phase, perhaps only a single specimen, of a variable species, publish a 
description and a name based on such exceedingly fragmentary material. 
It should then be evident that for the study of this group of fungi the 
first requisite is ample material, which should be gathered at different 
seasons, from different hosts, and in different habitats, until enough is 
accumulated to show the range of form that may be taken by each spe¬ 
cies. Although this will take time, it will add zest to collecting trips, 
and keep alive an interest in the commonest species. 
The species included in this bulletin are in the main those ascribed to 
the United States in Saccardo’s Sylloge. A few have been added, the 
descriptions of which are useful for comparison. The list is in no sense 
a list of American species; it is simply a compilation of those descrip¬ 
tions likely to be most needed for reference by a student new to the 
group. Where possible, original sources have been visited, but little 
attempt has been made to digest the material or to reconcile the 
synonymy. 
For convenience the species under each genus have been grouped 
according to color and surface characters. Since these are variable in 
a given species, they must not be exclusively relied upon. Certain 
species, as will be seen, hardly lend themselves to this arrangement. 
Trametes Fr. 
Pores roundish, obtuse, entire, often unequal in depth and not forming 
a distinct stratum, at the base merged in the substance of the pileus, 
whence the tramais continuous with the substance of the pileus and simi¬ 
lar to it. Woody or corky, growing on trees, becoming hard, but not 
stratose, often fragrant. 
A genus distinguished from Daedalea by not having sinuous pores; 
and from Polyporus by not having a pore-stratum sharply distinct, by 
color and structure, from the substance of the pileus. 
Resupinate or more or less effused (A and B). 
A. Pileus or substance brown or tawny. 
T. Abietis Karst. Triquetrous, dimidiate, base commonly effused, 
then entirely resupinate, forming roundish patches, often growing 
together or imbricated, tomentose and tawny when young, afterwards 
date brown or fuscous, scrobiculate or scrupose, finally becoming black, 
with a few concentric furrows; pores rather large, oblong or roundish, 
unequal, torn, tawny, hoary pubescent; spores spheroid, hyaline, 4 p. 
diatn. On Abies. Polyst ictus pice inns Peck is said to be this species. 
T. gausapata Berk. & Rav. Base effused, pilei reflexed, generally 
resupinate and confluent, velvety, zoned, dark reddish brown, coriaceous, 
(1 in. broad), substance fuscous; pore-surface pallid umber; pores at 
length angular, subacute(| mm. diam.). 
T. rigida Berk and Mont. Effused, slightly reflexed, often confluent, 
coriaceous-rigid, more or less concentrically sulcate, rugose, velvety, 
pale tawny wood-color, substance concolorous; pores small, roundish or 
slightly flexuous, pallid wood-color, edge obtuse. South. 
B. White , whitish , or pallid. 
T. radiciperda Hartig, which fruits on the roots of certain conifers, 
at or below the surface of the ground, and on the cut face of standing 
stumps (Hartig), is generally considered to be an irregular effused form 
of Polyporus annosus Fr. It appears in white, spreading, resupinate 
patches, with swollen sterile borders, forming a raised enclosure around 
the pore surface. Upper surface, when free, chocolate color, then darker, 
