89 



zonate pileus of varying but often bright tints. P. hirsutus may 

 be known by its obtuse-wallecl dissepiments between the pores 

 and its densely velvety pileus. These with Dacdalca imicolor, 

 with a similar but less hairy pileus, represent some of our most 

 common species. Other species form successive layers of pores, 

 often growing continuously for many years and sending out a 

 new spore-bearing layer each year. These have been placed in 

 the genus Fomes but this generic concept like the more embracing 

 one, Polvpoms, represents a conglomeration of generic types 

 which careful study of our forms will some day enable us to 

 separate and distinguish. 



Among these, one of the most widely distributed is P. leuco- 

 phaetts, which has long masqueraded in this country under an 

 incorrect name as P. applauahis ; this species does not seem to 

 select the wood of any special tree for its substratum. Another 

 species with layered pores very common on the yellow birch and 

 the beech is the plant known as Polyporiis fomentariiis, although 

 the exact limitation of this species is not yet clear. Another spe- 

 cies common on trees of several species, especially in the Adiron- 

 dacks, is P. igniariits, a black crustaceous species often reaching 

 considerable size and an immense age as indicated by the num- 

 ber of layers. 



We have a few species that are edible when in a young and 

 cheesy condition. Among these is the brilliant-colored P. sid- 

 furens, with its brilliant sulphur-yellow pores and its pretty pink- 

 tinted pilei overlapping but connected at the base and often 

 forming masses of many pounds' weight. Another common 

 compound species is P. frondosus, which usually grows with us 

 attached to the buried roots of old oaks. 



We have also a few species with central stems. Among these 

 the largest is P. picipes, recognized by its black-footed stem and 

 red-brown pileus, often growing several together. A smaller 

 species with a similar black foot, but with a pale yellowish-white 

 pileus is P. elegans. A third wood- inhabiting species with a cen- 

 tral pileus is found in late spring or early summer growing on all 

 sorts of wood ; this has a hairy fringe to its pileus and is known 

 as P. arcidariits. This species becomes rare northward, but has 



