Boletus versipellis. Fr.

THE ORANGE-CAP BOLETUS. EDIBLE.



Versipellis is from verto, to change, and pellis, a skin. The pileus is two to six inches in diameter, convex, orange-red, dry, minutely woolly or downy, then scaly or smooth, margin containing fragments of the veil, flesh white or grayish.

The tube-surface is grayish-white, tubes long, free, mouths minute and gray.

The stem is equal or tapering upward; solid, white with scaly wrinkles; three to five inches long; and is frequently covered with small reddish or blackish dots or scales. The spores are oblong spindle-shaped.

This plant can be easily distinguished by the remnant of the veil which adheres to the margin of the cap and is of the same color. It is frequently turned under the margin adhering to the tubes. It is a large and imposing plant found in sandy soil and especially among the pines. I found it in J. Thwing Brooke's woods, Salem, Ohio. August to October.

Boletus gracilis. Pk.

THE SLENDER-STEMMED BOLETUS. EDIBLE.



Gracilis means slender, referring to the stem.

The pileus is one to two inches broad, convex, smooth or minutely tomentose, the epidermis frequently cracked as in the illustration; ochraceous-brown, tawny, or reddish brown; flesh white.

The tube surface is convex to plane, depressed around the stem, nearly free, whitish, becoming flesh-colored.

The stem is long and slender, equal or slightly tapering upward, usually curved; pruinose or mealy. The spores are subferruginous, .0005 to .0007 inch long, .0002 to .00025 inch broad.

This is quite a pretty plant, but at first sight it will not be taken for a Boletus. They are not plentiful in our woods. I find them only occasionally and then sparsely. They are found in July and August, the months for the Boleti. They grow in leaf mold in mixed woods, especially among beech timber.

Boletus striaepes. Secr.

Striaepes means striate stem.

The pileus is convex or plane, soft, silky, olivaceous, the cuticle rust-color within, flesh white, yellow next the tubes, sparingly changing to blue.

The tubes are adnate, greenish, their mouths minute, angular, yellow.

The stem is firm, curved, marked with brownish-black striations, yellow, and brownish-rufescent at the base.

The spores are 10-13x4u. Peck, Boleti of the U. S.

I found some beautiful specimens in a mixed woods on the Edinger hillside, near Chillicothe. I located them here, but observing that this species was not common I sent some to Prof. Atkinson, who placed them under this species. August.

Boletus radicans. Pers.

The pileus is convex, dry, subtomentose, olivaceous-cinereus, becoming pale-yellowish, the margin thin, involute. Flesh pale-yellow, taste bitterish.

The tubes are adnate, their mouths large, unequal; lemon-yellow.

The stem is two to three inches long, even, tapering downward and radiating, flocculose with a reddish bloom, pale-yellow, becoming naked and dark with a touch.

The spores are fusiform, olive, 10-12.5x5u. Peck, Boleti of the U. S.

I found these specimens in the same locality with the B. striaepes.

The olivaceous cap with its peculiar involute margin and its radiating stem will greatly assist in its determination. August.

Boletus subluteus. Pk.

THE YELLOW BOLETUS. EDIBLE.



Subluteus is from sub, under, nearly; luteus, yellow.

Pileus is two to three inches broad, convex, becoming plane, quite viscid when moist, dull yellowish to reddish brown, frequently more or less streaked. The flesh is whitish or dull yellow.

The tube surface is plane or convex, the tubes set squarely against the stem, being small, nearly round, yellowish or ochraceous, becoming darker in age.

The stem is rather long, nearly equal, about the color of the cap, dotted both above the ring and below it; the ring is membranaceous, quite variable and persistent, usually collapsing as a narrow ring on the stem. The spores are ochraceous-brown, oblong or elliptical, 8-10x4-5.

Prof. Atkinson has made a careful study of both the American and the European plants called in this country B. luteus and B. subluteus, and has come to the conclusion that they should all be called B. luteus. In distinguishing the two we usually say those having much gluten and dotted above the ring are B. luteus, and those dotted both above and below the ring are B. subluteus. The specimens in Figure 297 were collected at the State Farm at Lancaster, Ohio, and photographed by Dr. Kellerman. They are found in July and August.

Boletus parasiticus. Bull.



Parasiticus means a parasite; so called because it grows on a Scleroderma. It is a small plant and quite rare.

The pileus is one to two inches broad, convex, or nearly plane, dry, silky, becoming glabrous, soon tessellately cracked, grayish or dingy yellow. Tubes decurrent, medium size, golden yellow.

The stem is equal, rigid, incurved, yellow within and without. The spores are oblong-fusiform, pale-brown, 12.5-15x4u. Peck.

The tubes are rather large and unequal, and inclined to run down upon the stem.

This plant was found near Boston, Mass., by Mrs. E. B. Blackford and photographed by Dr. Kellerman. Captain McIlvaine says it is edible but not of good flavor. It is found in July and August.

Boletus separans. Pk.

THE SEPARATING BOLETUS. EDIBLE.



Separans, separating, alluding to the tubes sometimes separating from the stem by the expansion of the pileus.

The pileus is convex, thick, smooth, subshining, often pitted or corrugated; brownish-red or dull-lilac, sometimes fading to yellowish on the margin; flesh white and unchangeable.

Tubes at first are nearly plane, adnate, white and stuffed, then convex, depressed around the stem, ochraceous-yellow or brownish-yellow and sometimes separating from the stem by the expansion of the pileus.

The stem is equal or slightly tapering upward; reticulated, either wholly or in upper part only; colored like the pileus or a little paler, sometimes slightly furfuraceous. Spores subfusiform, brownish-ochraceous. Peck, Boleti of U. S.

The specimens in Figure 299 were found at Londonderry, about fifteen miles east of Chillicothe, in a grassy woods near a stream. The taste is agreeable when raw and quite good when cooked. This might appropriately have been called the lilac Boletus, for that shade of color is usually present in it, somewhere. August to October.

Boletus auripes. Pk.

YELLOW-STEMMED BOLETUS. EDIBLE.



Auripes is from aureus, yellow or golden; pes, foot; so called from its yellow stem.

The pileus is three to four inches broad, convex, nearly smooth, yellowish-brown, the flesh often cracking in areas in old plants; flesh yellow at first, fading to a lighter color, in age.

The tubes are nearly plane, their mouths small, nearly round, at first stuffed, yellow.

The stem is two to four inches long, nearly equal, often reticulated, solid, a bright yellow on the surface and a light yellow within. The spores are ochraceous-brown, tinged with green, 12x5u.

The whole plant, except the upper surface of the cap, is a golden yellow, and even the surface of the cap is more or less yellow. It favors one form of the B. edulis. It is sometimes found in mixed woods, especially if there are mountain laurels in the woods (Kalmia latifolia). It is found in July and August.

Boletus retipes. B. and C.

THE BEAUTIFUL-STEMMED BOLETUS. EDIBLE.



Retipes is from rete, a net; pes, a foot; so called from the delicate net-work seen on the stem.

The pileus is convex, dry, powdered with yellow, sometimes rivulose or cracked in areas. The tubes are adnate, yellow.

The stem is subequal, cespitose, reticulate to the base, pulverulent below. The spores are greenish-ochraceous, 12-15x4-5u. Peck, Boleti.

B. retipes is very close to B. ornatipes, but its manner of growth, its pulverulent cap, and its greenish-ochraceous spores will at once distinguish it. I have found them on Ralston's Run, a number from the same mycelial cluster, as in Figure 301. The caps only are good. The specimens in the figure were found near Ashville, N. C., and photographed by Prof. H. C. Beardslee.

Boletus griseus. Frost.

THE GRAY BOLETUS.



Griseus means gray. The pileus is broadly convex, firm, dry, almost smooth, gray or grayish black. The flesh is whitish or gray.

The tubes are attached to the stem and slightly depressed around the stem, nearly plane, their mouths being small, nearly round, white or whitish.

The stem is slightly unequal, tapering downward, distinctly reticulated, whitish or yellowish, sometimes reddish toward the base. The spores are ochraceous-brown, 10-14x4-5u. Peck.

This plant, with us, grows singly and it is infrequently found. I have found it always in beech woods along Ralston's Run. It is found in August and September.

Boletus nigrellus. Pk.

THE BLACKISH BOLETUS. EDIBLE.



Nigrellus is a diminutive of niger, black. The entire plant is blackish except the pore surface.

The pileus is three to six inches broad, rather broadly convex or nearly plane, dry, blackish. The flesh is soft and unchangeable.

The tube-surface is rather plane, adhering to the stem, sometimes slightly depressed around the stem, the mouths being small, nearly round; whitish, becoming flesh-colored, changing to black or brown when wounded.

The stem is equal, short, even, black or blackish. The spores are dull flesh-color, 10-12x5-6u.

When I first found this specimen I was inclined to call it B. alboater, but its flesh-colored tubes served to distinguish it. I found the specimens in Figure 303 on Edinger's Hill, near Chillicothe. The taste is mild and fairly good. August and September.

Boletus Americanus. Pk.



This species will attract the attention of the collector because of its very viscid cap. I found the specimens in Figure 304 growing on Cemetery Hill, near Chillicothe, in company with Lactarius deliciosus. They were growing near and under pine trees, both in dense groups and separately. The caps were very viscid, yellow with a slight tinge of red. The stem is covered with numerous reddish-brown dots.

The pileus is one to three inches broad, thin; at first rather globose, convex, then expanded, sometimes broadly umbonate; very viscid when moist, especially on the margin; yellow or becoming dingy or streaked with red in age.

The tube-surface is nearly plane and the tubes join squarely against the stem; quite large, angular, pale yellow, becoming a dull ochraceous.

The stem is slender, equal or tapering upward, firm, with no trace of a ring; yellow, often brownish toward the base, covered with numerous brown or reddish-brown quite persistent granular dots; yellow within. The spores are oblong, ochraceous-ferruginous, 9-11x4-5u.

The veil is only observed in the very young specimens. Only caps are good to eat. The specimens were photographed for me by Dr. Kellerman.

Boletus Morgani. Pk.

MORGAN'S BOLETUS. EDIBLE.



Morgani is named in honor of Prof. Morgan.

The pileus is one and a half to two inches broad, convex, soft, glabrous, viscid; red, yellow, or red fading to yellow on the margin; flesh white, tinged with red and yellow, unchangeable.

The tube-surface convex, depressed around the stem, tubes rather long and large, bright yellow, becoming greenish-yellow.

The stem is elongated, tapering upward, pitted with long and narrow depressions, yellow, red in the depressions, colored within like the flesh of the pileus. The spores are olive-brown, 18-22u, about half as broad. Peck.

This plant is found in company with B. Russelli, which it resembles very closely. Its smooth, viscid cap and white flesh will distinguish it. Its stem is much more rough in wet weather than in dry. The peculiar color of the stem will help to identify the species. I found it frequently on Ralston's Run, near Chillicothe. It is found in many of the states of the Union. July and August.

Boletus Russelli. Frost.

RUSSELL'S BOLETUS. EDIBLE.



The cap is thick, hemispherical or convex, dry, covered with downy scales or bundles of red hairs, yellowish beneath the tomentum, often cracked in areas. The flesh is yellow and unchangeable.

