240 
THE IjAKOER FUXGI 
383. Polyporus (Gloeoporus) dichroiis Fr. (Gr., dis, twice; chroa, colour). — 
Forming irregular narrow shelves up to (iin. (15 cm.) or more long and J to iiii. 
(1.2 to 1.8 cm.) from before backwards, sometimes somewhat or much imbricated, 
often extensively resupinate and extending for several inches on the undersides 
of fallen decaying logs, soft to the toucli, flexible but tough. IIp|)er surface 
tomentose, becoming rather villous towards the margin, Smoke Grey (XLVI.)^ or 
pallid with a greyisli to greyisli l)rown finge, edge whitish. ITymenial surface 
ii'regular often from covering the substratum, with a narrow white villous, grow- 
ing edge, at first white and translucent passing through flesh-colour to Light 
Pinkish Cinnamon (xxix.), Cinnamon or Sayal Brown, pore orifices minute, 3 to 
4 in 1 mm., regular, becoming ()ale brownisli when injured, dissepiments rounded, 
tul)es rather sliallow, appearing semi -translucent on section. Context soft but 
firm, 1 to 1.5 mm., whitish with a slight buff tint. Spores “cylindrical, often 
allantoid, smooth, liyaline, 4 to (i x 1 to 1.5 m’’ (Cunningham). On fallen logs 
and branches. South Australia — Botanic Gardens, National Park, Mount Loftv, 
Kuitpo. May-August. 
This is a common species on fallen logs, especially their undersides, in the 
National Park at Belair and somewhat I'csembles Folystictus versicolor but forms 
usuallv more extensive patches which are softer to the touch and less rigid and 
present a moister ai)pea.rance. The non-zoned pallid greyish brown pileus and 
S[)ecially the flesh colourd to greyish-brown or even purplish-brown pore surface 
are further helps in ret'ognition. In the fresh state, the tube laver is almost 
gelatinous and is readily separable from the context, featvires wliich constitute 
the genus Glocoporus of some authoT's (as here). The species does not seem of 
e('onomic importance beyond hel})ing in the decay of fallen logs a.nd bi'anches. 
LASCHIA (Montague. 
(After Lasch, one of the older mycologists.) 
“Receptacle gelatinose-tremellaceous, when dry membranaceous. Ilvmeno- 
phoi’e on the under aide, honeycond)ed or aluu)st reticulate; ])ores thin, soft, in 
substance like the overlying ret'eptacle. Basidia with 4-stcrigniata. Spores 
hyaline. ’ ’ — Killermann. 
384. Laschia fixsca (del. (L., fuscus, very dark brown, fuscous). — Cup-shaped, 
3 to 5 mm., I mm. thick, attached dorso- laterally. Pileus convex, smooth, edge 
rounded and slightly in-tui-ned when young. Fuscous Black (XLVi.) (the colour 
of the blackened fallen stringy-bark Eucalyptus on whi(di it grew), paler round 
the edge, llymenial surface concave. Fuscous (xlvi,), tubes 2 to 3 in 1 mm., 
orifices honeycomb-like and usuallv a little irregular, dissepiments thin and some- 
times <lefeciive. Flesh gelatinous-firm. Spores subspherical, li.o y. South 
Australi:i — On fallen log, National Park. ,Tuly. 
m. MERFLIAE. 
Ilymenium spread over veins, anastomosing pores or quite smooth; edge of 
veins or pores fertile. 
MERULItJS Fr. 
(L., merus, pure.) 
“Receptacle gelatinous, coria.ceous gelatinous, waxy, membranaceous or floccose; 
resupinate or effuso-reflexe<l. Ilymenium at first smootli, becoming reticulated 
with ii'iegular, obtuse folds or pores, at length gyrose or obsoletely toothed, and 
fertile on the edge. Spores wliite or coloured; elliptical, ovoid, ])ip-shaped, 
globose, subglobose, elliptic-oblong, cylindiical or sausage-shaped; smootli. 
Oystidia present or absent. Growing on wood, rarely on the ground.” — Rea. 
In Merulius the reticulations or veins anastomose to form irregular shallow 
pores. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES. 
Spores brown. 
Broadly effused or sometimes resujiinate. At first 
wliite, very light, soft. Later, hymenial folds 
reddish brown. On worked wood in houses . . 385. Merulius lacrymans. 
