26 BULLETIN 175, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



serrate. Some species are sessile; in others a stem is present which is 

 central, excentric, or lateral. 



The serrate gills are a constant generic character and serve to sepa- 

 rate Lentinus from Panus, which has entire gills. Common on dead 

 or rotten wood. 



Lentinus lecomtei. Hairy Lentinus. (Edible.) 



Cap variable, funnel shaped, regular or irregular, tawny or reddish brown, hairy or 

 strigose, margin incurved; gills pallid, narrow, crowded, edges scarcely at all serrate; 

 stem central, excentric, or lateral, generally tawny and hairy when young, sometimes 

 becoming smooth with age. 



Cap 2 to 4 inches broad; stem usually 1 to 1£ inches long. 



Authorities differ as to the classification of Lentinus lecomtei. According to some it 

 more properly belongs to the genus Panus. It is widely distributed and grows upon 

 wood. The plants when young are edible and have a fine flavor. 



Lentinus lepideus. Scaly Lentinus. (Edible.) 



Cap convex, becoming more or less depressed and irregular, tan to yellow, with dark 

 scales; gills decurrent, broad, crowded, sinuate, white; stem central or excentric, 

 whitish, hairy or scaly, solid, equal, or tapering at the base. 



Cap 2 to 4 inches broad, often larger, stem about 1 inch long. (PI. XX, fig. 1; from 

 F. E. Clements.) 



This is a widely distributed species and very common, especially upon pine, oak, 

 and decaying stumps. When young and tender it is edible, and even when old is 

 recommended for use in soup. 



PANUS. 



Plants of the genus Panus closely resemble those of Lentinus, from 

 which they differ in the character of the edge of the gills. In Panus 

 the gills are normally entire, while in Lentinus the gills are serrate. 

 The only difficulty in using this character as a means of generic separa- 

 tion is the fact that in drying out the margin of the gills may be torn 

 or ruptured. Some authors have considered these genera identical. 



Panus stipticus. Bitter Panus. 



Cap pale cinnamon to grayish, kidney shaped, scurfy, tough; gills not decurrent, 

 thin, narrow, crowded, connected by veins; stem short, lateral, solid, ascending 

 pruinose. 



Cap one-half to 1 inch broad. 



This little species is common on stumps, shriveling in dry and expanding in wet 

 weather. It is characterized by a pronounced astringent taste, which is very un- 

 pleasant in its effect on the mouth and throat, and is considered poisonous. 



CLAUDOPUS. 



The genus Claudopus is easily recognized among the rosy-spored 

 agarics by the cap being excentric, lateral, or resupinate. The stem 

 may be rudimentary or obsolete and the gills sinuate or decurrent. 

 The plants grow upon wood in an inverted position and thus the gills 

 are directed upward. Claudopus resembles Pleurotus and Crepidotus 

 in habit, but differs in the color of the spores. 



