2IO MORPHOLOGY. 



year's growth as in the pine polyporus (P. pinicola). In the birch poly- 

 porus (P. fomentarius) the tubes are quite large. It also occurs on other 

 trees. The beech polyporus (P. igniarius, also on other trees) often be- 



Fig. 246. 

 Coral fungus. Hydnum coralloides, spines hanging down from branches. 



comes very old. I have seen one specimen over eighty years old. Not all 

 the tube-bearing fungi are bracket form. Some have a stem and cap 

 (see fig. 245). Some are spread on the surface of logs. 



427. Hedgehog fungi (Hydnaceae). These plants are bracket in form or 

 have a stem and cap, or are spread on the surface of wood; but the finest 

 specimens resemble coral masses of fungus tissue (example, Hydnum, fig. 

 246). In most of them there are slender processes resembling teeth, spines 

 or awls, which depend from the under surface (fig. 247). The fruiting 

 surface covers these spines. 



428. Coral fungi or fairy clubs (Clavariaceae). These plants stand 

 upright from the wood, leaves, or soil, on which they grow (example, 

 Clavaria). The "coral" ones are branched, while the "fairy clubs" are 

 simple. The fruiting surface covers the entire exposed surface of the plants 

 (fig. 248). 



