EXCHANGE
WISCONSIN GEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY
E. A. BIRGE. Director W. O. HOTCHKISS. State Geologist
BULLETIN NO. XXXIII
SCIENTIFIC SERIES NO. 10
THE
POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN
BY
J. J. NEUMAN
MADISON, WIS.
PUBLISHED BY THE STATE
1914
, 53
EARTH
SCIENC^
LIBRAS^
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Introduction 1
Distribution and abundance of Polyporaceae causing the decay of
timber trees in certain regions of Northern Wisconsin 2
Key to genera 23
Description of species 24
Solenia 24
Porothelium 25
Merulius 25
Gleoporus 30
Favohis 31
Daedalea 33
Trametes 36
Poria 45
Polystictus 59
Fomes 70
Polyporus 87
Fistulina 117
Boletinus 118
Strobilomyces 121
Boletus 122
Bibliography 149
Glossary 150
Index . 153
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN
J. J. NEUMAN.
This great f amity of fungi is represented in Wisconsin by a large
number of species, belonging to all the commonly accepted genera ex-
(Cept Cyclomyces. Many of them are common in all parts of the state
but a few have so far been found only in certain regions. Polyporus
volvatus, for example, is of course found only in the northern part
of the state where its host, the pine, grows in considerable abundance.
Many other species that have been collected only in the northern part
of the state will probably also be found in the southern part, as their
hosts, and the conditions necessary for their growth, are present in
both regions. For example, Pomes marginatus grows on various de-
ciduous trees, but it has thus far not been collected in the southern
part of the state with the exception of one specimen which was found
growing on a hickory stump in Madison.
The group includes parasitic, saprophytic and terrestrial species.
To the latter belong the Boleti, Boletini, Strobilomyces and Poria
terrestris. The great majority, however, belong to the first two
groups and it is not yet clear as to many wood inhabiting species
whether they are in a strict sense parasitic or saprophytic.
The collections on which the following account is based are now in
the herbarium of the University of Wisconsin. They were made
during a period of six or seven years by a number of collectors. By
far the largest number of species was collected by the writer on spe-
cial excursions into our northern forests. The brief account of the
distribution and relation of the polypores to various decays in timber
trees is largely the result of a special study of certain of our northern
forest regions which were worked over in the summer of 1904, while
the author was employed as a special agent of the United States bu-
reau of Forestry. Abundant specimens of wood in various condi-
tions of decay were collected and later worked over microscopically.
Following are the names of some of the principal collectors who have
contributed material for the present work: F. E. McKenna, Blanch-
2 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
ardville, Iowa County; Prof. L. S. Cheney, Lake Superior Region;
B. 0. Dodge, Algoma, Kewaunee County; Dr. R. H. Denniston, Dane
and Sauk Counties; Dr. C. E. Allen, Dane and Sauk Counties and
Madaline Island; Dr. J. B. Overton, Brule Kiver Region; Dr. R. A.
Harper, Dane and Sauk Counties.
A large number of specimens have been sent to specialists for de-
termination and comparison, and I am especially indebted to Dr.
C. H. Peck, Prof. J. B. Ellis, Prof. A. P. Morgan, Dr. N. Patouil-
lard, Prof. G. Bresadola, and Dr. Paul Henning for numerous iden-
tifications and notes on difficult and obscure species. I am also in-
debted to Prof. R. A. Harper for numerous suggestions and assist-
ance in many ways.
The Distribution and Abundance of Polyporaceae causing the
Decay of Timber Trees in certain Regions of
Northern Wisconsin.
The territory in which I more specially studied the relations of the
polypores to the decay of timber trees, lies in Oneida, Vilas and Ash-
land counties, all of which are in the northern third of Wisconsin. In
Oneida county seven townships were quite thoroughly covered. Here
the most careful study was made of the Yawkey Lumber company's
stand of timber. In Vilas county about two townships north and
west of Star Lake were studied, consisting largely of the Merrill Lum-
ber Company's and Longely and Alderson's timber. In Ashland
county a little over one township was covered and practically all the
work was done in the Nash Lumber Company's forest near Shana-
golden.
In Oneida county most of the land has been cut over and much of
it is covered with a young growth of poplar, birch and maple with
here and there a sprinkling of red and white pine. The forest which
has not been cut consists of white and red pine (Pinus Strobus L. and
Pinus resinosa Ait.), hemlock [Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr] a little fir
[Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.], and now and then a group of jack or gray
pines (Pinus Banksiana Lamb). In the swamps, spruce [Picea mari-
ana (Mill.) BSP], arbor vitae (Thuja occidentalis L.) and tamar-
ack [Larix laricina (Du Roi) Koch] abound. Some deciduous trees
are also found here but not in great abundance except in the new
growth. Chief among these are sugar maple (Acer saccharum
Marsh.) a little red maple (A. rubrum L.) red oak (Quercus rubra
L.) yellow and red birches (B. lutea Michx. and B. nigra L.), American
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 3
aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), and at rare intervals an iron-
wood (Ostrya Virginica Willd.)-
In the region around Star Lake the same kinds of trees were found
but the proportion of deciduous trees is greater. Birches, poplar and
scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea Muench) make up a very large part of
the forest here. In some districts the forest is made up entirely of
deciduous trees, with here and there a white or red pine and a few
dwarfed firs. The swamps in this region are covered with spruce,
tamarack and arbor vitae.
