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SOME SOUTH AFRICAN STEREUMS. 
By Paul A. van der Bijl. 
(With nine Text-figures.) 
Very little attention has thus far been given to the South African fungi 
belonging to the family Thelephoraceae,* and of which the largest genus is 
undoubtedly Stereum. 
Several species of this genus have so far been collected, and Mr. C. G. 
Lloyd kindly rendered assistance in identifying them. 
They occur on trees and old logs principally, and a few grow on the ground. 
The fructifications of some species are stipitate, whereas others form shelf- 
like outgrowths on the wood or trees on which they grow or occur flat on 
these substrata. The hymenium or spore-bearing part is on the under 
surface of the fructification (except, of course, when these are flat on the 
substratum), and between the basidia there may be variously formed colour- 
less outgrowths called cystidia. 
While not at this stage attempting to gi ve a key to the species, we will 
for convenience divide them into (1) Stipitate species, (2) Sessile species. 
1. Stipitate Species. 
Stereum glabrescens, Berk, and Curt. (Fig. 1.) 
Plants stipitate, single, or a few rising from a common mycelial pad ; 
Fig. 1. 
* A smooth hymenium is characteristic of the Thelephoraceae, and the genus Stereum 
is distinguished from other genera of the family by its context tissue of several layers, of. 
which the intermediate is normally composed of longitudinally arranged hyphae. 
