is 

 so found in Saccardo and was so placed in Cooke's synopsis. That it is not a 

 "Fomes", however, I think every one who has observed this plant will testity, at 

 least all I have asked. Persoon wrote very clearly on the subject,' a hundred 

 years ago, stating that while sometimes found semi-persistent in the spring 

 months, it does not revive. That it is not a perennial and not a Fomes, I think 

 there is no question. 



It has been well known for years that our American plant is an annual. 

 More than ten years ago I heard rumors that it must be a different species 

 from the European "because it is annual and not a Fomes". It is only very 

 recently that it blossomed out as a "new species". That, however, is another 

 story. 



37 We were unable to name the specimen until Patouillard recognized it. 