About Shanagolden, Ashland County, there are very few pines,
some hemlock, and in the swamps, spruce, tamarack, willow and ar-
bor vitae are found. The bulk of the forest here consists of red birch
(Betula nigra), elm, (Ulmus Americana L.) and hard maple. In all
of these districts the standing timber, the new growth, burned areas
and fallen trees were carefully studied, since all of these furnish data
as to the prevalence and destructiveness of timber diseases.
The age of the trees in the uncut forests is quite variable. In the
older stands, the Norway pine often attains an age of one hundred to
cne hundred and fifty years, while large white pine stumps have two hun-
dred rings of growth. Some of the largest of these trees have diameters
of from twenty-five to thirty-six inches. The firs and spruce seldom-
reach a diameter of twelve inches at ages of not more than ninety-
five years. Arbor vitae were measured at Shanagolden that had di-
ameters of fifteen and sixteen inches at ages probably over one hundred
fifty years. (As the center was decayed entirely in these trees their
precise ages could not be determined.) These trees were seldom more
than fifty or sixty feet in height. The birch, as in the sandy soil of
Oneida and Vilas counties, was scrubby and not good for lumbering
purposes, rarely exceeding from eight to eleven inches in diameter,
and ranging in age from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty
years. In the much richer soil of Ashland county, the red birch is,
considered one of the most valuable of the trees for lumbering pur-
poses. Here the trunks often attain diameters of from one and one'
half to two feet at ages not over one hundred twenty-five years. The
elm grows very large here and is very valuable. The maple never
acquires a great size or high age in any of these counties and much;
of it cannot be used for lumbering purposes, for reasons to be men-
tioned later. It acquires the largest size and best shape in Ashlandi
county, the largest ones here measuring about fifteen inches in di-
ameter and from fifty to sixty feet in height. The ages of these trees
vary from eighty to one hundred years. Much of the maple at Sha-
nagolden is cut into cord wood. Tamarack and spruce rarely attain.
4 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
great size here. The largest tamarack trees were found near Razor-
back Lake in a small swamp in the Star Lake Region. Some of these
measured thirteen inches in diameter, with an altitude of about seventy
feet and an age of one hundred and ten years.
It is a conspicuous and very important fact that in the region
studied, the soundness and healthiness of the trees vary greatly with
the locality and with the kind of tree. Certain diseases are, or seem
to be, confined to limited localities. One foreman of the Yawkey
Lumber Company who has had many years' experience in the woods
told me that in the two forties lying between Carr and Horsehead
lakes, which are just being cut over, there is a great deal of "ring
rot", or "dry rot", while in the cuttings several miles west of these
there is very little. A train load of twenty-two cars of logs were
counted one day and the proportion of logs showing signs of decay was
obtained. In all there were three hundred and one logs of red and
white pine of all sizes ranging from seven inches to about thirty inches
in diameter. Of these sixty-two showed more or less signs of the ring
rot, or twenty and one-half per cent. Six logs had rot produced by Poly-
stictus abietinus, or a little less than two per cent. Very little of
this rot was found on red pine. The percentage of infected red and
white pines in the Star Lake Region is somewhat less.
A large proportion of the hemlock is infected by Polystictus abie-
tiinus, especially near the edges of the forest and in the more exposed
parts of it. Fir is comparatively healthy in the Carr Lake region.
'There is very little here and it is widely scattered. Firs of more than
four or five inches in diameter and sixty or seventy years of age are
• comparativly rare. In the Star Lake region at least eighty per cent
»af the fir trees are infected, chiefly with Fomes ungulatus.
Birch is very much infected with Fomes fomentarius, F. nigricans
and Polyporus betulinus, especially in Oneida and Vilas counties. In
a small area of about ten acres, out of ninety-seven trees forty-three
were infected, or forty-eight and three-tenths per cent.
The spruce is relatively free from rot. Near McNaughton several
larger trees were found infected, one with Trametcs pini and several
with Polystictus abietinus. In some swamps a large number of
spruces, especially young ones, were infected with a leaf rust which
often kills young trees from two to ten years old. The older trees
seem to be more or less immune from this disease, or have only the
lower branches infected. In one swamp near Star Lake a few witches '
brooms were found on spruce ; the cause of these is as yet uncertain.
