108 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 



Polyporus volvatus Peck (Plate XIII, fig. 45). 



Stfbglobose, fleshy, firm, smooth, flattened behind, and apparently 

 sessile, but usually attached to the matrix by a small point, whitish, 

 more or less tinged with yellow, red or reddish brown, the cuticle con- 

 tinuous, completely covering the hymenium like a coriaceous volva, at 

 length, rupturing below, revealing the hymenium ; pores long, whitish, 

 minute, punctiform, the mouths yellowish, with a tinge of cinnamon; 

 flesh white ; spores elliptical, flesh-colored, 7.6 to 8.9 microns long by 5 

 microns broad. 



This most peculiar and most interesting little fungus has been found 

 only a few times in the northern part of the state on white and red 

 pines, both living and dead. Our specimens were gathered in Oneida 

 county near Hazelhurst. Most of the dead standing trunks of red 

 pine, about 1 to 1.25 feet in diameter showed this fungus. Two speci- 

 mens were taken from a living white pine which was 2 feet in diameter, 

 and several were taken from a living red pine which was 11 inches in 

 diameter. The dead red pine from which most of the specimens were 

 taken had been killed by a fire the year before. On each tree infected 

 there were a large number of pilei growing out of the trunk from a few 

 feet above the ground to at least 100 feet up. It is not probable that all 

 of the pilei came from one center of infection; it is more likely that 

 each is the result of a separate infection. Most of the pilei grew out 

 of holes in the bark made by bark-borers. 



The cuticle and the substance of the pileus is like that of P. betu- 

 linus. The hymenium, at first yellowish-brown, soon becomes pale 

 cinnamon. The tubes are long, their length exceeding the thickness of 

 the flesh. The pores are small, round, equal, and obtuse. The most 

 interesting and distinguishing feature of the species is the volva. This 

 is formed by the continuation of the cuticle, thus completely envelop- 

 ing the whole specimen, tubes and all. When mature, the volva breaks 

 down, forming an oval opening for the exit of the rust-colored spores 

 which sometimes form a small conical heap on the inner side of the 

 volva. 



Largest specimen 2 cm. broad and 1.25 cm. long. The tubes were 

 8 mm. long ; the white flesh 5 mm. thick ; and the cavity formed be- 

 tween the pores and volva was 4 mm. in depth. 



Syn.: Cryptoporus volvatus (Peck) Shear; 19, 30, pp. 423-424; 19, 

 32, p. 490. 