The tubes are subadnate, often depressed around the stem, rather large, dingy-yellow, or yellowish-green.

The stem is very long, equal or tapering upward, roughened by the lacerated margins of the reticular depressions, red or brownish red. The spores are olive-brown, 18-22x8-10u.

The pileus is one and a half to four inches broad, the stem is three to seven inches long, and three to six lines thick. This is distinguished from the other species by the dry squamulose pileus and the color of the stem. The latter is sometimes curved at the base. Peck.

I have found this species frequently in the woods and open places about Chillicothe. It is one of the easiest of the Boleti to determine. The plants here have a bright brownish-red pileus, with a shade lighter color on the stem; the latter quite rough and tapering toward the cap. They are usually solitary. The plants in Figure 306 were collected in Michigan and photographed by Dr. Fischer.

Boletus vermiculosus. Pk.



Vermiculosus means full of small worms. The pileus is broadly convex, thick, firm, dry; smooth, or very minutely tomentose; brown, yellowish-brown or grayish-brown, sometimes tinged with red. The flesh is white or whitish, quickly changing to blue where wounded. The tubes are plane or slightly convex, nearly free, yellow; their mouths small, round, brownish-orange, becoming darker or blackish with age, changing promptly to blue where wounded.

The stem is nearly equal, firm, even, paler than the pileus. The spores are ochraceous-brown, 10-12x4-5u. Peck.

The plant represented in Figure 307 grew under the beech trees on Cemetery Hill. I found it frequently in the woods, from July to September.

Boletus Frostii. Russell.



Frostii is named in honor of Mr. Frost, a noted mycologist.

The pileus is three to four inches broad; convex, polished, shining, blood-red; the margin is thin, the flesh scarcely changing to blue.

The tubes are nearly free, greenish-yellow, becoming yellowish-brown with age, their mouths blood-red or cinnabar-red.

The stem is two to four inches long, three to six lines thick, equal or tapering upward, distinctly reticulated, firm, blood-red. The spores are 12.5-15x5u. Peck, Boleti of U. S.

This is a beautiful plant. It is not plentiful, yet it is found frequently on some of our hillsides. The plants in Figure 308 were found in Hayne's Hollow near Chillicothe, and photographed by Dr. Kellerman. The plant is found in New England and through the Middle West. I have had beautiful plants sent me from Vermont. It is not edible, so far as I know. Found in August and September.

Boletus luridus. Schaeff.

THE LURID BOLETUS.



Luridus means pale-yellow, sallow. The pileus is convex, tomentose, brown-olivaceous, then somewhat viscous, sooty. The flesh is yellow, changing to blue when wounded. Tubes free, yellow, becoming greenish, their mouths round, vermilion, becoming orange. The stem is stout, vermilion, somewhat orange at the top, reticulate or punctuate. The spores are greenish-gray, 15x9u.

The lurid Boletus, though pleasant to the taste, is reputed very poisonous. Boletus rubeolarius, Pers., having a short, bulbous, scarcely reticulated stem, is regarded as a variety of this species. The red-stemmed Boletus, B. erythropus, Pers., is also indicated by Fries as a variety of luridus. It will be seen on the right in Figure 309. It is smaller than B. luridus, has a brown or reddish-brown pileus and a slender cylindrical stem, not reticulated but dotted with squamules. Peck, Boleti of the U. S. The plant is quite abundant in our woods. Found in July and August.

Boletus castaneus. Bull.

THE CHESTNUT BOLETUS. EDIBLE.



Castaneus, pertaining to a chestnut. The pileus is dry, convex, then expanded, minutely velvety; cinnamon or reddish-brown, from one to three inches in diameter; the flesh white, not changing when bruised, cap frequently turned upward.

The tube-surface is white, becoming yellow, tubes small and short, free from the stem.

The stem is equal or tapering upward, colored and clothed like the cap, short and not always straight; when young it is spongy in the center but becomes hollow with age. The spores are pale-yellow, oval or broadly elliptical, which is a feature to distinguish the species.

I found a number of specimens in James Dunlap's woods, near Chillicothe, Ohio. A great majority seemed to be attacked by the parasitic fungi, Sepedonium chrysospermum.

The caps are very fine eating. Care should be taken to use only young specimens. Found in open woods from June to September.

Boletus satanus. Lenz.

SATANIC BOLETUS.

Pileus convex, smooth, somewhat gluey, brownish-yellow or whitish; flesh whitish, becoming reddish or violaceous where wounded. Tubes free, yellow, their mouths bright red, becoming orange-colored with age. The stem thick, ovate-ventricose, marked above with red reticulations. Peck, Boleti of U. S.

Hamilton Gibson and Captain McIlvaine seem to give his Satanic majesty a good reputation, but I would say "Be cautious." His looks always deterred me. Found in woods from June to September.

Strobilomyces. Berk.

Strobilomyces is from two Greek words meaning a pine-cone and a fungus. The hymenophore is even, tubes not easily separable from it, large and equal. It is of a brownish-gray color, its shaggy surface more or less studded with deep-brown or black woolly points, each at the center of a scale-like segment. The tubes beneath are covered at first with a veil which breaks and is often found on the rim of the cap. It is a plant that will quickly attract attention.

Strobilomyces strobilaceus. Berk.

THE CONE-LIKE BOLETUS. EDIBLE.



Strobilaceus, cone-like. This is especially emphasized from the fact that both the genus and the species are named from the fancied resemblance of the cap to a pine cone. It is ever readily recognized because of this character of the cap.

The pileus is convex, rough with dark umber scales drawn into regular cone-like points tipped with dark-brown; margin veiled, flesh grayish-white, turning red when bruised, and finally black.

Pore-surface grayish-white in young specimens, and usually covered with the veil; tubes attached to the stem, angular, turning red when bruised.

The stem is equal or tapering upward, furrowed at the top, covered with a woolly down. Spores dark-brown, 12-13x9u. Found at Londonderry. Common in woods. August to September.

Boletinus. Kalchb.

Boletinus is a diminutive of Boletus.

Hymenium composed of broad radiating lamellae, connected by very numerous and narrow anastomosing branches or partitions, forming large angular pores. Tubes somewhat tenacious, not easily separable from the hymenophore and from each other, adnate or subdecurrent, yellowish. Peck.

Boletinus pictus. Pk.

THE PAINTED BOLETINUS. EDIBLE.



Pictus, painted. This plant seems to delight in damp pine woods, but I have found it only occasionally about Chillicothe, under beech trees. It is readily recognized by the red fibrillose tomentum which covers the entire plant when young. As the plant expands the reddish tomentum is broken into scales of the same color, revealing the yellowish color of the pileus beneath. The flesh is compact, yellow, often changing to a dull pinkish or reddish tint where wounded.

The tube-surface is at first pale yellow, but becomes darker with age, often changing to pinkish, with a brown tinge where bruised.

The stem is solid, equal, and covered with a cottony layer of mycelium-threads like the pileus, though often paler. The spores are ochraceous, 15-18x6-8u. The plants are two to four inches broad, and one and a half to three inches high. Found from July to October.

Boletinus cavipes. Kalchb.

HOLLOW-STEMMED BOLETINUS. EDIBLE.



Cavipes is from two Latin words meaning a hollow stem.

The pileus is broadly convex, rather tough, flexible, soft, subumbonate, fibrillose-scaly, tawny-brown, sometimes tinged with reddish or purplish, flesh yellowish. The tubes are slightly decurrent, at first pale-yellow, then darker and tinged with green, becoming dingy-ochraceous with age. The stem is equal or slightly tapering upward, somewhat fibrillose or floccose, slightly ringed, hollow, tawny-brown or yellowish-brown, yellowish at the top and marked by the decurrent dissepiments of the tubes, white within. Veil whitish, partly adhering to the margin of the pileus, soon disappearing. The spores are 8-10x4u. Peck, in Boleti of the U. S.

This plant grows in New York and the New England states, under pine and tamarack trees. The caps are convex, covered with a tawny-brown fibrillose tomentum. The stems of those I have seen are hollow from the first. The plants in Figure 314 were sent me from Massachusetts by Mrs. Blackford.

Boletinus porosus. (Berk.) Pk.



These form a small but interesting species, not usually exceeding three and a half inches in diameter nor more than two inches in height.

The cap is somewhat fleshy, nut-brown, or yellowish-brown, shading to olivaceous in color in most of the specimens which I have found; when fresh and moist, somewhat sticky and shining. The margins are thin, rather even, and inclined to be involute; the shape of the cap is more or less irregular, in many cases almost kidney-shaped.

The stem is laterally attached, tough, and gradually expands into the pileus which it resembles in color; it is markedly reticulated at the top by the decurrent walls of the spore-tubes. The spore-surface is yellow, the tubes arranged in radiating rows, some being more prominent than others, the partitions often assuming the form of gills which branch and are connected by cross partitions of less prominence. The stratum of tubes, while soft, is very tenacious, not separating from the flesh of the pileus.

The odor and taste of all the specimens found were pleasant. Found in damp woods in July and August. When a sufficient number can be found they make an excellent dish.

It is found in abundance about Chillicothe.

Fistulina. Bull.

Fistulina means a small pipe; so called because the tubes stand close together and separate easily one from another.

The hymenophore is fleshy and hymenium inferior. When first seen springing from a stump or root it looks like a large strawberry. It soon develops into the appearance of a big red tongue. When young the upper side is quite velvety and peach-colored, later it becomes a livid red and loses its velvety appearance. The under surface is flesh-colored and is rough like the surface of a tongue, owing to the fact that the tubes are free from one another. When it is moist it is very viscid, making your hands quite blood-stained in appearance.

Fistulina hepatica. Fr.

THE LIVER FUNGUS. EDIBLE.



This is a beautiful plant, quite common where there are chestnut stumps and trees. I have found it on chestnut oak, quite large specimens, too. It is one of my favorite mushrooms; one cannot afford to pass it by. Its beautiful color will attract attention at once, and having once eaten it well prepared, one will never pass a chestnut stump without examining it.



The pileus is fan-shaped or semicircular, red-juicy, flesh when cut somewhat mottled like beet-root and giving forth a very appetizing odor; the cap is moist and somewhat viscid, the color varying from a red (somewhat beefy) to a reddish-brown in older plants; while the spore surface varies from strawberry-pink through a light-and dark-tan to an almost chestnut-brown.

In young plants the color is much richer and more vivid than in those of greater maturity. The spore surface resembles nothing so much as a very fine sponge, the spore-tubes being short, crowded, yet distinct.

The marked peculiarity of its mode of growth is in the attachment of the stem; somewhat thick, fleshy, and juicy, coming from the side of the pileus like the handle of a fan, it looks as if some one had taken hold of the cap and given it a partial twist to the right or to the left, as may be seen in Figure 317. Another peculiarity I have noticed in this species consists of the nerve-like lines, or veinlets, radiating from the stem and streaking the upper surface of the cap. The taste, when raw, is slightly but pleasantly acid. Its favorite habitat seems to be injured places on chestnut trees, and about chestnut stumps. It is known as Liver Fungus, Beefsteak Fungus, Oak-Tongue, Chestnut-Tongue, etc. It is found from July to October.