The per cent of tamaracks which are diseased is very variable. In
some of the little swamps scarcely a pileus can be found on a tarn-
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 5
arack, while in others often as high as seventy trees out of one hun-
dred are infected. .Near Razorback Lake there is a little tamarack
swamp of about twelve acres. There are many large trees here hav-
ing diameters of over eleven inches and ages of from eighty to one
hundred and twenty years. Here a very large proportion is infected
with Trametes pini, Fomes ungulatus, Lenzites sepiaria, Fomes roseus
and a very few with Polystictus.
Of the arbor vitae nearly eighty-five per cent of the older trees are
hollow in all of the regions gone over, but no fungus was found which
could have been assigned with certainty as the cause, although sev-
eral hundred trees were minutely examined. The decay extends over
half way up into the trunk and usually down into the larger roots.
In these large roots there are often loose whitish or greyish white
wood fibres but in the upright trunks the cavities are usually empty.
The early stages of the rot could not be found in any of the speci-
mens examined. The youngest tree found infected was about two
inchs in diameter and about eighteen years old. This tree had a
well formed cavity nearly an inch in diameter, but this cavity did
not extend down into the roots. Judging from the appearance of the
cavities and the rotten wood, this disease seems to be very similar to
the disease caused by Fomes juniperinus described by Von Schrenk,
on red cedar.
In the region studied, maple, at least the hard maple, is seldom fit
for lumber. The trunks are quite universally cracked, apparently
by frost. This opens the door for wholesale infection. Fomes con-
natus, Hydnum septentrionale and Polyporus resinosus are also found
in living trees.
Elm was found only in Ashland county. These trees are tall and
graceful, the largest being from two feet to two and one half feet in
diameter and at least one hundred and fifty years old. Most of these
trees are said to be " shaky" in the butt to the height of about four
feet, that is, they are checked and cracked. This, however, does not
seem to be due to infection. Fomes nigricans, although not as abun-
dant as on maple, produces a rot in the elm similar to that produced
in maple by the same fungus. One large pileus which has at least
thirty strata was found on a living elm whose interior was quite de-
cayed. Polystictus conchifer is often found in the lower dead limbs
of the elm, but it was not evident that the fungus was the cause of
the death of these limbs. Lentinus Lecomptei grows quite abundantly
out of old elm logs or dead standing trunks, but nothing was deter-
mined as to its possible presence in living trees.
6 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
In Oneida and Vilas counties the birch is nearly all defective ex-
cept the young growth, which covers the cut-over areas. Many
trunks, both living and dead, show numerous pilei of Fomes fomen-
tarius, F. nigricans and Polyporus betulinus. Frequently they are
also infected with Fomes marginatus, Polystictus pergamenus and
Fomes applanatus. The last named, however, was never found on a
living birch, but only on much decayed trunks. Fomes applanatus
is quite frequently found growing out of wounds in the trunks of
living oaks. I have found such specimens near Horicon in Dodge
county, Oakfield in Fond du Lac county, and Bangor in La Crosse
county.
In Ashland county the birch is healthier and here it forms one of
the most valuable trees for lumbering purposes. In this region
Polyporus betulinus is quite rare. Fomes nigricans seems to be the
usual cause of disease in the birch here also. Two dead trees were
found infected with Armillaria mellea.
Poplar in all of these regions is infected to quite an extent with
Fomes nigricans. populinus, F. fomentarius, Polystictus pergamenus
and F. applanatus. Fomes nigricans and Polystictus pergamenus
were frequently found growing on living trees with every appear-
ance of being active parasites.
Polyporus Scliweinitzii is a frequent cause of disease in hemlock,
fir and white pine, especially in the Shanagolden district. This is
the only fungus in the whole region whose mycelium seems to enter
the tree through the roots. The rest seem for the most part to gain
an entrance through wounds.
Many other polypores as well as agarics and hydnums were col-
lected from decayed logs, stumps, chips and roots, but evidence was
not available as to the nature of the decay they produce. One spe-
cies, Polyporus maculatus Pk., was frequently found on pine stumps
partly or wholly decayed by Fomes ungulatus. Fomes lucidus
was , found on hemlock stumps near Glidden, apparently producing
a rot peculiar to itself. However, it was never found on standing
trunks and the decay was of limited extent. Trametes odorata was
found associated with a brown rot not unlike that produced by Fomes
carneus, on hemlock logs. I have found this fungus very abundant
under bridges and sidewalks at Horicon, Dodge county, Sparta, Mon-
roe county and Bangor, La Crosse county, always associated with the
same brown rot, sometimes on pine timber but more often on hemlock
planks. I have not found it on living trees. Lenzites sepiaria .was
found on various species but chiefly on hemlock and tamarack, pro-
ducing a brown rot apparently not unlike that of Trametes odorata.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 7
Fames carneus was found abundantly on logs of white pine, spruce
and tamarack. No specimens were found on living trees. One small
distorted specimen was found on the under side of an arbor vitae log.
