kind of preparation seems to destroy the bitter taste. But in one 
instance which was brought to my notice, sickness and vomiting 
followed the eating of the Sensitive boletus, Boletus sensibilis, a 
species which assumes blue colors in a remarkable degree where 
bruised or broken. All the family partaking of it were made 
sick, but all recovered. 
In the genus Polyporus, the stratum of pores is not separable 
from the cap. Most of the species grow on wood, and are too 
tough to be of any use as food. A few grow on the ground, but 
even these are inclined to-be tough, and though the species are 
numerous, very few are fit to be classed as edible, and these are 
not very good except when young and tender. A single example 
will be given. 
The Sulphury polyporus, Polyporus sulphureus, is so named 
because of the bright sulphur yellow color of its stratum of pores. 
The caps have no well developed stems. They are side growers, 
and are attached to their place 
of growth by one side or a 
part of the margin of the cap. 
They commonly grow in large 
clusters, one above another, 
“\ and side by side, and variously 
~ grown together where they 
come in contact with each 
other. When fresh, the up- 
Boletus castaneus. Polyporus sulphureus. per surface of the caps, which 
is more or less irregular and 
uneven, is of a pale reddish or orange color, often tinged with 
yellow and easily fading with age or in drying. The pores are 
rather short and so small as to be easily overlooked, but their 
beautiful clear pale yellow color is much more durable than the 
color of the upper surface of the cap. The caps are commonly 
four to six inches broad, and about half an inch thick. 
They grow on dead wood of various kinds of trees, and the 
species has a wide range. The showy clusters are often seen 
growing from dead spots in the trunks or branches of living trees. 
Even the fruit trees of our gardens and orchards are sometimes 
attacked by it. It occurs during summer. 
Only young and tender caps should be used for food. Just 
before or about the time the pores begin to develop, the caps are 
in the best condition for eating. 
In the genus Fistulina, the under surface of the cap is covered 
with minute hollow tubes, which stand vertically and closely side 
74 
