60 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 



sericeus. This species is the same as P. oblectans Berkeley, and P. 

 cinnamomeus Sacc. 



In habit and appearance it is often confused with P. perennis, from 

 which, however, it seems quite distinct. The surface is always shining 

 with soft, silky, radiating fibres ; the stipe is of a richer color than that 

 of P. perennis, and the plant is smaller and more delicate than P. per- 

 ennis. Like P. perennis, this species grows on the ground from small 

 roots, preferably those of conifers. Specimens of the two often grow 

 side by side, and the differences are then apparent. 



Our specimens have been collected near Blanchardville, Blue Mounds, 

 Sparta, Hazelhurst, Star Lake and Crandon. The largest was about 

 4 cm. in diameter ; the stipe 2.5 cm. long and 4 mm. thick. The pileus 

 is scarcely 1 mm thick. The pores are about the same as those of P. 

 perennis. 



Polystictus perennis (L.) Fries. 



Pileus plano-infundibuliform, 2.5 to 7.5 cm. across, thin, coriaceous, 

 tough, velvety, becoming smooth, zoned, clear cinnamon, then yellow 

 to brick-red ; stem firm but not hard, 1.5 to 5 cm high, thickened below, 

 minutely velvety; pores very short, minute, angular, dissepiments be- 

 coming torn ; at first with a white bloom, then naked j spores elliptical, 

 hyaline, 4 to 5 by 2.5 microns. 



Found on the ground under trees, especially in sandy regions, in fall 

 and winter, and it is said to remain in growing condition through the 

 following summer. 



Collected at Sparta, Blanchardville, (McKenna), Blue Mounds, 

 Hazelhurst, Star Lake, Crandon, Ladysmith, Shanagolden and in the 

 Lake Superior region (Cheney). Whenever excavations are made in 

 the northern part of the state in the woods, there this fungus makes 

 its appearance, like P. subsericeus, growing from minute rootlets that 

 become exposed. 



When young the plant is soft, velvety, but not shiny, cinnamon 

 brown and tough. Older specimens become harder, glabrate, grayish 

 brown and zoned with concentric darker circles, ridges or sulcations. 

 The pileus is usually somewhat depressed in the center, although I have 

 some specimens that are nearly plane. The flesh is thin, fibrous and 

 brown in color. The margin is very thin, more or less fimbriate, and 

 darker than the rest of the pileus. The plants are often confluent 

 the pilei and even the stipes growing together. The stipes are short, 

 slightly velvety, bullose at the base, cinnamon. The pores are large, 

 short at first, very irregular, almost sinuous, with very thin dissepi- 