In a small area of less than an acre in the Yawkey Lumber Com-
pany's stand there were twelve red pine and two white pine trunks
which showed numerous pilei of Polyporus volvatus Pk. growing out
through the bark. Two of these trees (red pines) were living. A few
had apparently been dead several years while most of them had been
killed by a fire the year before. Near Lake Catharine was a large
living white pine which showed several pilei of the same fungus.
Whether this fungus ever causes the death of trees was not deter-
mined. It is possible, however, that it does have some effect upon
the wood, especially in the immediate neighborhood of the holes pro-
duced by bark borers, out of which its pilei seem almost always to
grow. Still, the mycelium sometimes spreads under the bark and
this may be sufficient to injure the tree.
In their abundance and relative destructiveness to timber the spe-
cies show a wide range of variation. I shall next describe in more
detail those forms which in the region studied were evidently of the
greatest economic importance in destroying the living or dead trunks
of the more valuable timber trees.
Polystictus abietinus (Dicks) Fries.
This fungus looks very much like Polystictus pergamenus in color,
shape, habit, and pores, but the latter grows only on deciduous trees,
while the former grows only on the conifers. The zones are often
quite distinct as concentric sulcations. The pores are larger than
those of P. pergamenus, but shallower. When growing the pores
are violet and they retain much of this color in drying. When old,
the hymenium becomes torn into teeth and the pileus becomes more
and more incurved. Trees are often covered from the ground up-
ward for from twenty to fifty feet with the pilei which grow out
through the bark.
Infection takes place through wounds. In all the trees examined
that were infected with this fungus it was perfectly plain that the
entrance of the fungus was through a wound. The pilei are found
growing out of the region of the trunk where the tree was wounded,
and from this region as a center, they spread, appearing successively
in some cases for fifty feet or more up and down the trunk. They
are found on trees of all sizes and ages whenever there is an opening
through the bark made so that the spores can gain an entrance. Oc-
8 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
casionally the pilei grow out of holes made by bark borers. One
spruce tree in a swamp near McNaughton had been barked for an
area four feet long and from three to five inches in width, by the
felling of a pine tree nine years before. On this wound numerous
pilei were growing. A few scattered pilei were growing also out of
the bark above this wound for a distance of twenty feet. Wood
specimens were cut out as far as the pilei extended and the charac-
teristic decay of the wood was evident. We have thus the evidence
as to the rate at which the fungus spreads when once it gains a foot-
hold in a tree. The remainder of this tree was alive and the top
comparatively thrifty. In all, seven living trees were found in-
fected whose tops indicated a greater or lesser degree of thrift.
Near Carr Lake a red pine stump was found infected with this
fungus. The tree, which was perfectly sound and healthy, had been
cut the year before. On one side, the wood had been somewhat
slivered by the felling of the tree. Here infection took place. This
infection was only one year old and minute pilei were just forming.
no rot was noticeable to the naked eye. The mycelium that was
growing out of the wood and bark to form pilei was white and
velvety. It was plain that the first three rings of growth con-
tained mycelium since it was out of these rings that the pilei
were growing. Infection seemed to have taken place in the side
through the split surfaces and not from the top through the sawed
surface of the wood. This white cottony mycelium was also found
spreading under the bark to some extent.
Infected dead trunks both standing and prostrate are abundant
in some areas. This is especially true in exposed parts of the for-
est, viz., near the edges of the forest bordering on clearings or the
shores of the lakes. In these places, there are many wind-felled
trees lying in different directions and many cases of wounding can
be traced to the falling of these trees. This probably accounts for
the abundant infections in such localities. In an area of about an
acre between Little Tomahawk and Carr Lake, thirty to thirty-five
standing trunks were found infected out of a total of one hundred
and twelve trees, besides many prostrate trunks. All of these were
hemlocks with diameters varying from eight to fifteen inches. These
trees were especially exposed r,o winds from two directions. I cut
one tree about eleven inches in diameter and one hundred and fifty
years old to determine the extent to which the wood was affected.
The pilei were found present to the very top, which was dead.
About thirty feet from the top there were about half a dozen living
branches. On the side on which the living branches were found.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 9
there was a narrow strip of wood not yet infected, extending from
the base of the trunk to the living branches. On the other side, the
characteristic rot was co-extensive with the fungus. Frequently the
tops are dead in trees infected with this fungus, but in all of these
cases it was found that the fungus had actually spread to the top in-
stead of encircling the trunk at the point of infection. Another tree
which was wounded some thirty feet from the base was cut down to
determine whether the fungus spreads downwards. Upwards from
the wound traces of the fungus were found to a distance of some
twenty feet, but downwards it had spread less than ten feet. From
this it would seem that the fungus spreads upwards more rapidly
than downwards.