I have found it plentiful about Chillicothe on chestnut stumps, and quite generally over the state. I found some very fine specimens on the chestnut oaks, about Bowling Green, Ohio.

When properly prepared it is equal to any kind of meat. It is one of our best mushrooms.

Fistulina pallida. B. and Rav.



Pallida means pale. Pileus kidney-shaped, pallid-red, fawn or clay-color, thick at the base and thinning toward the margin, which is often crenate and inflexed; pulverulent, firm, flexible, tough; flesh white.

The tubes are long and slender, mouths somewhat enlarged, whitish, the tube surface a pale cream-color and minutely mealy, pores not decurrent but ending with the beginning of the stem.

The stem is uniformly attached to the concave margin of the cap; attenuated downward; whitish below, but near the cap it changes to the same tint. The peculiar manner of attachment of the stem will serve to identify the species, which I have found several times near Chillicothe. The specimen in the illustration was found on the State farm, and photographed by Dr. Kellerman.

Polyporus. Fr.

Polyporus is from two Greek words meaning many and pores. In this genus the stratum of the pores is not easily separated from the cap. Most of the species under this genus are tough and corky. Many grow on decayed wood, a few on the ground, but even these are inclined to be tough. Very few of those growing on wood have a central stem and many have apparently no stem at all.

Polyporus picipes. Fr.

THE BLACK-FOOTED POLYPORUS.



Picipes is from pix, pitch or black, and pes, foot.

The pileus is fleshy, rigid, coriaceous, tough, even, smooth, depressed either behind or in the center; livid with a chestnut-colored disk.

The pores are decurrent, rounded, small, tender, white, finally reddish-gray.

The stem is eccentric and lateral, equal, firm; at first velvety, then naked; punctate with black dots, becoming black.

The stem at the base is pitch-black, as will be seen in Figure 319. The margin of the cap is very thin and the caps are irregularly funnel-form. This plant is widely distributed over the United States and is quite common about Chillicothe. Found in damp woods on decayed logs from July to November. When very young and tender it can be eaten.

Polyporus umbellatus. Fr.

THE SUN-SHADE POLYPORUS. EDIBLE.



Umbellatus is from umbella, a sun-shade. Very much branched, fibrous-fleshy, toughish. The pileoli are very numerous, one-half to one and a half inches broad, sooty, dull-red, united at the base. Pores are minute and white. White pileoli have sometimes occurred. Fries.

The tufts, as will be observed from Figure 320, are very dense, and there seems to be no limit to their branching. Notice that every cap is depressed or umbilicate. The specimen in Figure 320 was collected near Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, by Mr. C. G. Lloyd, Cincinnati, and through his courtesy I have used his print. I have found the plant about Chillicothe and Sidney, Ohio. It is found on decayed roots on the ground, or on stumps. When the caps are fresh they are quite good.

May to November.

Polyporus frondosus. Fr.

THE BRANCHED POLYPORUS. EDIBLE.



Frondosus, full of leafy branches. The tufts are from six inches to over a foot broad, very much branched, fibrous-fleshy, toughish.

The pileoli are very numerous, one-half to two inches broad, sooty-gray, dimidiate, wrinkled, lobed, intricately recurved. Flesh white. Stems, growing into each other, white.

The pores are rather tender, very small, acute, white, commonly round, but in oblique position, gaping open and torn. Fries.

The specimen in Figure 321 was found near Chillicothe. When tender it is very good. Found on stumps and roots from September till the coming of frost.

We are told that in the Roman markets this mushroom is frequently sold as an article of food.

Polyporus leucomelas. Fr.



Leucomelas is from two Greek words, leucos, white, and melas, black.

The pileus is two to four inches broad, fleshy, somewhat fragile, irregularly shaped, silky, sooty-black; flesh soft, reddish when broken.

The pores are rather large, unequal, ashy or whitish, becoming black when drying.

The stem is one to three inches long, stout, unequal, somewhat tomentose, sooty-black, becoming black internally. The pileus and stem become black in places.

The spores are cylindric-fusoid, pale-brown, 10-12x4-5u.

They are usually found in pine woods. The caps are often deformed and are easily broken. The pores resemble those of a Boletus. The plant is quite widely distributed. The one in Figure 322 was found in Massachusetts by Mrs. Blackford, and I photographed it after it was partially dry. It is probably the same as P. griseus, P.

Polyporus Berkeleyi. Fr.

BERKELEY'S POLYPORUS. EDIBLE.

The pileoli are fleshy, tough, becoming hard and corky, many times imbricated, sometimes growing very large, with many in a head; subzonate, finally tomentose; the plant very much branched, alutaceous.

The stem is short or entirely wanting, arising from a long and thick caudex.

The pore surface is very large, the pores are large and irregular, angular, pale-yellowish.

I have seen some very large specimens of this species. The natural size of the specimen in Figure 323 is two and one-fourth feet across. When young it is edible, but not equal to P. sulphureus. It is found growing on the ground near trees and stumps, and is a widely distributed plant.



Polyporus giganteus. Fr.

THE GIANT POLYPORUS. EDIBLE.

Giganteus is from gigas, a giant. The pileoli are very numerous, imbricated, fleshy, tough, somewhat coriaceous, flaccid, somewhat zoned; color a grayish-brown in young specimens, the deep cream pore surfaces tipping the pileoli, rendering it a very attractive plant; this cream-color is quickly changed to black or deep-brown by touching it.

The pores are minute, shallow, round, pallid, at length torn.

The stem is branched, connate from a common tuber.

This is a large and certainly a very attractive plant, being very often two to three feet across. When young and tender it is edible. Found growing on decayed stumps and roots, it is somewhat common in our state. I have found some quite large specimens about Chillicothe. It is easily distinguished by its pore surface turning black or dark-brown to the touch. When young and tender it makes a good stew, but it must be well cooked.

Polyporus squamosus. Fr.

THE SCALY POLYPORUS.



Squamosus means abounding in scales. The pileus is from three to eighteen inches broad, fleshy, fan-shaped, expanded, flattened, somewhat ochraceous, variegated, with scattered, brown, adpressed scales.

The stem is eccentric and lateral, blunt, reticulated at apex, blackish at the base.

The pores are thin, variable; at first minute, then broad, angular and torn; pallid. Spores are white and elliptical, 14x6u.

It is found from Massachusetts to Iowa, and grows very large. Specimens have been reported seven feet in circumference and attaining a weight of 40 pounds.

The specimen in Figure 325 was found by Mr. C. G. Lloyd in the woods at Red Bank, near Cincinnati. It is quite a common plant in Europe.

It is tough, but it is prepared for eating by being cut fine and stewed for a half hour or more.

In Figure 325 the angular and torn pores are obvious, as well as the scales which give rise to its name. Found on trunks and stumps from May to November.

Polyporus sulphureus. Fr.

THE SULPHUR-COLORED POLYPORUS. EDIBLE.



Sulphureus, pertaining to sulphur, so called from the color of the tube-bearing surface. In mature specimens the growth is horizontal, spreading fan-like from the stem, undulating with radiating flutings. The upper surface is salmon, orange, or orange-red; flesh cheesy, light-yellow, the edge being smooth and unevenly thickened with nodule-like prominences. In young specimens the ascending, under yellow surface outwardly exposed.

The pore surface is a bright sulphur-yellow, which is more persistent than the color of the cap; pores very minute, short, often formed of inflexed masses.

The stem is short, a mere close attachment for the spreading growth. The taste is slightly acid and mucilaginous when raw. The spores are elliptical and white, 7-8x4-5u.

It grows on decayed logs, on stumps, and on decayed places in living trees. The mycelium of this species will frequently be found in the hearts of trees and remain there for years before the tree is injured sufficiently for the mycelium to come to the surface. It may take months, or a century, to accomplish this.

When this plant is young and tender it is a prime favorite with all who know it. It is found from August to November. Its favorite host is an oak stump or log.

Polyporus flavovirens. B. & Rav.



Flavovirens means yellowish-green or olivaceous.

The pileus is quite large, three to six inches broad, convex, expanded funnel-form or repand, fleshy, tomentose, yellowish-green or olivaceous; frequently the pileus is cracked when old; flesh white.

The pores are not large, toothed, white or whitish, decurrent upon the stem which is tapering.

This plant is very common on the oak hillsides about Chillicothe. The plants in Figure 327 were found by Miss Margaret Mace on the Governor Tiffin farm, about twelve miles north of Chillicothe, growing in large groups under oak trees. It is edible though often tough. It is found in August and September. It is very abundant in this region.

Polyporus heteroclitus. Fr.

THE BOUQUET POLYPORUS. EDIBLE.



Heteroclitus is from two Greek words; one of two and to lean, referring to its habit of growth, leaning apparently upon the ground or the base of a tree or stump. It is caespitose and coriaceous. The pileoli are two and a half inches broad, orange and sessile, expanded on all sides from the radical tubercle, lobed, villous, zoneless.

The pores are irregularly shaped and elongated, golden yellow. Fries.

The specimen in Figure 328 was found by Mr. Beyerly at Richmond Dale, Ohio. It was over a foot in diameter and eight inches high, growing in many caespitose layers, on the ground under an oak tree, from a radical tubercle. The flesh was juicy and tender, breaking easily. The radical tubercle from which it grew was filled with a milky juice. The flesh was somewhat lighter in color than the outside pilei, which extended horizontally from the tubercle. It is a very showy and attractive plant, and as Captain McIlvaine remarks, it looks like a "mammoth dahlia" in bloom. When young and tender it is good, but in age it becomes rank. This plant was found July 1st. It grows in the months of June and July.

Polyporus radicatus. Schw.



Radicatus, from the long root the plant has. The pileus is fleshy, quite tough, cushion-shaped, slightly depressed, pale sooty, somewhat downy.

The pores are decurrent, quite large, obtuse, equal, white.

The stem is very long, often eccentric, tapering downward, sometimes ventricose as in Figure 329, rooting quite deep, black below.

It is found on the ground in the woods and in old clearings beside old trees and stumps.

The blackish or brown pileus, which is more or less tomentose, with a black stem more or less deformed, will serve to distinguish the species. Found from September to November.

Polyporus perplexus. Pk.



The pileus is spongy-fleshy, fibrous, sessile, commonly imbricated, and somewhat confluent, irregular, hairy-tomentose to setose-hispid, grayish-tawny, or ferruginous, the margin subacute, sterile, the substance within tawny-ferruginous, somewhat zonate.

The pores are two to three lines long, unequal, angular, the dissepiments becoming brownish-ferruginous with age or where bruised. The spores are ferruginous, broadly elliptical, .00024 to .0003 inch long and about .0002 broad. Peck.

This is very abundant on beech logs, growing quite large, massive, imbricated, and confluent, the pileoli being often two to four inches broad. It is very closely related to P. cuticularis and P. hispidus. It can be easily distinguished from P. cuticularis by means of its straight margin, and from P. hispidus by its small size and smaller pores. Found from September to November.

Polyporus hispidus. Fr.

