17 



stem short, thick, equal (1-2 in. x 1 in.), solid, ochraceous; 

 mycelium profuse, white, forming a dense mass at the base; 

 tubes adnate, or a little decurrent, broad ; pores large, 

 unequal, angular, spores 12 x 4'5 ja, pale olive. On the ground, 

 Queensland." 



Lloyd (I.e.) states that this is known from but one col- 

 lection made in Australia, and preserved at Kew (England). 

 "It is quite a distinct thing with a pileus resembling in some 

 respects that of Polyporus betulinus. It has a soft, white 

 flesh and a thin, papery, smooth cuticle. The stems are 

 short, thick, and mesopodal. They are so covered with 

 adhering dirt that it cannot be told whether or not they 

 belong in the section with black stems. The pores are large, 

 irregular, and apparently have turned black in drying. Spores 

 not found by me." In a footnote in the same work Lloyd 

 further states: — "On the hard, stony ridges about Brisbane, 

 when trenching the land, large masses of mycelium are often 

 met with. Some of the masses would weigh over a hundred- 

 weight. From its consistency one might fancy that a quan- 

 tity of dough had been buried. My idea has always been 

 that it was the mycelium of some Boletus" (quotation from 

 Bailey). Lloyd also states: — "Cooke named this plant 

 tumulosus, under the impression that it produced these 

 mycelial masses. I cannot see any direct connection between 

 this fungus in the account as published and these mycelial 

 masses, and I think it is not certain that there is any 

 connection." 



In the neighbourhood of Penshurst, near Sydney, one of 

 us has found on several occasions large conglomerate masses 

 of mycelium and earth when digging in the garden, which we 

 believe are referable to this species. On one occasion some un- 

 developed sporophores of a whitish colour, showing a few large 

 irregular pores, were found arising from one of these masses. 

 Mr. R. T. Baker has also recorded (I.e.) this species from 

 specimens collected by Mr. W. Bauerlen at Lismore. In 

 March, 1915, a fine sporophore, together with a conglomerate 

 ball of earth and mycelium, was collected at Casino by Mr. 

 D. J. McAuliffe, and forwarded to us through Miss LePlas- 

 trier. Mr. J. Lalchere, of Wingham, Manning River, also 

 collected portions of earth and mycelium, similar to the 

 above, in July, 1916. The following two collections, though 

 the pilei have glabrous surfaces, perhaps belong to the same 

 species as the preceding : — 



(1) Pileus old and partly decayed, 2 in. across, convex 

 and apparently slightly infundibuliform, smooth, pallid, 

 brownish, with blackish streaks (probably from decay). Pores 

 pallid, much decayed. Stem 5 in. long, buried in the ground 