Trees killed by the fungus often remain standing for many years
before they are blown down. This is because the heartwood is usu-
ally sound. One tree trunk was found near Star Lake in which the
sap wood was decayed by P. abietinus and the heartwood by Pomes
pinicola. This trunk was about twelve inches in diameter but I eas-
ily broke it off and by stepping on it, crumbled it into minute pieces.
The general effect of P. abietinus on fir, spruce, and tamarack, is
the same as that on hemlock, but the percentage of infected trees is
much less than for hemlock, being least in white pine. Stumps and
branches of red pine were quite frequently found infected. Very
often the white mycelium was found spreading in strands between
the bark and the wood. In these cases the bark loosens easily from
the wood. Often when the pileus grows out of a hole made by a bark
borer, the white mycelium is found spreading in every direction be-
tween the bark and the wood, the greater growth being upward. The
cambium being destroyed, the bark becomes loosened and that part of
tree dies.
Whenever there are cracks in the wood, it is found that the myce-
lium follows them very readily and pilei are formed at the openings
of the cracks where the mycelia issue in strands. This would seem
to show that the mycelium spreads most easily in the direction of least
mechanical resistance. The hyphae which run lengthwise through
the cells are always the largest and best developed. These large hy-
phae pierce the end walls of the tracheids quite easily. The end walls
are perhaps less resistant than the lateral walls. Whether the path of
sap flow has something to do with the direction of the growth of the
hyphae, is difficult to determine. There does not seem to be any
spread of the fungus in the bark.
The rot produced by the fungus is characteristic and unlike any
other rot I have observed, though in some respects it resembles the
10 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
rot produced by Polystictus pergamenus. The latter, however, as
noted, is found cnly on deciduous trees. Both fungi produce rot in
the sapwood. Neither seems to penetrate more than an inch or two
into the wood. When branches are infected, the rot may soften them
through their entire diameter, if they are not too thick.
My observations support the generally accepted view that the break-
ing down of the wood cells is due to an enzyme produced by the fun-
gus. The lignified walls seem first to be changed to cellulose and the
latter is then dissolved.
There is hardly a change in the wood visible to the unaided eye, when
the fungus first begins to spread, after infection. Wood of a red pine
that had been infected for less than a year appeared somewhat grey-
ish in color in and about the regions where young pilei were growing
out. Otherwise nothing could be seen of rot or decomposition with
the unaided eye. Sections under the microscope, however, showed
unmistakable signs of decomposition. Here and there the inner la-
mellae of the large tracheids as well as of the smaller wood fibers showed
traces of reduction to cellulose when tested with zinc chloriodide.
Staining with ruthenium red showed the middle lamella unaffected.
The ray-cells also showed the action of the fungus, the walls of many
having been broken down more or less completely. The inner layers
of the cell wall seem to be attacked first and slowly changed to cellu-
lose, as is shown by their more or less deep blue color when treated
with zinc chloriodide. The inner surface of the lamellae becomes ir-
regular as though it were dissolved unequally.
The wood, when it begins to decay, may become a trifle paler in
color. Sometimes the very earliest stages are characterized by a dark or
grayish color, as stated above, but this is not a constant characteristic.
Again there may be irregular black lines in the wood next to the bark,
but this is also not constant. The cells in these black lines seem filled
with a dark brownish substance insoluble in alcohol. Mycelium is
usually abundant in cells near these lines.
A little later there are numerous white streaks passing through the
summer wood of the rings of growth, both tangentially and longitud-
inally, thus marking off the wood into more or less rectangular areas.
Near these white lines the microscope reveals numerous hyphae running
generally in the direction of the streaks. Later, the wood fibres
break down along these lines, making little pits and holes which in-
crease in size as the decay advances.
Some tracheids break down quite completely, while others are in-
tact and form anastomosing strands which intersect at right angles
and are full of air, giving them a white appearance. The wood
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. n
thus becomes filled with small holes and becomes soft and brittle. The
fall wood is left more or less intact as a thin brittle shell, making the
growth rings more or less easily separable.
The larger and more vigorous hyphae are usually found growing
lengthwise up and down the cells but are not as much tangled and
matted as the hyphae of Polyporus borealis figured by Hartig. The
horizontal hyphae are fewer in number, straighter and much thinner
than the others. They seem to be able to penetrate the radial
walls more easily than the tangential ones. Probably most of the ra-
dial distribution of the fungus takes place through the ray cells. The
hyphae in the ray cells are always quite small and never abundant,
although their action on these cells is always prominent.