Pileus is very large, eight to ten inches broad and three to four inches thick, compact, spongy, fleshy but fibrous, dimidiate, with occasionally a very short stem; generally very hairy, but sometimes smooth; the pileus is often marked with concentric lines which seem to indicate arrested vegetation; brown, blackish, yellowish or reddish brown, below pale-yellow or rich sienna-brown, margin paler.

The pores are minute, round, inclined to separate, fringed, paler. The spores are yellowish, apiculate, 10x7u. Often found on living trees, the plant gains entrance to the living stem through the bark, by means of a wound made by some agency, as a bird or a boring insect; soon a mass of mycelium is formed, and from this the fruiting body is produced.

Polyporus cuticularis. Fr.

Pileus is quite thin, spongy, fleshy, then dry; plane, hairy-tomentose, ferruginous, then blackish-brown; margin fibrous, fimbriate, internally loose and parallel, fibrous.

The pores are long, quite small, pale, then ochraceous; pores longer than the thickness of the flesh. The spores are yellow or ochraceous, very abundant, 7x4-5u. The hairs on the pileus are three-cleft.

This is very frequent in beech woods about Chillicothe. Found in September and October.

Polyporus circinatus. Fr.

THE ROUND POLYPORUS. EDIBLE.

Circinatus is from circinus, a pair of compasses, hence means rounded like a circle.

The pileus is three to four inches across, with a double cap, one cap within another, both being compact, thick, round, plane, zoneless, velvety, rusty-yellow to reddish-brown, the flesh being of the same color. The upper cap is pliable, compact, soft, and covered with a soft tomentum, the lower cap, contiguous with the stem, is woody and corky.

The pores are decurrent, extending down the stem, entire, rather small, dusky-gray.

The stem is short and rather thick, often swollen, covered with a reddish-brown tomentum.

This is an odd but handsome species and easily determined because of its double cap. It is said to prefer fir woods, but I have frequently found it in oak woods. It grows on the ground, and when young and fresh the pilei are said to be good. I have never found more than one specimen at a time and never in a condition to eat, though good authorities say it is edible when young and tender. Found in September and October.

Polyporus adustus. Fr.

Adustus means scorched, so called from the blackish color of margin.

The pileus is often imbricated; fleshy, tough, firm, thin, villous, ash-color; margin straight, blackish.

The pores are minute, round, obtuse, whitish, soon ashy-brown.

It is abundant everywhere on fallen beech or on beech stumps. It is very close to P. fumosus if it is not identical with it. It is found from August to late fall.

Polyporus resinosus.



Pileus from three to six, and frequently eight, inches long; rich-brown, varying from bright cinnamon to red, handsomely marked with delicate pencilings radiating from the axis of growth; the color of the pileus seems to form a binding about the edge of the light-gray pore surface, which is closely punctured with minute elliptical pores.

The color of the pore surface readily changes to brown upon slight pressure. The whole plant is full of a brownish juice which exudes freely upon pressure. The plant is shelving and imbricated upon the side of a log, without any apparent stem.

Taken altogether the Polyporus resinosus presents one of the handsomest specimens of fungus growth that one will be likely to find in a long day's tramp. When fresh and growing it has rather a pleasant taste.

It is found during October and November, growing on decayed logs, being partial to the beech. Its abundance is equal to its beauty.

Polyporus lucidus. Fr.



The pileus is two to three or more inches broad, usually very irregular, brownish-maroon, with a distinct double zone of duller dark-brown and tan. Cap glazed especially in the center, wrinkled.

The spore surface is a very light grayish-brown in the young plant, changing to almost a tan in older ones, pores labyrinthiform.

The stem is irregular, knotted and swollen with protuberances somewhat resembling buds, from which develop the caps which in some cases appear as if stuck on the stem like barnacles on a stick. Contrary to most mushrooms the upper surface of the cap and the stem are of nearly the same color, the stem being usually of a more brilliant red. The stem has a distinct root extending into the ground several inches. The whole plant is almost indescribably irregular. It is quite an attractive plant when seen growing among the weeds and beside stumps. The plants in Figure 332 I found growing among Datura stramonium beside old stumps in a pasture. I have found the same species growing on oak stumps. It is known as Ganoderma Curtisii, Berk., G. pseudo-boletus, Merrill. It is found from August till late fall.

Polyporus obliquus. Pers.



Obliquus means slanting, oblique. This species is widely circumfused, usually hard, quite thick, uneven, pallid, elegant chocolate-brown, then blackish; conversely encircled crested border.

The pores are long, very minute, obtuse, slightly angular. It grows on dead branches of iron-wood and wild cherry. The deep chocolate-brown and the oblique form of its pores will serve to identify the species.

It grows, with us, in the spring. I gathered this specimen in June. In the fall I visited the same trunk, but found they had begun to decay. It is sometimes called Poria obliqua.

Polyporus graveolens. Fr.



Graveolens means strong scented. Corky or woody and extremely hard, very closely imbricated and connate, forming a subglobose polycephalous mass, Figure 334. Pileoli innumerable, inflexed and appressed, plicate, brown.

Pores concealed, very minute, round, pale-brown, the dissepiments thick and obtuse. Morgan.

This is a very interesting plant because of its peculiar mode of growth. It is found in woods or clearings on dead logs or on standing dead trees. In some parts of the state it is quite common. From the illustration, Figure 334, it will be seen that the plant consists of an innumerable number of pileoli forming a subglobose or elongated mass. They are frequently three to six inches in diameter and several inches long. I have seen them very much elongated on standing trees. When it is young and growing it is shiny in appearance and has a reddish and sometimes a purplish tint. The inner substance is ferruginous but covered with a hard brown crust. The pores are brown, and when examined with the glass are seen to be lined with a very fine pubescence. The imbricated form of the pileoli show very plainly in the illustration.

Polyporus brumalis. Fr.

THE WINTER POLYPORUS.



Brumalis is from bruma, which means winter; so called because it appears late, in cold weather. The specimens in Figure 335 were found in December.

The pileus is from one to three inches broad, nearly plane, slightly depressed in the center; somewhat fleshy and tough; dingy-brown, clothed with minute scales, becoming smooth, pallid.

The pores are oval, slightly angular, slender, acute, denticulate, white, 5-6x2u.

The stem is short, thin, slightly bulbous at the base, hirsute or squamulose, pale, central.

It usually occurs singly but frequently you will find several in a group. Found on sticks and logs, they are quite hard to detach from their hosts. Too tough to eat. It equals Polyporus polyporus. (Retz) Merrill.

Polyporus rufescens. Fr.

THE RUFESCENT POLYPORUS.

Rufescens, becoming red. The pileus is flesh-colored, spongy, soft, unequal, hairy or woolly.

The pores are large, sinuose and torn, white or flesh-colored.

The stem is short, irregular, tuberous at the base. Spores elliptical, 6x4-5u.

Rather common about Chillicothe on the ground about old stumps.

Polyporus arcularius. Batsch.



The pileus is dark-brown, minutely scaly, depressed in the center, margin covered with stiff hairs.

The tube surface is of a dingy cream color, openings oblong, almost diamond-shaped, resembling the meshes of a net, the meshes being smaller on the margin, shallow, simply marked out at the top of the stem.

The stem is dark-brown, minutely scaly, mottled, with a ground work of cream-color; hollow. Common in the spring of the year on sticks and decayed wood in fields or in old clearings. It is quite generally distributed. Edible but tough.

Polyporus elegans. Fr.

The pileus is fleshy, soon becoming woody; expanded, even, smooth, pallid.

Pores are plane, minute, nearly round, pallid, yellowish-white.

The stem is eccentric, even, smooth, pallid; base from the first abruptly black. This is quite common on rotten wood in the forests. It resembles P. picipes both in appearance and habitat.

Polyporus medulla-panis. Fr.

Effused, determinate, subundulate, firm, smooth, white, circumference naked, submarginate, wholly composed of middle sized, rather long, entire pores, the whole becoming yellowish in age.

I found this species on an elm log along Ralston's Run.

Polyporus albellus. Pk.

The pileus is thick, sessile, convex or subungulate, subsolitary, two to four inches broad, one to one and a half thick, fleshy, rather soft; the adnate cuticle rather thin, smooth or sometimes slightly roughened by a slight strigose tomentum, especially toward the margin; whitish, tinged more or less with fuscus; flesh pure white, odor acidulous.

The pores are nearly plane, minute, subrotund, about two lines long; white, inclining to yellowish, the dissepiments thin, acute.

The spores are minute, cylindrical, curved, white, .00016 to .0002 inch long. Peck.

This species is quite common here and is very widely distributed in the United States.

Polyporus epileucus. Fr.

This is quite a large and beautiful plant. It apparently grows without a stem, its color being an unequal gray. The pileus is somewhat coriaceous, firm, pulvinate, villous.

The pores are round, elongated, obtuse, entire, white.

This is not common with us, but I have met it a few times and always on elm logs or stumps.

Polyporus betulinus. Fr.

THE BIRCH POLYPORUS. EDIBLE.



Betulinus is from betulina, birch.

The pileus is from four to ten inches across, fleshy, soon corky, ungulate, obtuse, smooth, pale reddish-brown when mature, often mottled, roundish, or somewhat reniform, zoneless, the oblique vertex in the form of an umbo; pellicle thin, separating; flesh white, very thick.

The pores are short, round, minute, unequal, separable from the pileus when fresh, but really concrete with it; white or tinged with brown, developing slowly; when mature there are peculiar hair-like scales attached to the pore-surface, making the plant look like a Hydnum when viewed from the side. It is found wherever the birch tree grows. When young and fresh it is edible, but with a strong flavor unpleasant to many. In this state the deer eat it. The specimen in Figure 337 was found in Wisconsin, and photographed by Dr. Kellerman. This species is the Piptoporus suberosus (L.) of Merrill.

Polyporus cinnabarinus. Schw.

CINNABAR POLYPORUS.



Cinnabarinus like cinnabar (vermilion). The pileus is dry, more or less spongy, pliant, rather thick, fibrous on top; flesh light or yellowish-red, shelving.

The pores are carmine, quite small, round, entire.

This species is quite common in the woods about Chillicothe. It is easily identified by the beautiful carmine color of the pileus and the pore surface, the latter being a shade darker than the former, as will be seen in Figure 338.

The specimens photographed were found in December. They grow on dead logs and branches, commonly on the oak and wild cherry, sometimes on maple. It is called by some authors Trametes cinnabarina.

Polyporus vulgaris. Fr.

COMMON EFFUSED POLYPORUS.

Vulgaris, common. Quite broadly effused, very thin, adheres closely to its host; even, white, dry. Circumference soon smooth and the whole surface composed of firm, crowded, small, round, nearly equal pores.

Effused on dead wood, fallen branches, and frequently on moist boards.

Polyporus lacteus. Fr.

The pileus is white, or whitish, fleshy, somewhat fibrous, fragile, triangular in form, pubescent, azonate, margin somewhat inflexed, acute.

The pores are thin, acute, dentate, finally lacerate and labyrinthiform.

This species is found in the woods, on beech logs. It is small and thin, not much more than an inch in width but sometimes elongated. Steep and gibbous behind, becoming at length smooth and equal. It is not abundant in our woods, but I have found it often. August and September.

