366 BRITISH FUNGI 



ments of the white veil ; tubes long, white, pores large, irregularly 

 angular ; stem 3-6 in. long, coarsely fibrillose, brown below, 

 whitish and grooved above. 

 In fir woods, etc. Rare. 



FiSTULINA 



Gro\ving horizontally, fleshy ; hymenium on the under surface, 

 at first minutely warted, the warts developing into tubes that 

 remain distinct from each other. 



Superficially resembling a large Polyporns, but distinguished by 

 the tubes of the hymenium being free from each other, and closed 

 at the mouth when young. 



F. hepatica (PI. XXIV, fig. 11).— Pileus thick and fleshy, soft, 

 more or less tongue-shaped, often clustered, blood-red, flesh red 

 and streaked ; tubes pallid, then red. 



From 4-9 in. broad, form variable, resembling flaps of li\-er in 

 colour and appearance, flesh resembling beef when cut. Known 

 as the beef-steak fungus. Edible. 



On old oak trunks and stumps. Rarely on other kinds of trees. 



POLYPORUS 



Pileus usually fleshy, soft, not velvety, grooved nor zoned, with 

 a central stem or more or less horizontal and stemless or nearly so ; 

 tubes not stratified. 



Differs from Polystidus in thick flesh and smooth pileus, and 

 from Formes in the tubes not being stratified. Dcsdalea differs in 

 the corky, thick walls of the long, wavy pores. Large fungi growing 

 on wood. 



Some are destructive parasites. 



I. Stem simple, central or excentric, or springing from the edge. 



* Stem not black at the base. 



P. leiicomelas. — Cap 2-5 in. across, edge often irregular, silky, 

 blackish ; pores large, running down the stem, greyish ; stem 

 1-3 in. long, paler than the pileus. 



On the ground in pine woods, etc. 



P. lentus. — Cap 1-2 in. across, thin, tough, centre depressed, 

 tan-colour ; pores shallow, large, angular, often elongated radially ; 

 stem more or less central, l-i in. long, slender, scurf3^ 



On wood, furze stems, etc. 



P. brumalis. — Pileus 1-4 in. across, pliant, centre depressed, 

 downy, umber, becoming smooth and paler the second year ; pores 

 shallow, large, angular, elongated radially ; stem central, slender, 

 velvety, 1-2 in. long. 



On dead branches. 



P. fuscidulus. — Pileus 1-2 in. across, thin, pliant, even, smooth. 



