Polyporaceee 

 POLY'PORFS Fr. 



Gr. many ; a passage, pore. 



Pileus fleshy, moist, tough, becoming harder in age, internally com- Polypoms. 

 posed of radiating fibers ; the spore-bearing surface is within passages 

 or pores which are made by the descending substance of the pileus form- 

 ing the dissepiments or separating walls, hence they are not easily 

 separable from the pileus or from one another. The pores not appear- 

 ing at first, then becoming rounded, angular or torn. They form a dis- 

 tinct strata. Stem central, eccentric, lateral or absent. 



With few exceptions growing from wood. Section Merisma contains 

 species which are conspicuous among fungi for their size and beauty. 



The majority of this genus are unedible, because of their being woody, 

 tough or bitter. Few of the edible species are of the first class. 



Excellent dishes are made by stewing the species well, serving them 

 in patties or in croquettes. The cooking of P. intybaceus is a guide to 

 all. 



ANALYSIS OF TRIBES. 



I. MESOPUS. (Gr. middle; afoot.) Page 479. 

 Stem single, distinct, central or eccentric ; not black at the base. 



II. PLEUROPUS. (Gr. fheside; afoot.) Page 480. 

 Stem single, lateral or eccentric; base black. 



III. MERISMA. (Gr. to divide.) Page 482. 



Divided into numerous pileoli, borne on a simple or much-branched 

 stem, or a short, thick tubercle. 



IV. APUS. (Gr. without; afoot.) Page 488. 

 Stem wanting; pileus attached by the side or spread on the matrix. 



V. RESUPINATI. (Lying on the back. ) Page 489. 



The pores being placed directly upon the wood or on the mycelium, 

 the pileus proper is absent. 



I. ME'SOPUS. 



P. ovi'nus Schaeff. relating to sheep. Pileus 2-4 in. broad, fleshy, 

 thick, fragile, irregular in shape, becoming scaly, whitish. Stem short,. 



479 



