rimose surface. Stipes sometimes mesopodial but usually excentric 

 or even lateral. Often the plants grow in clusters with deformed 

 stems. Flesh, thin, brittle, yellow. Pores at first are small and 

 round, becoming larger and more angular and torn when old. Long, 

 decurrent on the stem. Spores are subglobose, smooth, hyaline, ^-6 

 mic. with a small, lateral apiculus. 



This is by no means a rare plant in the United States, where it has generally 

 been known under a name given to it by Berkeley, viz: Polyporus flavo-virens 

 I have long suspected it to be the same as the European plant but could not 

 convince myself from the scanty specimens I found in the museums of the 

 European plant. I got my first clear idea of the European plant from abundant 

 collections I found at Berlin, made by Dr. Hennings. I then felt quite sure 

 and sent material to Bresadola, who confirmed my view. In some respects this 

 is unfortunate for flavo-virens was a most excellent name for the plant and 

 we dislike to give it up in favor of a poor name such as cristatus. Schweinitz 

 many years ago recorded cristatus from the United States, and while no speci- 

 men exists in his herbarium he undoubtedly had it right. In Europe Polyporus 

 cristatus seems to be a rather rare species, but it is recorded from most countries 

 of Europe. I rarely receive it from correspondents in Europe and it is poorly 

 represented in most of their museums. It has there the reputation of growing 

 in beech woods. It has been illustrated in several of the old works (Barla, 

 Krombholz, Rostkovius) but none of them are very good. The latter gives a 

 fair idea of its color but a very poor one of its usual form. Our photograph 

 (Fig. 501) was made by Professor Beardslee. 



Form. I made one collection at Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, of what when 

 fresh was the usual form and color of Polyporus cristatus, but in drying the 

 pores turned brick red. Therefore the dried specimens seem different from the 

 ordinary plant. I think this form has no name unless it is the plant that has 

 been described as a new species, Polyporus Whiteae, which is unknown to me. 



POLYPORUS CONFLUENS. Pileus reddish, leather or ochre 15 

 color, sometimes growing singly but often several in a cluster which 

 are very irregular and confluent. 16 Flesh, white, firm, not changing 

 when cut. Stipe short, usually more or less excentric and irregular, 

 often more or less confluent but not merismatoid. Pores short, white 

 or pale, minute, decurrent. Spores subglobose, 3-3^ mic.. hyaline, 

 smooth. 



This is rather a frequent plant in the pine woods of Sweden. I think it 

 is not recorded in England but is not rare on the continent. Also in America 

 it occurs in the northern and New England States. Often it grows caespitose 

 and then more or less irregular and confluent, but not merismatoid as generally 

 classed. Often I have found it in Sweden, growing singly and then it is some- 

 times liable to be confused with scorched specimens of Polyporus ovinus. Poly- 

 porus confluens is one of the few plants that can be recognized when dry more 

 easily than when fresh for it turns red in drying and the older it gets the redder 

 it becomes. A number of the old (always red) specimens are in the museums 

 and in several instances are misnamed, Polyporus ovinus. As it is considered 

 edible it has been illustrated a number of times. One of the best figures is 

 that issued in Romell's wall atlas of the edible fungi of Sweden. 



15 Fries states that it varies from flesh to ochre but never orange. 



16 The best illustration showing its usual method of growth is Barla t. 29. The old figure of 

 Schaeffer is quite misleading. 



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