The hyphae do not always pass through the pits of the cells but
appear to be able to penetrate the walls at any point.
Polystictus pergamenus Fries.
This is one of the commonest forms of the Polysticti, growing on
maple, willow, oak, birch and poplar. It is easily recogni/ed by its
leathery consistency and purplish hymenium. The dissepiments are
usually torn into teeth or plates so that older specimens might often
be taken for species of Irpex. The hymenium turns brown with age.
The pilei are thin, profusely imbricated and laterally confluent.
This species seems to be closely related to P. abietinus, described
above. The latter, however, is smaller, more hirsute and concentric-
ally sulcate and grows only on Coniferae, while P. pergamenus grows
only on deciduous trees.
P. pergamenus is quite frequently found in living oak, maple and
poplar. The trees thus infected are always in a poor condition of
health and are often found in the last stages of life. On one side of
an oak tree even some of the large branches had pilei growing out of
their sides. The larger part of the tree was dead, and the rest was
not very vigorous. It was evident that this tree would soon be en-
tirely dead. On the side infected, the bark was cracking and loosen-
ing.
Infection of living poplar is more rare, and then it is usually found
to be confined for the most part to the areas immediately surrounding
a wound. Nor does the bark seem to crack and loosen in poplar as
in oak and maple. It would seem that in the poplar the spread of
the fungus through the wood occurs after the death of the tree, or
at any rate the spread here is very slow.
12 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
In all cases where living trees are infected it was found that they
had been wounded, and in most cases pilei were growing out of the
wound or out of the bark in the immediate neighborhood. In one
case the fungus had evidently gained an entrance through a wound
caused by the breaking of a limb and from here had spread into the
trunk.
This species is found abundantly in all parts of the state, and 'is
confined chiefly to the hosts named above. In the northern part of
the state where birch is plentiful, it is most abundant on dead birch
logs and limbs. I never found it on living birch trees.
In the southern part of the state it is most abundant on oak and
poplar. The poplar is apparently usually attacked when dead, pilei
on living trees being quite rare.
In all cases which I have observed, trees infected with this fungus
were found to have been wounded and usually pilei were growing
out of the wounds and about them. A typical case was that of the
poplar (Populus deltoides) from which specimen No. 226 was taken.
The tree was about eight inches in diameter and could not have been
more than twenty years old. About two feet from the ground there
was a wound about ten inches long and three to four inches wide. The
process of healing had progressed for several years. The exact time
was not determined. In and about this wound there were numerous
pilei of P. pergamenus. The disease had not spread very far, for
pilei were found only a few inches above and below this wound. I
have found no more exact data regarding the rapidity of spread in
either poplar or oak. However, since oak trees are frequently found
covered from top to bottom with pilei, one is inclined to think that
the disease spreads more rapidly in oak.
In general, the decay is a sap rot and is somewhat similar to that
produced by P. abietinus in the Coniferae. Only the sapwood is af-
fected, and this only to a depth of an inch or two. The wood, es-
pecially that of the oak, becomes much lighter in color and weight.
Oak wood thus decayed is of the color of poplar but the grain of the
wood still appears unchanged. The resistance of the wood fiber is
completely destroyed, so that it is possible to rub most of it into a
white powder between the fingers and thumb. If sections of this wood be
treated with phloroglucin and hydrochloric acid, they will show abund-
ant lignose still present ; but sections treated with zinc chloriodide show
also some traces of the cellulose reaction.
These changes do not show quite so clearly in poplar. This may
be due to the fact that the color of poplar is naturally light and the
texture of the wood is soft and spongy.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 13
The specimens of this rot especially studied were taken from a
scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) about one hundred and fifty years old,
in the vicinity of Bangor, La Crosse County. The pilei grew out of
a large wound and out of the bark just above the wound. Although
the wood was decayed to a depth of an inch to one and one-fourth
inches, or through twelve to sixteen rings of growth, yet the decay
had not progressed more than an inch or two above the wound. Lat-
erally the fungus had spread very slowly also. Some dead bark re-
mained on the wounded part. Out of this abundant pilei were grow-
ing. The new wood formed in the healing part was not affected by
the fungus and was gradually covering the decayed wood. The ring
of growth next to the one affected was almost entirely sound, form-
ing an abrupt boundary line between the decayed and the healthy
wood. From this it would seem that it is difficult for the fungus to
penetrate the wood radially, from one ring of growth to the next,
and that when a ring has been penetrated the infected region is almost
completely destroyed before the next ring is attacked.
The effects on the walls of the cells are about the same in poplar
as in the oaks. The ray cells are among the first to be attacked.
