Fungi with Pores — Polyporaceae 



GENUS MERULIUS 



Merulius lacrymans 



The simplest of these Polyporacece is the dry-rot fungus, 

 Merulius lacrymans. The food-seeking portion consists of fine 

 white threads, mycelium, which penetrate the woodwork of 

 buildings, causing it to crumble to dust. The fruiting portion 

 consists of flat, irregular bodies whose under surface bears the 

 spores in shallow pits separated by narrow ridges. Water is 

 excreted from these flat disks, which, from the habit of dropping 

 like tears, has suggested the specific name lacrvmans, from the 

 Latin lacrymo, I weep. 



GENUS POLYPORUS 



The genus Polyporus and the genus Trametes have the pores 

 closely packed and united together. In the Trametes the unit- 

 ing substance is the same as the substance of the cap, but in the 

 Polypori the uniting substance is different from the substance 

 of the cap. The genus Polyporus in its widest sense is a large 

 one, numbering some five hundred species, and containing every 

 intermediate texture from fleshy or pulpy to woody. 



The fruiting portion is often seen in the form of brackets 

 shelving out from standing or fallen trees. The mycelium pene- 

 trates the wood, softening it, and causing it to crumble, so that 

 in the course of time the tree dies. The external evidence that 

 the tree has been attacked is the appearance of the fruiting por- 

 tion, which often attains a very great size. 



Polyporus applanatus 



Polyporus applanatus is attractive to frequenters of the woods, 

 as its spore surface when fresh is soft and white, and furnishes an 

 attractive surface for stencil drawings. 



Polyporus fomentarius 



The brackets of Polyporus fomentarius resemble horses' 

 hoofs. The woody part is employed in the manufacture of 



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