Polyporus caesius. Schrad.

The pileus is white, with a bluish tinge occasionally upon its surface, soft, tenacious, unequal, silky.

The pores are small, unequal, long, flexuous, dentate, lacerate.

It is found in woods on partially decayed sticks. I have only occasionally found a specimen in our woods.

Polyporus pubescens. Schw.



Pubescens means downy; so called from the satiny finish of its pileus, which is fleshy, quite tough and corky, soft, convex, subzonate, pubescent and shiny; white without and within; the margin acute, becoming at length yellowish and hard, with a shiny lustre.

The pores are short, minute, nearly round and plane.

The pileus is from one to two inches in width, laterally confluent and usually very much imbricated. Quite plentiful in woods on beech logs. July to November.

Polyporus volvatus. Pk.



Volvatus, bearing a volva. This is a most interesting species. The pileus seems to be prolonged, making a volva-like protection of the spore surface. When this volva is ruptured small heaps of spores will often be seen on the volva, having been protected from the wind.

The plant is small, somewhat round, and before the volva is ruptured it is very like a puffball; fleshy, smooth, attached by a small point, whitish, slightly tinged with yellow, red or reddish-brown; the cuticle of the pileus enveloping the entire pore-surface, thick and firm. The pores are rather long, small, the mouths yellowish, with a tinge of brown. The spores are elliptical and flesh-colored, .0003 to .00035 inch long and about .0002 broad.

This plant has a wide distribution, being found in the New England and Eastern States, and the States of the Pacific slope. I presume it will be found wherever the spruce tree is a native.

The specimens in Figure 340 were found near Boston and were sent me about the first of May by Mrs. Blackford. The first package I took, before examining them, to be a new puffball, which they seemed to resemble in their undeveloped state.

Polystictus biformis. Fr.



Biformis means two shapes or appearances; referring to the condition of the pores in the young and the old plant.

The pileus is two to three inches wide, projecting from one to three inches, often imbricated so as to cover a large surface; laterally confluent, coriaceous, flexible, tough, subzonate, with innate radiating fibres, the cortex fibrillose, concolorous.

The pores at first very large, simple, compound, or confluent, round, elongated, flexuous; the dissepiments dentate, then lacerate, the hymenium finally resolved into teeth.

When I first found this plant the hymenium had resolved into teeth, and I supposed that I had found an Irpex. It is found in woods on logs and stumps. Very common with us. Frequently covered with a green lichen. July to November.

Polystictus hirsutus. Fr.

THE BRISTLY POLYSTICTUS.



Hirsutus means hairy or bristly. The pileus is corky, coriaceous, convex, then plane, hairy with rigid bristles, zoned with concentric furrows; of one color, whitish, sometimes these zones are quite marked as in Figure 342.

The pore surface is at first white, or whitish, becoming dark or brownish in age. The pores are round, the walls rather thick. It is found on logs and stumps in the woods. It is a very common plant and widely distributed.

Polystictus versicolor. Fr.

THE COMMON ZONED POLYSTICTUS.



Versicolor means varying colors. The pileus is coriaceous, thin, rigid, plane, depressed behind; quite velvety, nearly even and shining, variegated with colored zones, sometimes entirely white or grayish-white, not unfrequently the whole surface is villous or woolly, and the zones mere depressions.

The pores are minute, round, acute, lacerated, white or cream-color.

It is very common, as well as very variable in form and color. It is frequently found on logs and is then densely imbricated. On our hillsides it frequently grows on a small bush as in Figure 343. It is one of the most beautiful plants in the woods.

Polyporus gilvus. Schw.

Gilvus means pale-yellow or deep-reddish flesh-color.

The pileus is corky, woody, hard, effuso-reflexed, imbricate, concrescent, subtomentose, then scabrous, uneven, reddish-yellow, then subferruginous, the margin acute.

The pores are minute, round, entire, brownish-ferruginous. Morgan.

It is very abundant throughout the state, being found on all kinds of logs and stumps.

Polystictus cinnamoneus. Jacq.



The pileus is an inch and a half, or less, broad, coriaceous, slightly depressed in the center; rather rough on the surface, but with a beautiful satiny lustre, and more or less zoned; caps often growing together, but with separate stems; shining, a light cinnamon-brown.

The spores are rather large, angular, torn with age; cinnamon-brown, growing darker in older plants.

The stem is one to two inches long, equal, or slightly tapering upward, cinnamon-brown, hollow or stuffed, tough, frequently sending forth branches from the side and base of the stem.

This is quite a beautiful plant, growing usually in patches of moss. The caps have quite a glossy cinnamon-brown surface, which will attract the attention of any one. They are very small and easily overlooked. Found in August and September.

This plant is called P. subsericeus by Dr. Peck.

Polystictus perennis. Fr.



The pileus is thin, pliant when fresh but somewhat brittle when dry. It is minutely velvety on the upper surface, reddish-brown or cinnamon in color; expanded or umbilicate to nearly funnel-shaped. The surface is beautifully marked by radiations and fine concentric zones.

The stem is also velvety. The spore-tubes are minute, the walls thin and acute, and the mouths angular, and at last more or less torn. The margin of the cap is finely fimbriate, but in old specimens those hairs are apt to become rubbed off. Atkinson.

I found specimens by the roadside near Lone Tree Hill, near Chillicothe. It is the only place in which I have found this plant. I have found Polystictus subsericeus, or, as Prof. Atkinson calls it, P. cinnamomeus, in a number of localities.

Polystictus pergamenus. Fr.



Pergamenus means parchment.

The pileus is coriaceous, thin, effused, reflexed, villous, zoned, cinereous-white, with colored zone; pliant when fresh.

The pores are unequal, torn, violaceous, then pallid. It is very common here on beech, maple, and wild cherry. The pores become torn so that they resemble the teeth of the Hydnum. This is one of the most common fungi in our woods.

The photograph is by Prof. J. D. Smith, of Akron, O.

Fomes leucophaeus. Mont.

This has been called by many authors in America Fomes applanatus or Polyporus applanatus. It is very common in this country but very rare in Europe, while Fomes applanatus, which is common in Europe, is very scarce in the United States. In general appearance they are much alike, the applanatus having a softer tissue and echinulate spores, but our common species, leucophaeus, has smooth spores.

The pileus is expanded, tuberculose, obsoletely zoned, pulverulent, or smooth; cinnamon, becoming whitish; cuticle crustaceous, rigid, at length fragile, very soft within; loosely floccose, margin tumid; white, then cinnamon. The pores are very small, slightly ferruginous, orifice whitish, brownish when bruised. The spore surface when fresh is soft and white.

This attractive plant is very common in our woods and furnishes an excellent stencil surface for drawing. Found all the year round.

Fomes fomentarius. Fr.

THE BRACKET FOMES.

This species is very common in our woods. The brackets resemble a horse's hoof in shape. They are smoky, gray, and of various shades of brown. The upper surface of the bracket is quite strongly zoned and furrowed, so as to show each year's growth. The margin is thick and blunt, and the tube surface is concave; the openings of the tubes quite large, so that they can be readily seen by the naked eye. The tube surface is reddish-brown when mature. The inside was formerly used in making tinder-sticks, which were made by rolling the fungus wood until it was perfectly flexible and then dipping it into saltpetre.

Fomes rimosus. Berkeley.

CRACKED FOMES.



Rimosus means cracked. The fine checks in the pileus are clearly seen in the halftone.

The pileus is pulvinate-ungulate, much dilated, deeply sulcate; cinnamon, then brown or blackish; very much cracked or rimose. It is very hard, fibrous, tawny-ferruginous; the margin broad, pruinate-velvety, rather acute.

The pores are minute, indistinctly stratified, tawny-ferruginous, the mouths rhubarb-color. Morgan.

This plant is very common on the locust trees about Chillicothe. I have never found it on other wood.

Fomes pinicola. (Swartz.) Fr.



Pinicola means dwelling on pine. It is found on dead pine, spruce, balsam, and other conifers. It resembles Fomes leucophaeus but is somewhat stouter and does not have as hard and firm a crust. The young growth is at the margin, and is whitish or tinged with yellow, while the old zones are reddish. The tube surface is whitish-yellow or yellowish. This is frequently called Polyporus pinicolus. (Swartz.) Fr.

Fomes igniarius. Fr.



This is rather a common species in our state; black or brownish-black in color, somewhat triangular in shape, and frequently hoof-shaped. The zones indicating the yearly growth are plainly marked, and the tubes are quite long and of a dark brown color. Their growth is rather slow, and it requires years to produce some of the moderate sized specimens. Prof. Atkinson of Cornell University found a specimen which he believed to be over 80 years old.

This is called by many authors Polyporus igniarius (L.), Fr. Murrill calls it Pyropolyporus igniarius. This plant is widely distributed over the United States, and is met frequently in every wood in Ohio.

Fomes fraxinophilus. Fr.



Fraxinophilus means ash-loving; rather common in this country, but does not grow in Europe.

The pileus is between corky and woody, smooth, somewhat flattened, at first zoneless; white when young, then reddish-brown, white around the margin; at first even, then concentrically sulcate, pale within.

The tubes are short, pores minute, rusty-red but covered from the first with a white pubescence and continuous with the margin; the spores nearly round, 6-7u.

The specimens in Figure 350 were found in Haynes' Hollow on a living ash, growing at intervals of five or six feet, one above another, to a height of thirty feet.

Trametes. Fr.

In case of the genus Trametes the hymenophorum descends into the trama of the pores without any change, and is permanently concrete with the pileus. The pores are entire. There are, however, a few of the Polypori which are quite thin that have the trama of the same structure with the hymenophorum. These have been separated by Fries and have been called Polystictus. They are distinguished by the fact that the pores develop from the center out and are perpendicular to the fibrillose stratum above the hymenophorum while in the genus Trametes the hymenophorum is not distant from the rest of the pileus.

Trametes rubescens. Fr.



This is one of the neatest plants of this structure in our woods. It grows on the small branches and many times covers them quite well. It is resupinate, the cap being beautifully zoned as you see in Figure 351. Frequently they grow from the side of a small tree that has fallen to the ground and in this case they are shelving.

The pore surface is usually reddish or flesh-color, the pores being long and irregular and inclined to be labyrinthiform in older specimens as will be seen in Figure 352.

The whole plant is reddish or pale flesh-color. No one will fail to recognize it from these cuts.

Trametes scutellata. Schw.

Scutellata means shield-bearing. It is frequently quite small, an inch or less; coriaceous, dimidiate, orbiculate or ungulate, fixed by the apex; the pilei quite hard: white, then brownish and blackish, becoming rugged and uneven, with white margin; hymenium disk-shaped, concave, white-pulverulent becoming dark; pores minute, long, with thick obtuse dissepiments. This is found on fence posts.

Trametes Ohiensis. Berk.

The pilei are pulvinate, narrow, zoned, often laterally confluent; ochraceous-white, tomentose, then smooth, laccate. This plant resembles T. scutellata in many points, both in habit and in form.

Trametes suaveolens. (L.) Fr.

Soft at first, pulvinate, white, villous, zoneless; pores rotund, rather large, obtuse, white, then darker; anise-scented. Found on willows.