In the poplar the hyphae are quite abundant in all the cells, but
in the oak they are less abundant. Here, as in the case of P. abietinus,
the largest and the most abundant hyphae go through the cells length-
wise. They give off smaller branches, which penetrate the lateral
walls. Sometimes the hyphae go through the pits.
Lenzites sepiaria Fries.
Though not a polyp ore, I shall describe this fungus here because
of its similar habit and relation to decay of timber. This fungus is
easily recognized by its sepia brown color with lighter margin. At
every rain, during the first part of the season, this margin seems to
revive and grow. The gills when first formed are of a light cream
color like the young margin but on maturing the whole fungus grows
dark.
L. sepiaria is a very common fungus in all parts of Wisconsin, grow-
ing chiefly on hemlock, pine, spruce and tamarack. During wet sea-
sons the pilei are found growing abundantly out of bridge timbers,
planks in sidewalks and sleepers. In the forest the pilei were found
on fallen trunks of tamaracks, white and red pine, and spruce. They
were more rare on dead standing trunks and were never found on
living trees.
14 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Since neither the pilei of the fungus nor its characteristic rot was
found in living trees, it appears that it is strictly saprophyte attack-
ing the wood only after the tree is dead. The effect, however, on
the cells is not much different from that of Fomes pinicola as descibed
by Von Schrenck and by Hartig.
In general, the pilei seem to grow out of cracks in the wood, and
the decay also follows these cracks to some extent. Wherever there
is abundant mycelium, and especially in the neighborhood of pilei, the
wood is often colored a sepia brown by a coloring matter which ap-
pears also to be dissolved out by the rain. This coloring matter is
very soluble in ammonium hydrate. Wood containing the mycelium
or the coloring matter turns very dark, almost black, when treated
with ammonia, as does also the pileus.
The wood destroyed by this fungus becomes brown, paler than in
the case of the rot produced by Fomes carneus and F. pinicola, but
otherwise it looks quite similar. The wood becomes cracked and
shrunken. This cracking occurs for the most part transversely and
longitudinally, sometimes also radially, forming irregular cubical frag-
ments. In advanced stages the wood can be rubbed to a fine powder
with the fingers. The cracking is evidently due to the shrinking, as
Hartig suggests, probably because of the removal of moisture and cell-
wall substances by the fungus.
Nothing definite can be stated about the method and time of infec-
tion, nor as to the rapidity of development. It seems certain, how-
ever, that infection takes place in the openings that occur in the wood,
such as cracks and holes, and in the porous ends of rough transverse
cuts. In such places the pilei will be found, and in the neighbor-
hood the wood shows the effects of the fungus. Bridge timbers that
become checked from weathering are always in danger of attack by
this fungus. I have never found it on well painted timber, unless
it showed cracks or holes.
The earliest stages of decay that were studied were found in a piece
of hemlock out of which a pileus one and one-half inches broad, and
one inch long was growing through a hole in the bark one-quarter
inch deep, made by a bark borer. The wood underneath this pileus
for a distance of three inches above and below this hole, and one inch
in width, showed stages of decay. To a depth of about one-quarter
inch the wood was turning brown but showed white spots and stripes.
Underneath this to a depth of nearly three-quarters of an inch the wood
had its natural color but was mottled with whiter spots and stripes.
These white spots and stripes are in the summer wood, and the darker
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 15
ones in the fall wood, as though the thick-walled cells were more re-
sistant.
The wood during this stage is comparatively brittle and can be
broken into small pieces with the fingers, but cannot be pulverized as
in the later stages. Later, all the wood affected turns to a pale brown
and is very brittle. The effect on the wood cells is well marked, and
similar to the effect produced by Fomes pinicola, Trametes odorata and
Fames carneus.
The hyphae appear strong and vigorous, light colored and much
tangled. They develop chiefly lengthwise through the cells, not pene-
trating through many layers of cells. This perhaps is why the decay
and the development of mycelium follows the cracks and chinks in the
wood, the lines of least resistance. Strong and vigorously growing
hyphae usually contain large bluish-green granules, as shown in Fig.
9, which are soluble in alcohol, but are made clearer and somewhat
darker with ammonia.
Trametes pini (TJiore) Fries. Ring Rot. Dry Kot.
Looked at from above, the pileus appears hoof-shaped or ungulate,
but the lower surface is concave and usually uneven. The base is
usually decurrent, and out of it very often several small pilei spring,
so that the sporophores thus become imbricated and confluent. The
young actively growing portion is of a rich golden brown color, soft
and velvety, but soon changes to dull ferruginous and becomes rough,
almost strigose. The surface finally becomes black and covered with
moss and lichens. The concentric furrows or sulcations are narrow
and numerous. The margin is thin and acute; the substance of the
pileus hard, of a rich yellowish brown. The pores are small and regu-
lar in the younger parts but become larger and more irregular, al-
most sinuous, in the older portions. The tubes usually become more
or less white-stuffed. From the walls of the tubes project numerous
large awl-shaped cystidia, which are sometimes one-fifth of the di-
ameter of the tube in length and of a deep red-brown color.
