THE POLYPOBACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 71 



at the decurrent base. They are said to be floccoso-mealy at first, and 

 not stratose ; however, I find my largest specimen to be somewhat strati- 

 fied. The pubescence is between hirsute and villous. The hairs be- 

 come stiff and ragged (Zottig) with age. Young specimens look much 

 like young specimens of Trametes Peckii (Kalch.), but the color of the 

 latter is darker and the pores are longer and larger. The pores are 

 small and short, not more than from 1 to 2 mm. in length with thick dis- 

 sepiments. 



Distinguished from F: Neesii Fr. by the obtuse margin and the per- 

 sistent pubescence and from F. ulmarius, another near relative, by be- 

 ing smaller, less stratose and by the pubescence. 



§2. FoMENTABH. Puuky, not fleshy iiot spongy; incrusted with a 

 horny rind. Pores stratose. 



(a). Substance white or pale. 



Fomes oonnatus Fries (Plate V, fig. 23). 



Between corky and woody, effuso-reflexed, densely imbricated, later- 

 ally confluent, velvety, grayish-white; flesh white, zoned, tubes stra- 

 tose, pores minute, roundish, white. 



Common on maple and ebn, on living and dead trunks. 



Localities : Horicon, Blue Mounds, Baraboo, Shanagolden, Crandon 

 and Algoma (Dodge) . The species grows out of wounds and cracks on 

 maples, elms and beeches and produces a rot in the heartwood of these 

 trees. The method of infection and spread of the fungus in these trees 

 is a subject for further study. The largest specimen is 12 cm. in 

 width and 10 cm. long ; the total thickness is 10 cm. The tubes in the 

 strata are from 4 to 8 mm. in length. 



The surface of the older parts of the pilei is rough, grayish-white and 

 usually moss-covered. The younger portions are white, soft, almost 

 spongy, when fresh, somewhat velvety. On drying this part as well as 

 the pores and flesh become a pale wood-color. The substance is some- 

 what soft, fibrous-corky. It is indeed the softest Fomes in our col- 

 lection and the lightest in weight. The margin is somewhat acute and 

 turns down. The pores are small, equal, with acute dissepiments. 



Can be easily recognized by its white color, soft substance, the densely 

 imbricated and confluent pilei and the short, even, stratifled tubes. 



Related to F. cystisinus Berk., but distinct by reason of the softer 

 substance and smaller pilei, however, like F. cystisinus, the pilei are 

 sometimes tuberculated. 



