made the discovery independent of Berkeley's previous but obscure publication, 

 and he gave an excellent account and figure of it, showing its polyporoid nature. 

 This was about twenty-five years ago, and since that date the plant has been 

 generally and correctly known to all mycologists. 30 



Fig. 370. 



Polyporus Pocula. From Japan. 



Fig. 371. (x6) 

 Polyporus Pocula, var. longipes. from Brazil. 



Forms. 



This little plant seems very constant in America and the Japanese collection 

 is exactly the same. The Australian form (only one collection known) has a 

 more rugulose surface, but is essentially the same. 



Var. longipes. At Berlin there is a collection from Brazil (Fig. 371 x6) 

 with a long stipe. It is only known from this collection. 



Distribution. The distribution of Polyporus Pocula as far as known is as 

 follows : 



Frequent in the United States, having a preference for chestnut oak and 

 sumac ; extending south and apparently frequent through Central America and 

 northern South America. 



Brazil, a single collection (at Berlin)of a long-stemmed form (var. longipes). 



Japan, a fine collection (at Berlin). 



Australia, a single collection (at Kew). 31 



30 The history of its juggling is almost as long as its "new species" history. Any plant 

 that departs as much as this from the usual habits of a Polyporus forms a "new genus," of 

 course, but they have had much trouble to get a name for it. Fries, as previously stated, 

 made a new genus for it, Enslinia in the Pyrenomycetes. Then a "Kew Index investigation" 

 showed that Enslinia was a name for a phaenogamic genus, and it was changed to Porodis- 

 cus. Then they discovered that was something else, and they changed to Porodisculus. I 

 have not heard of any juggle since. 



The specific name pendula rests only upon two vague suggestions of Schweinitz and a 

 date dictionary shuffle of some alleged synonyms given by Fries. Although the name pendula 

 is attributed to Schweinitz, he always called the plant "pocula" and maintained to the last 

 that pendula was not only a different plant but a different genus. He preserved in his her- 

 barium unquestioned specimens of Polyporus pocula, but none of "pendula." The latter name 

 is only a date dictionary juggle of some alleged synonyms by Fries and originally had no 

 historic value. It is not only contrary to the usage of a half 

 published opinions of its author, Schweinitz. 



half century, but contrary to all 



31 The distribution is given in North American Flora as "from Connecticut to Nicaragua." 

 A little more thorough work in the museums of Europe would have extended the "distribu- 

 tion" to Brazil, Australia, and Japan. 



4 6 



