SPORES HYALINE. SETAE NONE. 



Variations. As previously stated, the "beech" form and the "birch" form 

 are slightly different plants, but hardly entitled to separate names. 



FOMES NIGRESCEXS. This form of Fames fomentarius has a black, 

 shiny, sulcate crust (cfr. Pol. Issue, page 16, fig. 210). This is probably the original 

 form intended by Fries for his Fomes nigricans, but I think was confused in his 

 latest work with the black form of Fomes igniarius. His specimens at Kew and 

 Upsala at least are a form of Fomes igniarius. Fomes nigrescens is the plant that 

 Klotzsch collected in Scotland and cited by Fries as Fomes nigricans. The specimen 

 is in the exhibition case at Berlin. 



FOMES MARMORATUS. This is the most common Fomes we have in the 

 American tropics. It is generally held to be a distinct species, but for me is the 

 same as Fomes fomentarius in every essential. It usually differs in shape, being 

 applanate instead of ungulate; sometimes it is quite thin. The pores are more 

 minute. The context color is exactly the same in some specimens, in others a little 

 lighter. The spores are hyaline, smooth, with granular contents 5-6 x 10-12 mic. 

 as I measured them from fresh specimens recently in Florida. The crust is usually 

 marked with black bands, but the same character in a less degree is often noted in 

 Fomes fomentarius. I have specimens from Japan that can not be told from those 

 of the American tropics. 



Fomes marmoratus has in recent years been called by me and by others Fomes 

 fasciatus, under an impression that a type was at the British Museum. Investi- 

 gation develops that this plant has no authentic history. A cotype in Thunberg's 

 herbarium is stated to be quite different. (Cfr. Notes 33 and 131). 



Compare fasciatus, sclerodermeus, subfomentarius. 



FOMES ALBO-ATER At Kew is a collection from Brazil (Spruce 58) 

 which appears to be a form of Fomes marmoratus. It has a smooth, black crust, 

 but the new marginal growth is white, contrasting strongly, and the context color 

 is much darker brown. 



Compare memorandus. 



FOMES CALIGINOSUS. Pileus thin, applanate (8-12 mm. 

 thick), with a dark brown, or generally black, smooth, rugulose crust. 

 Sometimes shiny, laccate. Context and pore tissue dark brown 

 (Brussels brown). Pores minute with concolorous tissue and mouths. 

 Setae, none. Spores usually abundant, subglobose, small, 3 mic., 

 subhyaline. 



This seems to be a frequent species in the East, Philippines, and 

 Pacific Islands, but absent from American tropics. It is quite light 

 in weight, and is not a typical Fomes, but rather has the appearance 

 of being a lignescent Polyporus. The black crust is sometimes shiny, 

 laccate, and then the first suggestion is a Ganodermus. Usually, 

 however, it is dull. 



SPECIMEN. Ceylon, T. Fetch. 



Compare mortuosus, peguanus, roseo-albus, Cesatianus, Copelandi, endapalus. 



FOMES SUBFLEXIBILIS. Only known from the type at Kew, from 

 Cuba, which is not very good and surely is not a Fomes. The context is brown, 

 rather soft, and easily indented with the finger nail. Pores rigid, minute, concolorous, 

 with concolorous mouths. Setae, none. Spores small, 3-3 $4, very pale color, almost 



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