SPORES HYALINE. 



POLYPORUS TRABEUS (Fig. 638). Pileus dimidiate, sessile, 

 triquetrous. Surface anoderm, smooth, dull, soft, minute, pubescent. 

 Flesh white, soft, crumbly. Pores small, round, regular. Spores 

 allantoid, 1 x 4-5, cylindrical, curved. 



No white species has given me more trouble to name satisfactorily 

 than has this common, white plant. Polyporus trabeus is our latest 

 decision, and in deciding on this name we are influenced mainly by 

 two facts. The plant is well represented in Sturm, fasc. 10, fig. 28, 

 which Fries cites; and it is a common plant, and Fries records it as 

 common. It is strange that Polyporus trabeus, which Fries states is 

 "frequent," should have practically passed out of current mycology. 

 Bresadola calls the plant Polyporus lacteus, and while we accepted it 

 under protest (cfr. Note 158, Letter 49), we have never been satisfied 

 with it. Romell, in his latest work, and Murrill, take lacteus in the 

 sense of Bresadola. In my belief it neither agrees with Polyporus 

 lacteus as to Fries' description, his figure, nor his (poor) specimen at 

 Kew, nor with his record of the species, in which he states it is "rare." 



Polyporus trabeus is a very common plant, both in the United 

 States and Europe. It is very close to Polyporus albellus (see page 294), 

 and has the same pores and spores, but the surface has no cuticular 

 appearance, and is softer, hence we put them in different sections, 

 though we have many intermediate specimens which are hard to refer. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. Sturm, fasc. 10, t. 28 very good. There is a slight pinkish cast that is 

 a little misleading, but the figure, to me, is characteristic. Mez' figure cited is a copy from Sturm, and 

 Britzelmayr is not worth considering. Patouillard t. 244 (as lacteus) represents the plant except the 

 flesh zone, which I have never noted. 



SPECIMENS. Many from United States, and Europe, mostly referred to Polyporus lacteus 

 when received, also two collections (Nos. 82 and 221) from A. Yasuda, Japan, which were referred to 

 Polyporus albellus when received. 



POLYPORUS TEPHROLEUCUS. Pileus fleshy, drying fragile, 

 applanate, imbricate. Surface smooth, dull, pale grey. Pores small, 

 round, y 2 -\ cm. long, drying white. Spores l-lJ^x.4-5, allantoid, 

 slightly curved. 



This is a fairly frequent species in Europe, and occurs also in 

 America. It is readily known by having white flesh and pores which 

 persist white, but the pileus surface is grey or dark. Fries character- 

 ized it by villose, grey pileus and flesh at first subgelatinous. We col- 

 lected once in Sweden a single specimen that when fresh answers this 

 description, but the usual dry collections we have do not show them. 

 We have gathered it on oak in France and birch in Sweden. Fries 

 states it grows on pine and beech. Quelet records it only on pine. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. Sturm's Flora, fasc. 10, fig. 26 (good). 

 SPECIMENS. Many, both from Europe and United States. 



POLYPORUS ALUTACEUS. Pileus dimidiate, l / 2 -\ cm. thick, 

 with rough, usually pale yellowish surface, sometimes spotted. Flesh 

 white, soft, friable. Pores minute, round, slightly alutaceous in drying. 

 Spores 2 x 3-4 mic. 



301 



