MYCOLOGICAL MOTES 
C , G. LLOYD 
Page 1027 
THE POLYPORACEAE OF BRAZIL 
By. C. Tor rend., S. J. 
The Genus Ganoderma. 
Until only a few years ago it was with a veritable sentiment 
terror that a irycologist contemplated writing a work of the 
ensemble of polypores of such a vast region as South America. In 
searching the volumes of Saccardo with its colossal compilation of 
more than 3000 species belonging to this family, to which were 
necessarily added new lists annually, one can not avoid being dis¬ 
couraged, believing that the work of ensemble is impossible in the 
midst of this inextricable confusion. Happily there is an intrepid' 
man who has permitted himself to become impassioned by the noble 
idea of putting in order this obscure realm of nomenclature where 
they were taking refuge too often in the ignorance and vanity of 
authors. Mr. C. G, Lloyd has demonstrated that having the time and 
the means and a little common sense one can succeed in solving the 
problems of this most complicated family. With admirable patience 
he has searched the museums of Europe where are conserved the origi¬ 
nal specimens of the soecies in question and has expended sums of 
energy and money which it is difficult to calculate in order to study 
each species, photograph it and identify it with others described 
under different names. Finally he has published his important "Letters 
and "Mycological Motes " in which one does not know which to most ad¬ 
mire, the incredible abundance of judicious observations, the clear 
typography ofthe impression and the photographs, without speaking of 
the humor which would do honor to Mark Twain, with which he attacks 
the vanity of certain authors. The elimination of encumbering matter 
consummated by Mr. Lloyd simplifies in a surprising fashion the study 
of the poiypores of the American tropica and of any other region of 
the Old and Few World, Some of us would prefer perhaps that Mr. 
Lloyd was less revolutionary in his divisions.and that he would more 
faithfully conserve the old groups of Fries or of Hennings. If one 
thinks, however, that after all systematic mycology is strongly 
arbitrary and that it is often impossible to circumscribe the boun¬ 
dary of certain species wihtout encroaching more or less on others 
even of the same family, one will be obliged to confess that Mr. 
Lloyd has good reason for introducing his new divisions, so practical 
for the study of polypores. For example, he divides from the start 
the species that are sessile from those that are stipitate. We follow 
as closely as possible this authorized master. However, we believe 
we should depart in the present case of Ganoderma by preserving its 
place in nomenclature to this genus so autonomous of which some species 
are sessile and others are stipitate. In the work that follows we 
shall study in the light of the writings of this author and present 
in order the groups of other stipitate polypores and then will con¬ 
sider the sessile forms, net forgetting the other more natural groups 
such as Favolus, Hexagona, etc. As to the resupinate species, until 
Mr. Lloyd or some enthusiastic imitator of his initiative has thrown 
some light on the subject we shall ourself keep silence. 
The work that we present is the fruit of the later years of 
war, during which it was impossible to consult our master, I’Abbe J. 
Bresadola, the one mycologist whom Mr. Lloyd regards as having the 
most profound knowledge of the Basidiomycetes and consequently the 
polypores. He does not the less merit our recognition for his ser¬ 
vices rendered before the war as well as for the learned, critical 
