Some Singapore Boletinae. 



BY 



1ST. Patouillard and C. F. Baker. 



On August 21st, 1917, during a period of frequent showers, an 

 hour's work in a narrow strip on the east side of the Gardens' Jungle 

 in the Singapore Botanical Gardens produced specimens of sixteen 

 species, representing four generic groups, of the Boletinae. It 

 would not have been possible to duplicate this remarkable showing 

 on any subsequent day of the year. Evidently there had been 

 optimum conditions for Boleti just previous to August 21st. 



Diagnoses of all these species were prepared from the living 

 plants, measurements taken from many specimens, and vertical sec- 

 tion outlines made, after which the material was rapidly and care- 

 fully dried. The species fall into four generic groups, provided 

 Boletopsis be considered of generic value. The genus Pliylloporus 

 of Quelet, with spores formed by anastomosing lamellae, is well 

 represented by Pliylloporus malaccensis (No. 5004). Strobilo- 

 myces finds a characteristic representative in S. porphyrins (No. 

 5002). The genus (or subgenus) Boletopsis is represented by three 

 very distinct species, B icterinus, B. singaporensis, and B. corru- 

 gatus. 



Among the sixteen species there are represented three distinct 

 types of spores : 1st, the usual type for Boletus, including those of 

 most of the species : 2nd, a banded type, the spores bearing narrow 

 longitudinal bands in relief, as in Boletopsis singaporensis and 

 Strobilomyees propliyrius: 3rd, a reticulate type, the spores being 

 strongly reticulate-alveolate, a remarkable feature found also in 

 Tuber, but quite unique in Boletus. This type is represented by 

 one species, Boletus retisporus. 



All of these species have been compared, with great care, with 

 species which have been recorded from the Far East by Berkeley, 

 Petch, and others, and especially with those described by Massee 

 from the collections of Ridley. With the full descriptions taken 

 from living specimens, it has been found impossible to crowd any 

 of these species into the congeries of forms under previously re- 

 corded names. Indeed, it would be only the purest guess-work, 

 with any comparisons of existing herbarium material. It must be 

 understood that most of the conspicuous characters of the living 

 plants are evanescent and that but the remotest conception of the 

 living plant can be had from a dried specimens unaccompanied by 

 detailed data taken from the living plant. Colored drawings alone 

 will not suffice, since many clearly diagnostic characters cannot be 



Jour. Straits Branch R. A. Soc, No. 78. 



