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United States. Its cap is light in color and ornamented with 
many brownish scales. 
Large, branched fungi, grayish or brown in color, are frequently 
observed growing at the base of oak trees. The most common 
species is the frondose polypore, well known for its edible qual- 
Fic. 30. Frondose polypore from base of oak. 
ities, and there are several other species that closely resemble 
this one. n dead branches and decayed parts of trunks may 
often be seen clusters of many small, overlapping fruit-bodies, 
light or dark in color, marked with variously-colored zones 
This fungus, the many-colored polypore, causes decay in tree 
trunks and often produces root-rot in trees when they are weak- 
ened by lack of food or other unfavorable conditions. 
The oak-loving bracket-fungus, a corky form with peculiar 
labyrinthiform tubes, is abundant on oak and causes serious dam- 
age to the wood of this valuable tree. Besides the species above 
mentioned, which are only a few of the numerous fungi belong- 
ing to the family of pore-bearers, there are many less conspicuous 
forms of other families which cover decaying portions of trees to 
