GANODERMUS. 



SECTION 103. CONTEXT FIRM, NOT SPONGY. 



The annual Ganodermus-Polyporus forms are, we believe, distinct species 

 from the perennial Fomes forms (cfr. Synopsis Fomes, p. 262), though it is not an 

 easy matter to tell them. They are confusing, also, to distinguish from sessile forms 

 of normally stipitate species like Polyporus lucidus. The species are very similar, 

 and distinguishing characters are hard to find. The subject is also complicated by a 

 flood of new species recently proposed in this section. When one looks up these 

 specimens, they are mostly found to be about the same thing. The following descrip- 

 tion will apply to them all. Pileus sessile, applanate, with a thin, reddish brown, 

 more or less laccate surface. Context dark burnt umber, varying light. Pores small, 

 round, from 1-1 Y* cm. long, with white or yellow mouths. Spores obovate, truncate 

 at base, 6-10 to 8-10 x 12-14 mic., smooth, varying to strongly punctate. There 

 have been numerous "new species" named, to all of which the above description 

 will apply. The only thing that can be done is to adopt names for the most extreme 

 forms, and then to refer your specimens to the nearest one. The spores even in the 

 same specimens vary from smooth to strongly punctate, but those with strongly 

 punctate surfaces are said to be "rough." 



A. Spores rough. 



POLYPORUS FULVELLUS. Pileus sessile, dimidiate (6 x 9 x 

 1^2). Surface with a thin, laccate, reddish brown crust. Context firm, 

 hard, burnt umber color, faintly zoned. Pores smooth, round, with 

 white or yellowish mouths when fresh. Spores obovate, 6-8 x 10-12, 

 and distinctly rough. 



This species was based on an African plant with rough spores, 

 and it is safe to refer to it any sessile specimen of the lucidus type 

 with rough spores. Saccardo compiled the name in Vol. 9, page 178, 

 and transposed to it a description that he copied in error from another 

 species, which was stipitate. It does not seem to matter much, how- 

 ever, for in the twelve years that have since intervened no one has 

 apparently noticed the difference. We have here referred a similar 

 plant from the American tropics with more globose, rough spores, about 

 8 x 10. The next form with more yellow pore mouths is practically 

 the same thing, and an earlier name. 



SPECIMENS. Java, Dr. van Leeuwen; Dutch Guiana, Dr. J. Kuyper. 



POLYPORUS TROPICUS. This is a plant the same as preceding, excepting 

 the pore mouths are yellow and spores are more globose and larger about 10 x 12 

 we make them. It is only noted from Java, and was recently named oroleucus. 



Compare oroleucus. 



B. Spores smooth or slightly rough. 

 The general description of these "species" is indicated under the general head. 



POLYPORUS OERSTEDII (Fig. 705). Pileus substance rather soft. Con- 

 text color dark. Surface dully laccate. Pore mouths yellowish. Frequent in tropics, 

 and varying in degree of the laccate surface. The type specimen, in a jar at Upsala, 

 does not bear out the description of substance "durissima." 



Compare chromoflavus, Dussii, Fici, rufo-albus. 



370 



