FUSCUS. CONTEXT BROWN. 



Fig. 584. 



Fomes fomentarius. 



This is a common species in many countries no doubt. In Europe 

 it takes two forms. First, a very large, ungulate form : with soft, punky 

 context, on the beech in France. This is the only common Fomes at 

 Fontainbleau. Second, a smaller, harder form on the birch in north- 

 ern Europe. In the United States we do not have the beech form, as 

 far as I have seen, but the form on birch is quite common in some 

 localities. 



Fomes fomentarius is often confused in the museums with Fomes 

 igniarius and also Fomes applanatus. I have specimens of Fomes 

 fomentarius from India and Japan. A form is also very common in 

 the American tropics, called Fomes marmoratus. 



ILLUSTRATIONS Many have been issued. Sowerby, t. 133 and Fries Sverig, Atlas t. 62 

 are both characteristic. 



SPECIMENS. United States and Europe, abundant; India, G. H. Cave, B. Salmi; Japan. 

 A. Yasuda. 



Compare introstuppeus. Inzengae, excavatus, expansus, minis. 

 236 



