Hydnaceae 



MES'OPUS. Gr. middle; a foot. 

 (Entire, simple, stem central. On the ground, mostly in pine woods.) 



H. imbrica'tum L. imbrex, a tile. Pileus about 2-5 in. broad, Hydnum. 

 umber, zoneless, fleshy, rather plane, somewhat umbilicate, fioccose, 

 tessulato-scaly. Flesh dingy whitish. Stem curt, 1-3 in. long, 1-2 in. 

 thick, even. Spines 4-6 lines long, decurrent, ashy-white. 



There are two forms ; one with the pileus plane and with thick per- 

 sistent scales, another with the pileus somewhat infundibuliform, and 

 with thinner, at length separating scales. Stevenson. 



Spores pale yellow brown, rough, 6-7x5;* Massee; 6x5/, W.G.S. 



Fleshy. The numerous scales over lapping toward the center. The 

 surface of the cap often cracks in a tesselated manner. Flesh dingy, 

 buffish or reddish. Spines short, blunt, grayish-white and mostly of 

 equal length. 



In pine and mixed woods. Autumn. 



Of delicate taste. Cordier. Edible. Curtis. 



Fine specimens grew at Mt. Gretna, Pa., from September to Novem- 

 ber. Until closely examined the cap may be mistaken for that of H. 

 zonatum. The zones of the latter and the pervading rust-color will 

 distinguish it. Both are edible, though H. zonatum is much tougher. 

 H. imbricatum is slightly bitter, raw. It must be sliced thin and well 

 cooked. 



H. Iseviga'tum Swartz lavis, smooth. Pileus 4-6 in. broad, um- 

 ber, fleshy, compact, firm, regular, plane, even, very smooth, margin 

 circinate (not repand). Flesh whitish, compact, but by no means 

 fibrous, soft when fresh, pliant when dry. Stem short, thick, even, 

 pallid-brown. Spines thin, pallid-brown. 



Its size is that of H. imbricatum, but it occurs twice as large, with 

 the pileus minutely rimuloso-rivulose, by no means scaly. The stem 

 varies curt and unequal or longer and equal. Quite distinct from H. 

 fragile. Stevenson. 



Spores io-15/x, long, Massee; globose, waited, pale lemon-yellow, 



7*Q> 



In pine woods. August to October. 



Edible, Curtis; edible, Leuba. "Eaten in Alpine districts." Barla. 



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