314 
Mycologia 
tain very few species ; so that most of the polypores are dis- 
tributed among seven genera, according to this classification. The 
genus Polyporus is divided into four sections on the presence or 
absence of a stipe and the simple or duplex character of the trama. 
This will appeal to those who are accustomed to the old cumber- 
some arrangement adopted by Saccardo and who look upon a 
generic name as something sacred. Others, perhaps, who con- 
sider a genus simply as a group 'of species more closely related 
to each other than to any other group, will prefer a simpler and 
more modern system. 
Sterility in Pholiota candicans (Bull.) Schroet. 
A very interesting sterile form of this species, ordinarily known 
as Pholiota praecox, appeared in 1910, 1911, and 1912 under a 
large white oak on the grounds of the New York Botanical 
Garden. The lamellae were exceedingly thin and remained white, 
as shown in the accompanying illustration. The sterility was 
absolute and without apparent cause. A few fertile sporophores 
were found scattered among the sterile ones as though arising 
from the same mycelium. It occurred to the writer that this 
subject might be a good one for investigation by some graduate 
student. In this particular case, also, there might be a chance to 
cultivate an early “ seedless ” variety of mushroom for the market 
which would not be discolored by spores nor expend its energies 
on producing spores instead of edible substance. 
Other cases of sterility in gill-fungi have been noted rarely by 
mycologists. Dr. Peck mentions a case of sterility in Psilocybe 
uda; and Dr. B. O. Dodge tells me that he once collected two 
baskets full of a sterile species of Clitopilus. The abortions of 
Clitopilus abortivus and Armillaria mellea before the gills are 
formed are generally well-known, but the reason for them may 
not be so clear. Another class of abortions not accompanied by 
sterility is represented by Abortiporus distortus and various 
species of Ptychogaster. 
W. A. Murrill. 
