205 



suggested in the case of the typical setae and cystidia that pro- 

 ject from between the basidia in many species of higher fungi. 



An examination of the structure of Polyporus radiatus reveals 

 the fact that no such bodies are present any-v\-here in that species. 

 Consequently P. glomeratus can no longer be considered a syno- 

 nym of that plant. This position (first expressed by Lloyd) is 

 strengthened by the existence of other important distinguishing 

 characters that will be mentioned below. 



The only other temperate region species of similar internal 

 structure so far discovered is Poria Weirii Murrill, described from 

 specimens collected in Montana by Weir. Mr. Lloyd has called 

 attention to the structure of that species but has apparently 

 overlooked one important difference between it and P. glomeratus. 

 In cross-sections of the hymenium the large embedded hyphae 

 present about the same appearance as in the latter species. But 

 longitudinal sections reveal the fact that the tips of the large 

 brown hyphae do project from between the basidia as typical 

 setae that can thus be traced for considerable distances into the 

 trama. This is not the case in P. glomeratus. 



True setae of the usual t>^pe have never been reported for P. 

 glomeratus. In the New York specimens they are present and 

 sometimes rather abundant, but at other times dif^cult to locate. 

 They are here illustrated for the first time (Fig. 4). After much 

 careful study it has been determined that there is apparently no 

 connection between these setae and the enlarged embedded 

 hyphal structures. 



The spores of this species are of a bright yellow or slightly 

 yellowish-green color. In one New York collection the imbricate 

 pilei were thickly dusted over with the spores that had fallen 

 from the hymenium of the next overlapping pileus. They are 

 globose and measure 5-6/x in diameter. The exact color of the 

 spores of P. radiatus has been a matter on which accurate infor- 

 mation is lacking. In sections they appear entirely hyaline 

 under the microscope while the spores of P. glomeratus are de- 

 cidedly colored. 



A photograph of the species is included with this article (Fig. i), 

 and the plants described are on the basis of the recent New 

 York specimens. 



