OF SOI’TTl AUSTRALIA. 
209 
the lines being replaceil by rugosities, edge of tlie pileus crinkled and irregular, 
linn, often very har<l, Mikado Brown (xxix.), Vinaeeous Cinnamon (xxix.) or 
near Cinnamon Buff, the edge near Cinnamon Orange (xxix.). Pore orifices 
small, tubes up to I in. ((i mm.), a<lnate, shortened externally, whitish. Context 
tough, near Liglit Buff (XV.). Stem above ground short, Jin. (1.8 cm.), iin. 
( 1.2 cm.) thick, conoolorous with the pileus, smooth or reticulated, covered with 
sand, sometimes as a distinct stem passing down for an inch into the sand and 
mycelium; the stem is succeeded by irregular swollen masses, up to ;>in. (7.5 
cm.) in diameter with irregular constrictions and up to (iin. (15 cm.) long, 
composed of compacted mycelium and sand without a definite crust; below this 
false sclerotium is an iri-egulaiiy rounded or elongated true sclerotium, up to 
. 3 } X 24 in. (8x7 cm.') in size and weighing up to I240ZS., with an outer <lark 
crust of mycelium and sand, on section somewhat moist, sticky, cutting like firm 
•cheese, the colour of doughy brown bread, not showing “cells” as in P. mylittae. 
Weight of pileus with sclerotia up to 28ozs. Spores elongated, narrow, hyaline, 
14 X 4.5 y. On the ground in sandy soil, usually in mallee country, the sporo- 
phores usually appearing after bush fires. South Australia — iMonarto South, 
Moorlands, Alawoona, Loxton, Lake Alexandrina, Balaklava, Broughton River in 
Spalding district, in a grotto in a creek at Aldgate, and South-East, Kangaroo 
Island (in burnt country at Lower Rocky River, near Kingseote), Koonibba 
(E.P.). Victoria (Mallee districts). New South Wales. May. August. (Figure 
44 and Plate VTII., Figure 2.) 
This is the famous “Stone-making Fungus” first described by McAlpine and 
Tepper. The “stone” is the hard false sclerotium of densely compacted 
mycelium and sand, from whicli underground store-house the fruiting body 
composed of pileus and stem emerges after autumn and winter rains. The species 
is quite common in the sandy soil of our mallee areas. 
315. Polyporus mylittae Cooke et Massee. (From the supposed genus 
Mylitta of Fries, Berkeley in 1839 describing the sclerotium as Mylitta 
australis ). — The subterranean sclerotium or “tuber” known as “ Blackfellow 's 
Bread” or “Native Bread,” is the paid of the fungus most likely to be met 
with, the sporophore (fruiting Viody, cap) having been rarely seen. The “Native 
Bread, ’ ’ turned up when digging or ploughing, is a heavy more or less rounded 
mass of densely compacteil fungous mycelium without any soil or sand 
incorporated which may reach a large size (24 jin., (i0.() cm. in diameter; 9 x ti 
X 3in., 22.5 x 15 x 7.5 cm.; nearly (ilbs., and it has been said, 25] and even 391bs. 
in weight). The outer surface is a <lark earthy brown duo to a thin rough crust 
which may flake off' a little with age. The sclerotium is when found usually very 
liar<l to cut. Section reveals an obscure alveolar appearance, the alveoli being 
about 5 X jin. (3 to l> mm.), the septa whitish, the “contents” the colour 
•of beeswax. 
On several occasions now, after the “ Blackfellow ’s Bread” has been gathered, 
sectioned and probably kept moist, pore-beai'ing fi'uiting bodies have developed. 
It seems doubtful whether any one has yet met with the caps ileveloping under 
natural conditions. Tliis sporophore is whitish with a smoky or biscuity tint, 
the pileus showing in its centre a citron yellow or lemon yellow colour tending 
to become tinted more the colour of yolk of egg. Pileus more or less plane or 
with the edge upturned, 3 to Sin. (7.5 to 12.5 cm.), smooth. Pores deeply 
decurrent on the stem, small, when well-developed 2J to 3 in 1 mm., irregular, 
dissepiments thin, pores often lacerated and irregular and sometimes Irpex-like, 
tubes 2 mm. deep. Context white, punky anil easily out. Stem 1 to Uin. (2.5 to 
3.7 cm.), irregular,, stout (up to jin., 18 mm.), expanding upwards into the 
pileus. Spores elongated, oblique, white, (i.5 x 2.5 y. Some sporophores have 
a pear-shape, others are more mushroom like. The density of the sclerotium 
diminishes as the fruiting body develops, becoming quite light. South Australia — 
Sclerotia have been found at Myponga (about 2ft. underground near a gum tree 
in wet anil sandy soil). Denial Bay district (about lOin. below the surface in 
mallee limestone). Honeysuckle Flat near Mypolonga and Moorlands (sclerotium 
atypical — perhaps of an allied fungus). New South Wales. Victoria. Tasmania. 
Western Australia. (Plate Vll. Plate IX., left-hand figure.) 
[315a. Polyporus minor-mylittae del. et Oheel. (L., minor, less, smaller; 
mylittae, in reference to P. mylittae ). — “Pileus Ij to 2*in. (3 to 7 cm.) with 
a sulcate, minutely toinentose surface, raw umber (brown). Flesh usually dry,' 
subligneous, usually in two layers, each 1 to 3 mm. tliick, t[ie upi)er ricli cream 
