not sharply defined and as long as we maintain such genera as Panus 
and Marasmius founded on texture of flesh, so long will we have a 
number of doubtful reference. 
Pleurotus nidulans is cpfite foetid when fresh, a fact that does 
not seem to be recorded. 
134—PANUS RUDIS. 
This is a very common plant in our woods and also grows in 
Europe. We have specimens from Mexico and Central America and 
have seen it growing in Samoa. It has in the past almost exclusively 
been called Eentinus Lecomtei by American mycologists though a 
little investigation, or thought, would have shown that it was not 
probably this plant of Schweinitz. E. Eecomtei has serrate gills, (see 
Fr. Elen. p. 47); Panus rudis has entire gills. 
E. Eecomtei was described by Schweinitz from a specimen sent 
him from Georgia by Eecomte (see Syn. Car. p. 63). It is self evi¬ 
dent that Schweinitz must have frequently collected the common 
Panus rudis. 
In our opinion it is the Eentinus strigosus of Schweinitz, (the 
genus Panus was not established at that time). Fischer in Engler & 
Prantl has merged the genus Panus into Eentinus from which genus it 
was originally taken by Fries. Our observations tend to support this 
for we have in our Southern States a species ‘‘Eentinus” velutinus 
(teste Bresadola) with entire gills and a very similar plant E. Berterii 
with finely denticulated gills. These two plants are so much alike that 
they would probably be mistaken for each other except by a close ob¬ 
server and yet on a strict adherence to Fries’ definition they must be 
placed in different genera. 
Panus rudis is such an abundant species that it is worth inquir¬ 
ing into as regards its edible qualities. Its substance is tough and it 
will not prove a favorite for food. However, to flavor gravies and for 
similar purposes we predict that it will some day come into extensive 
use. H. I. Miller once wrote me “When skillet-broiled, the gravy is 
as good as nuts and raisins.” 
135—FOMES EEUCOPHeEUS. 
An almost universal error has been made in the naming of our 
most common Fomes which is called Fomes applanatus. This species 
which grows on every log in our country is very rare in Europe and 
was unknown to Fries. Fomes applanatus which is the common plant 
in Europe is strangely infrequent with us and was generally confused 
with leucophaeus until Morgan noted the distinction and called it ren- 
iformis. In general appearance the plants are very much alike but 
applanatus has softer tissue and there is a marked difference in the 
spores. Applanatus has echinulate .spores, our common species leuco¬ 
phaeus, smooth spores. The specimen of leucophaeus in Schweinitz’ 
herbarium is labeled “fomentarius.” It is not strange that he records 
fomentarius “most common on frondose trees.” My specimens of 
fomentarius are all from the north and east. I believe it does not oc¬ 
cur about Cincinnati. 
60 
