96 
HYMENOMYCETES 
MERULIUS 
(So called from the yellow, orange or partially black colour 
of the hymenium—the colours of the beak and plumage 
of the blackbird, nievula) 
M. lacrymans ( lachryma , a tear—from the watery drops on 
the hymenium), “ Dry Rot.” Plate XXXII. 6. 
Somewhat gelatinous. H. irregularly wrinkled, yellowish- 
brown or dark brown. F. stains paper red. Margin sterile, 
white or yellow. Forming effused patches, varying from 
2 to 3 in. to a foot or more in diam., ^ in. thick or more. Very 
variable. “ Whole plant generally resupinate, soft, tender ; 
at first very light, cottony, and white. When the veins 
appear, they are of a fine yellow-orange or reddish-brown, 
forming irregular folds, most frequently so arranged as to 
have the appearance of pores, but never anything like tubes, 
and distilling, when perfect, drops of water. Sometimes the 
pileus or substance of the plant, from its situation, produces 
pendent processes like inverted cones” (Greville). On 
worked wood, carpets, etc., in Britain always confined to 
houses and sheds. In a badly infected building the copious 
spores cover every object with a thin film of bright rust- 
coloured dust. 
D^EDALEA 
(From the labyrinth made by Dcedalos —in reference to the 
labyrinthine, intricate pores) 
D. quercina (< quevcus , oak—its habitat). Plate XXXII. ii. 
Every part of a woody appearance and corky texture. 
P. 3-6 in., sessile, usually on a broad base. Pov. at first 
rounded, becoming much contorted, elongated, deep and 
sinuous, the thick flexible dissepiments resembling gills. 
“ Sometimes the whole plant is resupinate or decurrent, in 
which case the partitions are often elongated into tooth-like 
processes ” (Berkeley). Occurring throughout the year on 