Merulius. Fr.

Merulius means a blackbird; from the color of the fungus.

Hymenophore covered with the soft waxy hymenium, which is incompletely porus, or arranged in reticulate, sinuous, dentate folds. This genus grows on wood, at first resupinate, expanded; the hymenophore springing from a mucous mycelium.

Merulius rubellus. Pk.



Rubellus is the diminutive of ruber, reddish. The pileus grows in tufts, sessile, confluent and imbricated, repand, thin, convex, soft, dimidiate, quite tenacious; tomentose, evenly red, margin mostly undulately inflexed, growing pale in age. Hymenium whitish or reddish, folds much branched, forming anastomosing pores. The spores are elliptical, hyaline, minute, 4-5x2.5-3u. The pileus is two to three inches long and an inch and a half broad.

It is found very frequently on decayed beech and sugar trees and I have found it growing on a live oak. The specimens in Figure 353 were collected near Columbus and photographed by Dr. Kellerman. It is probably the same as M. incarnati, Schw.

Merulius tremellosus. Schrad.



Tremellosus, trembling. Resupinate; margin becoming free and more or less reflexed, usually radiately-toothed, fleshy, tremelloid, tomentose, white; hymenium variously wrinkled and porus, whitish and subtranslucent-looking, becoming tinged with brown in the center. The spores are cylindrical, curved, about 4x1u. From one to three inches across, remaining pale when growing in dark places. The margin is sometimes tinged with a rose-color, radiating when it is well developed. Massee.

This plant grows in woods on wood and is quite common in our woods—both the rose-colored and the translucent-brown. Captain McIlvaine calls Merulius tremellosus and M. rubellus emergency species. He says they are rather tasteless, tough, slightly woody in flavor. They are found in October and November.

Merulius corium. Fr.

Resupinate, effused, soft, papery, circumference at length free, reflexed, white, villous below. Hymenium netted, porus, pallid, tan-color.

Found on decaying-branches. Quite common.

Merulius lacrymans. Fr.

Resupinate, fleshy, spongy, moist, 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, so arranged to have the appearance of pores (but never anything like tubes), distilling when perfect drops of water which give rise to the specific name "weeping."

Dr. Charles W. Hoyt of Chillicothe, brought to my office two or three plants of this species that had grown on the under side of the floor in his wash-house. When he took up the floor the workmen discovered a number of pendant processes, some oval, some cone-shaped. Some were eight inches long, very white and beautiful but clearly illustrating the weeping process. The doctor called them white rats suspended by their tails.

Daedalea. Pers.

Daedalea is used with reference to the labyrinthiform pores; so named after Daedalos, the builder of the labyrinth of Crete.

The hymenophore descends into the trama without any change, pores firm, when fully grown sinuous and labyrinthiform, lacerated, and toothed. The habits of Daedalea are very much the same as Trametes, but they are inodorous. Care should be taken not to confound them with the species of Polyporus that have elongated curved pores.

Daedalea ambigua. Berk.



The pileus is white, corky, horizontal, explanate, reniform, subsessile, azonate, finely pubescent, becoming smooth.

Pores from round to linear and labyrinthiform, the dissepiments always obtuse and never lamellate.

It is a very common growth in Ohio, found on old logs of the sugar maple. You will see the beginning of the growth in the spring as a round white nodule which develops slowly. If the same plant is observed in the summer it will be found to be gibbous or convex in form. It finishes its growth in the fall when it has become explanate and horizontal, depressed above and with a thin margin. When fresh and growing it is of a rich cream-color and has a soft and velvety touch and a pleasant fragrance. In Figure 355, showing the surface of the cap, the growth of the plant shows in the form of the zones. Figure 356 shows the form of the dissepiments. In younger specimens these are frequently round, much like a Polyporus. There is one locality in Poke Hollow where the maple logs are white with this species, appearing, in the distance, to be oyster mushrooms.

Daedalea quercina. Pk.

THE OAK DAEDALEA.



The pileus is a pallid wood color, corky, rugulose, uneven, without zones, becoming smooth; of the same color within as without; the margin in full-grown specimens thin, but in imperfectly developed specimens swollen and blunt.

The pores are at first round, then broken into contorted or gill-like labyrinthiform sinuses, with obtuse edges of the same color as the pileus, sometimes with a slight shade of pink.

They grow to be very large, from six to eight inches broad, being found on oak stumps and logs, though not as common in Ohio as D. ambigua. The specimen in Figure 357 were found in Massachusetts by Mrs. Blackford and photographed here.

Daedalea unicolor. Fr.

Villose-strigose, cinereous with concolorous zones; hymenium with flexuous, winding, intricate, acute dissepiments, at length torn and toothed. The pores are whitish cinereous, sometimes fuscous; variable in thickness, color, and character of hymenium; sometimes with white margin; often imbricated and fuliginous when moist. Widely distributed over the states and found on nearly all deciduous trees.

Daedalea confragosa. Boton.

THE WILLOW DAEDALEA.



Confragosa means broken, rough. The pileus is rather convex, corky, rough, slightly zonate, reddish-brown, unicolorous, somewhat of a rust-red within.

The pores are frequently round, like those of the Polyporus, but sometimes they are elongated into gills like the Lenzites; reddish-brown.

I have seen quite old specimens that were very difficult to distinguish from some of the forms of Lenzites. The young plants resemble very closely Trametes rubescens. It grows on Crataegus, willow and sometimes on other trees, and is widely distributed. The specimen in Figure 358 was found in Massachusetts by Mrs. Blackford, and photographed in my study.

Favolus. Fr.

Favolus is a diminutive of favus, honey-comb.

The hymenium is alveolate, radiating, formed of the densely irregularly uniting gills; elongated, diamond-shaped. Spores white. Semicircular in outline, somewhat stipitate.

Favolus canadensis. Klotsch.



The pileus is fleshy, tough, thin, kidney-form, fibrillose, scaly, tawny, becoming pale and smooth.

The pores or alveoli are angular elongated, white at first, then straw-color.

The stem is eccentric, lateral, very short or lacking altogether.

This plant is very common around Chillicothe on fallen branches in the woods, especially on hickory. Found from September to frost. Not poisonous but too tough to eat. I do not believe there is any difference between F. canadensis and Favolus Europeus. I notice that our plant assumes different colors in different stages of its growth, and the form of the pores also changes.

Cyclomyces. Kunz & Fr.

Cyclomyces is from two Greek words, meaning a circle and fungus. This genus is very distinct from other tube-bearing genera. The pileus is fleshy, leathery or membranaceous, and usually cushion-formed. Upon the lower surface are the plate-like bodies resembling the gills of Agarics but which are composed of minute pores. These pore bodies are arranged in concentric circles around the stem.

Cyclomyces Greenii. Berk.



The pileus is two to three inches broad, globose at first, convex, sometimes undulate, somewhat zoned, tomentose, dry, cushion-formed, cinnamon-brown, rather showy.

The gills are in concentric circles around the stem, growing larger and larger as they reach the margin of the cap. In the young plant the gills are divided into long divisions but in the older plant these division lines disappear as will be seen in Figure 361. The edges of the gills are white at first, as will be seen in Figure 361, but finally becoming cinnamon-brown.

The stem is central, tapering upward, quite large and swollen at times very much like Hydnum spongiosipes; the color is the same as the pileus.

This is a very interesting plant and quite rare in Ohio, however, I found several plants in the fall of 1905, on Ralston's Run. In the same locality I found Boletus badius, and when I first saw C. Greenii I came near mistaking it for the same plant and so neglecting it, the caps being at first glance so much alike.

Gloeoporus. Mont.

Gloeoporus is from two Greek words, meaning gluten and pore. The plants of this genus resemble the polyporus and are frequently placed under that genus.

Gloeoporus conchoides. Mont.

Conchoides means like a shell.

The pileus is leathery or woody, at first fleshy, soft, effused, with upper margin reflexed; thin, silky, whitish, with edge of the margin often reddish. It has a trembling, gelatinous, spore-bearing surface, often somewhat elastic.

The pores are short, very small, round, cinnamon-brown.

There are several synonyms. Polyporus dichrous, Fr., and P. nigropurpurascens, Schw. Montgomery places it in the above genus because of its gelatinous hymenium.



CHAPTER VIII.

HYDNACEAE—FUNGI WITH TEETH.

There is, perhaps, no family in mycology that has a greater variety in form, size, and consistency than this. Some species are very large, some are small, some fleshy, and some are corky or woody. The fruiting surface is the special characteristic marking the family. This surface is covered with spines or teeth which nearly always point to the earth.

Many of the Hydnaceae are shelving, growing on trees or logs; some grow on the ground on central, but usually eccentric, stems. The genera of Hydnaceae are distinguished by the size, shape, and attachment of the teeth. The following genera are included:

Hydnum—Spines discrete at the base. Irpex—Resupinate; with gill-like teeth concrete with the pileus. Mucronella—Plants with teeth only and no basal membrane. Radulum—Hymenium with thick, blunt, irregular spines. Sistotrema—Fleshy plants with caps and flattened teeth, on ground. Phlebia—Plants spread over the host with crowded folds or wrinkles. Grandinia—Covered with granules, more or less smooth, and excavated. Odontium—Covered with crested granules.

Hydnum. Linn.

Hydnum is from a Greek word meaning an eatable fungus. The genus is characterized by awl-shaped spines which are distant at the base. These spines are at first papilliform, then elongated and round. They form the fruiting surface and take the place of the gills in the family Agaricaceae and of the pores in the family of Polyporaceae. The spines are simple or in some cases the tips are more or less branched.

This is the greatest genus in the family and it includes many important edible species. It may be divided into two groups: one, those species having a cap and a central or lateral stem; the other, the species growing with or without a distinct cap, in large imbricated masses. Some imitate coral in structure and some seem to be a mass of spines. Many of these plants grow to be very large and massive, frequently weighing over ten pounds.

Hydnum repandum. Linn.

THE SPREADING HYDNUM. EDIBLE.



Repandum, bent backward, referring to the position of the stem and the cap. The pileus is two to four inches broad, generally irregular, with the stem eccentric; fleshy, brittle, convex or nearly plane, compact, more or less repand, nearly smooth; color varying from a pale buff—the typical hue—to a distinct brick-red; flesh creamy-white, inclining to turn brown when bruised; taste slightly aromatic, margin often wavy.

The spines are beneath the cap, one-quarter to one-third of an inch long, irregular, entire, pointed, rather easily detached, leaving small cavities in the fleshy cap, soft, creamy, becoming darker in older specimens.

The stem is short, thick, solid in young specimens, hollow in older specimens; paler than the pileus, rather rough, often set eccentrically into the cap; one to three inches long, sometimes thickened at the base, sometimes at the top. The spores are globose or a broad oval, with a small papilla at one end.

The usual color of the cap is buff, sometimes very pale, almost white. The color and smoothness of the cap have given rise to the name of "doe-skin mushroom." I found this plant occasionally in the woods about Salem, Ohio. It is very variable in size and color, and is quite fragile, growing alone or in clusters. It is one of our best mushrooms if properly cooked, and may be dried and kept for winter use. Found in woods and open places from July to October, sometimes earlier. Specimens in Figure 362 were found in Poke Hollow.

