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The Museum Gazette 



The mycologist may find much of interest even in February. 

 Upon decaying stumps and logs, and especially on the cut 

 surface of oak, may be found Panus stypticus, so-called from 

 its astringent qualities. Pliny gave it the generic name. It 

 is a little yellowish-buff fungus, not exceeding an inch in 

 diameter, provided with a very short lateral stem, from which 

 the cinnamon-coloured gills radiate. The substance is tough 

 and leathery. The spores are white. Usually many speci- 

 mens grow together. Other fungi of common occurrence on 

 oak stumps are Steveum hivsutum and Polystictus versicolor. The 

 former appears as golden-yellow velvety patches, often of 

 large size, usually growing close upon the wood or bark; if 

 its edge is free the upper surface is hairy and more or less 

 zoned. Polystictus versicolor is one of the most cosmopolitan 

 of fungi. As indicated by the generic name, it belongs to 

 the Polyporus group, the white hymeneal surface being 

 studded with minute holes, like pin-pricks, the sides of these 

 tubes are lined with the spores or seeds seated on little 

 stalks (basidia). The upper surface is of varied colour, always 

 elegantly zoned. One of the most beautiful of our native 

 fungi may now be found growing on dead sticks amongst 

 moss in damp situations. We may call it the Scarlet cup. 1 

 It is shaped like a saucer about one inch across, usually less, 

 is carmine within and white without, with a hairy white stem 

 of variable length. In some parts of Yorkshire and in the 

 western counties it is brought into the towns by gipsies and 

 sold for decorative purposes. Occasionally specimens may 

 be found with a cream-coloured instead of red disc. It pre- 

 fers clay or limestone soil. 



The fact that the number of fungals now to be found is 

 limited makes February a good month in which to commence 

 a collection. We have given at p. 444 some hints as to their 

 preservation. It is, however, an excellent plan to make 



1 Peziza coccinea or Geopyxis coccinea, see Massee's " British Fungus 

 Flora," vol. iv., p. 377. 



