1886.] 
POLYPORUS OFFICINALIS-NEW LITERATURE. 
107 
POLYPORUS OFFICINALIS, FRIES. 
BY W. W. CALKINS, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 
This fine and rare species is found occasionally growing in dead pla¬ 
ces on living Pinus Strobus in the forests of Michigan. It is not common. 
I know of a specimen that has been in an office here for ten years, and 
during this time has been an object of curiosity as well as of usefulness. 
This specimen is about one foot long and eight inches in diameter, per¬ 
fectly round, and uniform in size from base to top, or nearly so. The 
growth was made in concentric layers, each a little over one half an inch 
in thickness and slightly overlapping the one below. The color through¬ 
out is white; pores visible ; taste very bitter and similar to that of qui¬ 
nine, in place of which, indeed, myself and many others have used it. 
Up to this time, nearly one Inilf of it. except the shell, has disappeared. 
Its virtue as a tonic is undoubted. According to Fries, as I learn from 
Ellis, it seems that the old Greek botanist, Dioscorides, was acquainted 
with and mentions this valuable species in a work he published. Mate¬ 
ria Medica, during Nero’s reign. Therefore its medical virtues have 
been long esteemed. During our late war, it was used to some extent 
when quinine could not be obtained. From numerous inquiries, I am 
satisfied that it is rarely found in the pine forests of Michigan, and it is 
certain that no specimens are ever thrown away. The one here is care¬ 
fully guarded. _ 
NEW LITERATURE. 
BY W. A. KELLERMAN. 
“ Primo censimento DEI Funghi della Liguria.” Per F. Baglietto. 
Nuovo Giornale Botanico Italiano. 12 Luglio, 1880. 
“ Kryptogamen Flora yon Deutschland, Oesterreich und der 
Schweiz, Pilze.” 24 Lieferung. Pyrenomycetes (Sphserieacese ). 
Von Dr. G. Winter. 
This Lieferung includes pp. 657-736. The descriptions of twenty- 
seven more species of Diaporthe are given, also two of Mamiana and 102 
species of Valsa. Dr. Winter has taken this last genus in the wide sense 
of Nitschke for three reasons, namely : because the relationship of all 
the forms here united is very close., because of the structure of the stroma 
and its significance we know scarcely anything, and because if Valsa is 
divided into many genera according to the differences in the stroma, so 
also must the genera Diaporthe and Anthostoma likewise be divided, 
which is scarcely a practicable undertaking. He enumerates the species 
under the following subgenera : Eutypa, Endoxyla, Cryptovalsa, Crypto- 
spheeria, Eutypella^ Euvalsa and Leucostoma. 
Ascomycetes observes aux environs de Liege.” Par V. Mouton. 
Bulletin de la Societe Royale de Botanique de Belguique. Tome 
vingt-cinquieme. Fascicule premier, pp. 137-162,1886. 
Cartribution a la Flore Mycologuique de Belguique.” Par 
Mmes. F. Bommer et M. Rousseau, pp. 103-185. 1. c. 