Hydnum imbricatum. Linn.

THE IMBRICATED HYDNUM. EDIBLE.

Imbricatum is from imbrex, a tile, referring to the surface of the cap being torn into triangular scales, seeming to overlap one another like shingles on a roof.

The pileus is fleshy, plane, slightly depressed, tessellated scaly, downy, not zoned, umber in color or brownish as if scorched, flesh dingy-white, taste slightly bitter when raw, margin round.

The spines are decurrent, entire, numerous, short, ashy-white, generally equal in length.

The stem is firm, short, thick, even, whitish. The spores are pale yellow-brown, rough.

The bitter taste entirely leaves the plant when well cooked. It seems to delight in pine or chestnut woods. I found it in Emmanuel Thomas' woods, east of Salem, Ohio. It is found from September to November.

Hydnum erinaceum. Bull.

THE HEDGEHOG HYDNUM. EDIBLE.



Erinaceum, a hedgehog. Two to eight inches or more across. Tufts pendulous. White and yellowish-white becoming yellowish-brown; fleshy, elastic, tough, sometimes emarginate (broadly attached as if tuft were cut in two or sliced off where attached), a mass of latticed branches and fibrils. Spines one and a half inches to four inches long, crowded, straight, equal, pendulous. The stem is sometimes rudimentary. The spores are subglobose, white, plain, 5-6u. Peck, 22 N. Y. Report.

The spines when just starting are like small papillae, as will be seen in Figure 364. Figure 363 represents a very fine specimen found on the end of a beech log, on the Huntington Hills, near Chillicothe. It made a meal for three families. I have found several basketfuls of this species on this same log, within the past few years. I have also found on the same log large specimens of Hydnum corralloides.

The photograph at the beginning of the book represents the largest specimen I ever saw of this species. It measured eighteen inches one way and thirteen the other, and was found on a maple tree on top of Mount Logan. It grew from a central stem, while the one in Figure 363 grew from a crack in a log, apparently without a stem. Plate I, Figure 1 was photographed after it was dried. The specimen can be seen in the Lloyd Library in Cincinnati. Found from July to October.



Hydnum caput-ursi. Fr.

THE BEAR'S HEAD HYDNUM. EDIBLE.



Caput-ursi means the head of a bear.

This is a very beautiful plant but not as common as some other species of Hydnum. It grows in very large pendulous tufts, as Figure 365 will indicate. It is found frequently on standing oak and maple trees, sometimes quite high up in the trees. It is more frequently found on logs and stumps, as are its kindred species. The plant arises out of the wood by a single stout stem which branches into many divisions, all of which are covered by long pendant spines. When it grows on top of a log or stump the spines are frequently erect. It is white, becoming in age yellow and brownish. It has a wide distribution through the states. As an esculent it is fine. The specimen in Figure 365 was found near Akron, Ohio, and was photographed by Mr. G. D. Smith. It is found from July to October.

Hydnum caput-Medusae. Bull.

THE MEDUSA'S HEAD HYDNUM. EDIBLE.



Caput-Medusae, head of Medusa. This is a very striking plant when seen in the woods. The tufts are pendulous. The long wavy spines resemble the wavy locks of Medusa, hence the name. The long soft spines cover the entire surface of the fungus, which is divided into fleshy branches or divisions, each terminating in a crown of shorter drooping teeth.

The color at first is white, changing in age to a buff or a dark cream, which distinguishes it from H. caput-ursi. The taste is sweet and aromatic, sometimes slightly pungent. The stem is short and concealed beneath the growth.

I found this plant growing on a hickory log, on Lee's hill, near Chillicothe, from which came the specimen in Figure 366. I have also found it on elm and beech. Found from July to October.

It is both attractive and palatable.

Hydnum coralloides. Scop.

THE CORAL-LIKE HYDNUM. EDIBLE.



This species grows in large, beautiful tufts on decaying logs, in damp woods. It grows from a common stem, dividing into many branches and then sub-dividing into many long and coral-like shoots, composed wholly of attenuated interlacing branches tapering to a point. The spines grow from one side of the flattened branches. It only needs to be seen once to be recognized as a coral-like mushroom. It is pure white at first, becoming creamy or dingy-white with age. It seems to delight in damp, hilly places, yet I found it to be abundant at Sidney, and to some extent about Bowling Green, Ohio, where it was very level. It is plentiful around Chillicothe. One hickory log, from which the specimen in the figure was taken, furnished me several basketfuls of this plant during three seasons, but at the end of the third season the log crumbled away, mycelium having literally consumed it. It is one of the most beautiful fungi that Dame Nature has been able to fashion. It is said that Elias Fries, when a mere boy, was so impressed with the sight of this beautiful fungus, which grew abundantly in his native woods in Sweden, that he resolved when he grew up to pursue the study of Mycology, which he did; and became one of the greatest authorities of the world in that part of Botany. In fact, he laid the foundation for the study of Basidiomycetes, and this beautiful little coral-like fungus was his inspiration.

It is found principally on beech, maple and hickory in damp woods, from July to frost. I have eaten it for years and esteem it among the best.

Hydnum septentrionale. Fr.

THE NORTHERN HYDNUM.



Septentrionale, northern. This is a very large, fleshy, fibrous plant, growing usually upon logs and stumps.

There are many pilei growing one above the other, plane, margin straight, whole. The spines are crowded, slender and equal.

I have found a number of specimens about Chillicothe that would weigh from eight to ten pounds each. The plant is too woody to eat. Besides, it seems to have but little flavor. I have always found it on beech logs, from September to October.

A very large plant grows every year on a living beech tree on Cemetery Hill.

Hydnum spongiosipes. Pk.



Spongiosipes means a sponge-like foot. Pileus convex, soft, spongy-tomentose, but tough in texture, rusty-brown, the lower stratum firmer and more fibrous, but concolorous.

The spines are slender, one to two lines long, rusty-brown, becoming darker with age.

The stem is hard and corky within, externally spongy-tomentose; colored like the pileus, the central substance often transversely zoned, especially near the top. Spores globose, nodulose, purplish-brown, 4-6 broad. Pileus one and a half to four inches broad. Stem one and a half to three inches long, and four to eight lines thick. Peck, 50th Rep.

It is found in the woods, quite plentifully, about Chillicothe. I referred it to H. ferrugineum for a long time, but not being satisfied, sent some specimens to Dr. Peck, who classified it as H. spongiosipes. It is edible but very tough. Found from July to October.

Hydnum zonatum. Batsch.

THE ZONED HYDNUM.



Zonatum, zoned. Ferruginous; pileus equally coriaceous, thin, expanded, subinfundibuliform, zoned, becoming smooth; tough, almost leathery in texture, having a surface of beautiful brown, silky lustre, and with radiating striae; margin paler; sterile.

The stem is slender, nearly equal, floccose, bulbous at the base.

The spines are slender, pallid, then of the same color as the pileus, equal. The spores are rough, globose, pale, 4u.

The spore-bearing spines are shown in the upper plants in Figure 370. Two of them show coalesced caps, though the stems are separate. This is the case with H. scrobiculatum and H. spongiosipes. The plants in Figure 370 were collected by the roadside in woods on the State Farm, near Lancaster, and photographed by Dr. Kellerman.

Hydnum scrobiculatum. Fr.



Scrobiculatum means marked with a ditch or trench; so called from the rough condition of the cap. The pileus is from one to three inches broad, corky, convex, then plane, sometimes slightly depressed; tough in texture, rusty-brown; the surface of the cap usually quite rough, marked with ridges or trenches, flesh ferruginous.

The spines are short, rusty-brown, becoming dark with age.

The stem is firm, one to two inches long, unequal, rusty-brown, often covered with a dense tomentum.

This species is very plentiful in our woods, among the leaves under beech trees. They grow in lines for some distance, the caps so close together that they are very frequently confluent. I found the plant at Salem, and in several other localities in the state, although I have never seen a description of it. Any one will be able to recognize it from Figure 371. It grows in the woods in August and September.

Hydnum Blackfordae. Pk.

The pileus is fleshy, convex, glabrous, grayish or greenish-gray, flesh whitish with reddish stains, slowly becoming darker on exposure; aculei subulate, 2-5 mm. long, yellowish-gray, becoming brown with age or drying; stem equal or stuffed, becoming hollow in drying; glabrous, colored like the pileus; spores brown, globose, verrucose, 8-10u broad.

The pileus is 2.5-6 cm. broad; stem 2.5-4 cm. long, 3-4 mm. thick.

Mossy ground in low springy places in damp mixed woods. August. Peck.

This species was found at Ellis, Mass., and was sent to me through courtesy of the collector, Mrs. E. B. Blackford, Boston, for whom it was named.

Hydnum fennicum. Karst.



Pileus fleshy, fragile, unequal; at first scaly, at length breaking up; reddish-brick color becoming darker; margin undulately lobed, two to four inches broad. Flesh white.

The teeth decurrent, equal, pointed, from white to dusky, about 4 mm. long.

The stem is sufficiently stout, unequal below, attenuated, flexuous or curved, smooth, of the same color as the cap, base acute, white tomentum outside, inside light pale-blue, or dark-gray.

The spores are ellipso-spheroidical or subspheroidical, rough, dusky, 4-6u long, 3-5u broad.

The plants in Figures 372 and 373 were found in Haynes' Hollow.

The plant is quite bitter and no amount of cooking will make it edible.

Found in woods from August to September.

Hydnum adustum. Fr.



Adustum means scorched, burned. The pileus is two to three inches broad, yellowish-white, blackish around the margin, coriaceous, slightly zoned; plane at first, then slightly depressed; tomentose, thin; frequently a plant will be found growing on the top of another plant. The spines are at first white, adnate, short, turning flesh-color and when dried almost black.

The stem is short, solid, tapering upward.

The plant is found growing in the woods on trunks and sticks after a rain in July, August, and September. It is not as plentiful as Hydnum spongiosipes and H. scrobiculatum. It is an attractive plant when seen in the woods.

Hydnum ochraceum. P.

OCHREY HYDNUM.

Small, at first entirely resupinate, gradually reflexed, and somewhat repand, at first sparingly clothed with dirty-white down, at length rugose; one to three inches broad. The spines are short, entire, becoming pale. Fries.

It is occasionally found on decayed sticks in the woods.

Hydnum pulcherrimum. B. & C.

MOST BEAUTIFUL HYDNUM.



Pulcherrimum is the superlative of pulcher, beautiful.

The pileus is fleshy, somewhat fibrous, alutaceus, hirsute; the margin thin, entire, incurved.

The aculei short, crowded, equal.

It is found on beech wood, frequently imbricated and laterally confluent; a single pileus two to five inches in breadth and projecting two to four inches. The spines are rather short, not exceeding a quarter of an inch.

The entire plant is quite fibrous and has a hirsute surface. The color varies from whitish to alutaceous and yellowish. It is not common with us. Figure 375 represents one of the pilei showing the spines.

Hydnum graveolens. Del.

FRAGRANT HYDNUM.

Graveolens means sweet-scented.

