50 CIRCULAR 14 3, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



POLYSTICTUS CTNNABARINUS 



The specific name of this plant is derived from its bright cinnabar color. 

 The fungus is shelving, pliant, and rather thicker than the following species. 

 It grows on dead logs or dead branches of various trees. 



The cap is 1 to 3 inches in width. 



This fungus has a very wide geographic range and is quickly located by its 

 bright and beautiful color. 



POLYSTICTUS PARGAMENUS 



This fungus is thin and very pliant when fresh, somewhat tomentose, with 

 indistinct, longitudinal color zones. The tubes are violet or purplish, but the 

 plants are easily weathered, and the tubes become lacerated, resembling Irpex, 

 a genus possessing teeth instead of tubes. 



The cap is 1 to iy 2 inches in width. 



This is one of the most common Polypores and is to be found on various 

 trees. 



POLYSTICTUS VERSICOLOR 



Polystictus versicolor is easily distinguished by the concentric bands of dif- 

 ferent colors, mostly bay or black but occasionally w*th a narrow zone of 

 orange, which mark the cap. The tubes are white, and the margin is thin, 

 sterile, and entire. The plants grow densely imbricated and are to be found 

 abundantly on dead stumps or trunks of many varieties of trees. 



The cap is three-fourths to 1% inches in width. 



DAEDALEA 



The plants belonging to the genus Daedalea are sessile, dry, and 

 corky. The species are exceedingly interesting on account of the 

 hymenophore, which shows intermediate stages between the gill and 

 pore fungi. The pores are typically sinuous and labyrinthiform, 

 but often the thick platelike developments resemble gills more than 

 pores. Several species are of common occurrence, but all are tough 

 and corky and none are reported edible. 



DAEDALEA QUERCINA, 



In this species the cap is shelflike, dimidiate, triangular in cross section, 

 corky, rigid, smooth or nearly so, wrinkled, grayish to light brownish, margin 

 usually thin, pallid ; the pores are wavy, some gill-like. 



The cap is 2 to 4% inches or more in width. 



This species occurs on oak (Quercus) stumps and trunks, and because of its 

 habit of growing on this host it was named Daedalea queroina. 



MERULIUS 



The species of the genus Merulius are resupinate and subgelatinous. 

 The hymenium is wrinkled or foldlike, and the pores are very shallow. 



Species of Merulius are very destructive in dwellings constructed 

 wholly or in part of timber. It is probably the most destructive 

 timber rot, as it affects both softwoods and hardwoods. Attacks by 

 these fungi are common where the light and ventilation are poor, as 

 in cellars, basements, and similar places. 



MERULIUS LACRYMANS. WEEPING MERULIUS 



In Merulius lacrymans the fruiting body is flat, prostrate, soft, and charac- 

 terized by watery exudations. It is at first white, then red, later changing to 

 yellowish brown. This is one of the most common species that attack timber, 

 rendering it spongy, watery, and unfit for building purposes. The mycelium 

 may develop as long strands, or it may form large sheets which peel off readily. 



