LYMAN: STUDIES OF HYMENOMYCETES. 
189 
somewhat resembling that of Lentodium is known in certain fungi 
generally admitted to be abnormalities of Agaricus, Cortinarius, 
Polyporus, etc. The unique veil of Lentodium, however, is not 
duplicated in any of these species, but the nearest approach is seen 
in the morchelloid specimen of Cortinarius scutulatus described by 
Boudier, where a few projecting hyphae give the hymenial plates 
of the dorsal surface a slightly fuzzy appearance. The existence of 
these monstrosities in some measure resembling Lentodium gives a 
certain basis for the theory that the latter fungus is also an abnor¬ 
mality, but there is no direct proof to support such a theory. The 
growths cited which are admittedly abnormal are in some cases known 
to be caused by parasitism or other environmental conditions; in 
other instances the cause of the monstrosity is not known, but the 
abnormal character of the fungus in question is more or less clearly 
established by its growing with normal specimens of the species, by 
the presence of intergrading forms, etc. In the case of Lentodium 
squamulosum, however, no such direct proof of abnormality exists. 
It has been regarded as a monstrous form of Lentinus tigrinus, a 
species which it closely resembles in texture and external appearance 
of stipe and pileus, and in character of basidia and spores. While 
such resemblances may possibly indicate phylogenetic connection, 
they are not sufficient to prove the identity of the two forms in the face 
of the great dissimilarity in other respects. The author bases his 
belief in the autonomy of this species on the following grounds: — 
(1) Its apparent permanence. This plant has been collected in 
many widely separated localities during more than sixty years, and, 
so far as the writer knows, it has never been found growing with 
Lentinus tigrinus , nor have intergrading forms been found which 
might connect it with this or any other fungus growing in the neigh¬ 
borhood. It is true that the data with reference to this fungus are 
still very meager, but in the entire absence of proof to the contrary, 
the presumption is in favor of the autonomy of the species. 
(2) The permanence of its essential peculiarities in cultures. As 
has already been stated on page 186, the author was able by varying 
culture conditions to secure great variation in stipe and pileus, even 
to the complete abortion of both; but the nature of hymenial layer 
and veil remained essentially unchanged. If these latter are of 
abnormal character, it is to be expected that changed conditions 
would cause variations, and perhaps reversion to the normal type; 