The pileus is coriaceous, thin, soft, not zoned, rugose, dark-brown, brown within, margin becoming whitish. The stem is slender and the spines are decurrent. The spines are short, gray.

The whole plant smells of melilot; even after it has been dried and kept for years it does not lose this scent.

I found two specimens in Haynes's Hollow.

Irpex. Fr.

Irpex, a harrow, so called from a fancied resemblance of its teeth to the teeth of a harrow. It grows on wood; toothed from the first, the teeth are connected at the base, firm, somewhat coriaceous, concrete with the pileus, arranged in rows or like net-work. Irpex differs from Hydnum in having the spines connected at the base and more blunt.

Irpex carneus. Fr.

This plant, as its specific name indicates, resembles the color of flesh. Reddish, effused, one to three inches long, cartilaginous-gelatinous, membranaceous, adnate. Teeth obtuse and awl-shaped, entire, united at the base. Fries.

Found on the tulip-tree, hickory, and elm. September and October.

Irpex lacteus. Fr.

Growing on wood, membranaceous, clothed with stiff hair, more or less furrowed, milk-white, as its specific name indicates.

The spines are compressed, radiate, margin porus. Found on hickory and beech logs and stumps.

Irpex tulipifera. Schw.



Coriaceous-membranaceous, effused; hymenium inferior, at first toothed, teeth springing from a porus base, somewhat coriaceous, entirely concrete with the pileus, netted and connected at the base, white or whitish, turning yellowish with age.

This plant is very abundant here on fallen tulip trees. I have seen entire tree tops and trunks covered with this plant. The branches after they have been penetrated with the mycelial threads become very light and brittle.

Phlebia. Fr.

Lignatile, resupinate, hymenium soft and waxy, covered with folds or wrinkles, edges entire or corrugated.

Phlebia radiata. Fr.



Somewhat round, then dilated, confluent, fleshy and membranaceous, reddish or flesh-red, the circumference peculiarly radiately marked. The folds in rows radiating from the center.

The spores are cylindric-oblong, curved, 4-5x1-1.5u.

This is quite common on beech bark in the woods. Its bright color and mode of growth will attract attention.

Grandinia. Fr.

Lignatile, effused, waxy, granulated, granules globular, entire, permanent.

Grandinia granulosa. Fr.

Effused, rather thin, waxy, somewhat ochraceous, circumference determinate, granules globular, equal, crowded.

Found on decayed wood. Quite common in our woods.



CHAPTER IX.

THELEPHORACEAE.

Thelephoraceae is from two Greek words, a teat and to bear. The hymenium is even, coriaceous, or waxy, costate, or papillose. There are a number of genera under this family but I am acquainted with only the genus Craterellus.

Craterellus. Fr.

Craterellus means a small bowl. Hymenium waxy-membranaceous, distinct but adnate to the hymenophore, inferior, continuous, smooth, even or wrinkled. Spores white. Fries.

Craterellus cantharellus. (Schw.) Fr.

YELLOW CRATERELLUS. EDIBLE.



Cantharellus is a diminutive from a Greek word meaning a sort of drinking-cup.

The pileus is one to three inches broad, convex, often becoming depressed and funnel-shaped, glabrous, yellowish, or pinkish. Flesh white, tough, elastic.

Hymenium slightly wrinkled, yellow or faint salmon color.

The stem is one to three inches high, tapering downward, smooth, solid, yellow. The spores are yellowish or salmon color when caught on white paper, 7.5-10x5-6u. Peck.

This plant resembles Cantharellus cibarius very closely. The color, form of growth, and the odor are very similar to the latter. It may be readily distinguished from C. cibarius by the absence of folds on the under or fruiting surface. The caps are often large and wavy, resembling yellow cauliflower. It is quite abundant about Chillicothe during the months of July and August. I have frequently gathered bushels of it for my mushroom-friends. It will be easily recognized from Figure 378, bearing in mind that the caps and stems are yellow.

Craterellus cornucopioides Fr.

THE HORN OF PLENTY CRATERELLUS. EDIBLE.



Cornucopioides is from cornu, a horn, and copia, plenty.

The pileus is thin, flexible, tubiform, hollow to the base, blackish-brown, sometimes a little scaly, the hymenium even or somewhat wrinkled, cinereous.

The stem is hollow, smooth, black, short, almost wanting. The spores are elliptical, whitish, 11-12x7-8u.

No one will have any trouble in recognizing this species, having once seen its picture and read its description. Its elongated or trumpet-shaped cap, and its dingy-gray or sooty-brown hue, will at once distinguish it. The spore-bearing surface is often a little paler than the upper surface. The cup is often three to four inches long. I have found it in quite large clusters in the woods near Bowling Green, and Londonderry, though it is found rather sparingly on the hillsides about Chillicothe. It has a wide distribution in other states. It does not look inviting, on account of its color, but it proves a favorite whenever tested, and may be dried and kept for future use. It is found from July to September.

Craterellus dubius. Pk.



Dubius means uncertain, from its close resemblance to C. cornucopoides.

The pileus is one to two inches broad, infundibuliform, subfibrillose, lurid-brown, pervious to the base, the margin generally wavy, lobed. Hymenium dark cinereous, rugose when moist, the minute crowded irregular folds abundantly anastomosing; nearly even when dry. The stem is short. The spores are broadly elliptical or subglobose, 6-7.5u long. Peck.

It differs from C. cornucopioides in manner of growth, paler color, and smaller spores.

It is distinguished from Craterellus sinuosus by its pervious stem, while very similar in color to Cantharellus cinereus.

This plant, like C. cornucopoides, dries readily, and when moistened expands and becomes quite as good as when fresh. It needs to be stewed slowly till tender, when it makes a delightful dish.

The plants in Figure 380 were collected near Columbus by R. H. Young and photographed by Dr. Kellerman. They are found from July to October.

Corticium. Fr.

Entirely resupinate, hymenium soft and fleshy when moist, collapsing when dry, often cracked.

Corticium lacteum. Fr.

This is a very small plant, resupinate, membranaceous, and it is so named because of the milk-white color underneath. The hymenium is waxy when moist, cracked when dry.

Corticium oakesii. B. & C.

The plant is small, waxy-pliant, somewhat coriaceous, cup-shaped, then explanate, confluent, marginate, externally white-tomentose.

The hymenium is even, contiguous, becoming pallid. Spores elliptical, appendiculate.

I found very fine specimens of this plant on the Iron-wood, Ostrya Virginica, which grows on the high school lawn in Chillicothe. In rainy weather in October and November the bark would be white with the plant. It resembles a small Peziza at first.

Corticium incarnatum. Fr.

Waxy when moist, becoming rigid when dry, confluent, agglutinate, radiating. Hymenium red or flesh-color, covered with a delicate flesh-colored bloom. Some fine specimens were found on dead chestnut trees in Poke Hollow.

Corticium sambucum. Pk.

Effused on elder bark, white, continuous when growing, when dry cracked or flocculose and collapsing. It grows on the bark or the wood of the elder.

Corticium cinereum. Fr.

Waxy when moist, rigid when dry, agglutinate, lurid. The hymenium is cinereous, with a very delicate bloom. Common on sticks in the woods.

Thelephora. Fr.

The pileus is without a cuticle, consisting of interwoven fibres. Hymenium ribbed, of a tough, fleshy substance, rather rigid, then collapsing and flocculent.

Thelephora Schweinitzii.



Schweinitzii is named in honor of the Rev. David Lewis de Schweinitz. Caespitose, white or pallid. Pilei soft-corinaceous, much branched; the branches flattened, furrowed and somewhat dilated at the apex.

The stems are variable in length, often connate or fused together into a solid base.

The hymenium is even, becoming darker colored when older. Morgan.

This plant is known as T. pallida. It is very abundant on our hillsides in Ross County, and in fact throughout the state.

Thelephora laciniata. P.

The pileus is soft, somewhat coriaceous, incrusting, ferruginous-brown. The pilei are imbricated, fibrous, scaly, margin fimbriated, at first dirty white. The hymenium is inferior and papillose.

Thelephora palmata. Fr.

The pileus is coriaceous, soft, erect, palmately branched from a common stalk; pubescent, purplish-brown; branches flat, even, tips fimbriated, whitish. The scent is very noticeable soon after it is picked. They grow on the ground in July and August.

Thelephora cristata. Fr.

The pileus is incrusting, rather tough, pallid, passing into branches, the apices compressed, expanded, and beautifully fringed. The plant is whitish, grayish, or purplish-brown. It is found on moss or stems of weeds. I found beautiful specimens at Bainbridge Caves.

Thelephora sebacea. Fr.

The pileus is effused, fleshy, waxy, becoming hard, incrusting, variable, tuberculose or stalactitic, whitish, circumference similar; hymenium flocculose, pruinose, or evanescent.

It is found effused over grass. One meets with it often.

Stereum. Fr.

The hymenium is coriaceous, even, rather thick, concrete with the intermediate stratum of the pileus, which has a cuticle even and veinless, remaining unchanged and smooth.

Stereum versicolor.



Versicolor means changing color, referring to the different bands of color. The pileus is effused, reflexed, having a number of different zones; in some plants the zones are more marked than in others, the zones appearing very much like those in Polyporus versicolor.

The hymenium is even, smooth and brown.

This is a very common plant, found everywhere on old logs and stumps. It is widely diffused and can be found at any time of the year.

Stereum spadiceum. Fr.

Pilei coriaceous and spreading, reflexed, villous, somewhat ferruginous; margin rather obtuse, whitish, even beneath; smooth, brownish, and bleeding when scratched or bruised.

Stereum hirsutum. Fr.

Hirsutum means shaggy, hairy. The pilei are coriaceous and spreading, quite hairy, imbricated, more or less zoned, quite tough, often having a greenish tinge from the presence of a minute algae; naked, juiceless, yellowish, unchanged when bruised or scratched. The hymenium is pale-yellow, smooth, margin entire, often lobed. I find it usually on hickory logs.

Stereum fasciatum. Schw.

Fasciatum means bands or fillets. Pileus is coriaceous, plane, villous, zonate, grayish; hymenium, smooth, pale-red. Growing on decayed trunks. Common in all of our woods.

Stereum sericeum. Schw.



Sericeum means silky or satiny; so called from its satin lustre. The plant is very small and easily overlooked, usually growing in a resupinate form; sessile, orbiculate, free, papyraceous, with a bright satin lustre, shining, smooth, pale-grayish color.

The plant grows on both sides of small twigs as is shown in the photograph. I do not find it on large trunks but it is quite common on branches. No one will fail to recognize it from its specific name.

When I first observed it I named it S. sericeum, not knowing that there was a species by that name. I afterwards sent it to Prof. Atkinson and was surprised to find that I had correctly named it.

Stereum rugosum. Fr.

Rugosum means full of wrinkles.

Broadly effused, sometimes shortly reflexed; coriaceous, at length thick and rigid; pileus at length smooth, brownish.

The hymenium is a pale grayish-yellow, changing slightly to a red when bruised, pruinose. The spores are cylindrico-elliptical, straight, 11-12x4-5u. Massee.

This is quite variable in form, and agrees with S. sanguinolentum in becoming red when bruised; but it is thicker and more rigid in substance, its pores are straighter and larger.