T. pini was found on tamarack, white pine and hemlock. In
Oneida and Vilas counties it was found most abundant on tamarack
and white pine, and in Ashland County on hemlock and tamarack.
The fruiting bodies were rather rare on white pine but abundant on
tamarack. They were found on both living and dead trees. In the
case of hemlock only, were they found on fallen trunks.
Although the sporophores were rare on white pine, yet I believe
that white pine was abundantly infected — more than any of the others.
16 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Many large white pine trunks when cut down show the characteristic
rot due to this fungus, but when the trunk is examined minutely one
fails to find the fruiting bodies. Occasionally swellings or lumps
called "punk knots" by the lumbermen are seen some distance up the
trunk on infected trees. When cut open, it is found that these knots
are found by the healing over of the ends of broken branches. These
old branch stubs are usually very much decayed, and together with a
mass of yellowish-brown mycelium, fill the cavity of the knot. In a
few instances small sporophores were found growing out of the end
of the punk knots. In all instances where pilei were found on white
pine, they occurred at places where a branch had been broken off.
On hemlock and tamarack the pilei appeared at other places on the
trunk as well. This agrees with Von Schrenk's observations (Bull. 25,
page 36). Another striking feature is the fact that no matter how
much or how little the trunk is decayed, or over how great an area the*
infection had spread in the white pine, the sporophores, if found at
all, are never very large. They seldom exceed an inch in length and
an inch and a half in width. On tamarack, on the other hand, pilei
were found measuring five inches long by twelve inches wide, and at-
tached by a base at least six inches in thickness, the tubes showing in
some cases eight strata. Probably the tamarack is more prolific than
the white pine in producing fruit bodies, because its sapwood is less
resistant than that of the pine and the growing mycelium easily gets
close to the periphery, so that there is only a thin shell through which
it must break in order to get to the surface. The question remains
why the sapwood of the pine should be more resistant. The main dif-
ference between the sapwood and heartwood is the greater abundance
of free resin in the former. This free resin seems to be an obstacle to
the spread of the fungus, probably because it quite effectively shuts
off the supply of air and moisture without which the plant cannot
grow. As a matter of fact, there is always more or less resin flowing
out of old punk-knots and places where old branches have been broken
off and are in the process of healing over.
Atkinson mentions that the "gum running from all the knot-holes "
is regarded as a sure sign of heart rot. When, then, the mycelium
does get to the surface, which usually occurs through the small heart-
wood of a dead branch, only a limited amount of growth takes place
and the resulting pileus is small. On the other hand, the mycelium
easily penetrates the sapwood in the tamarack and the decay extends
to the bark. Between the bark and the wood there are somtimes
formed cushions of brown mycelium with pore-bearing surfaces, but
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN 17
more often the mycelium pushes through cracks and holes in the bark
and forms the numerous fruit bodies so often found.
The amount of timber injured or destroyed by this fungus has al-
ready been indicated above in speaking of the "ring rot" or "dry
rot". Very little of this fungus was found on hemlock and spruce,
and none was found on balsam fir. Von Schrenk finds that fir is
rarely attacked by it in the New England states.
Von Schrenk has already fully described the rot produced by this
fungus in tamarack, spruce, and fir, and the results of my observa-
tions confirm his account on practically all points.
The rot of hemlock seems to differ only slightly from that of tam-
arack. The wood fibers, being changed to white cellulose fibers, are
not so much absorbed, leaving holes or pits as in tamarack, but retain
their shape, size and structure in this altered condition. The change
to cellulose takes place on both sides of a ring of growth. The irregu-
lar black lines spoken of by Von Schrenk are not so numerous as in
the tamarack, but wherever there are cracks or holes in the wood, there
is a great deal of the brown incrustation which is soluble in caustic
potash or ammonia.
The appearance of the rot in white pine is quite different from that
in hemlock and tamarack. It is known here by the names of "ring
rot" or "dry rot". One tree studied was between one hundred and
eighty and two hundred years old, and measured nearly two feet in
diameter. It was felled by the loggers about two days before my ob-
servations were made. It was found that the rot extended from the
ground upward about fifty-one feet through the center of the trunk,
making the trunk for nearly fifty feet practically worthless, except for
a comparatively thin shell of sapwood. The top of the tree for about
sixty feet was practically sound and healthy. The rot was most widely
spread between ten and thirty feet from the ground, and it extended
only slightly into two of the larger roots. At about thirty feet from
the ground a few small pilei were found growing from the stubs of
broken and much decayed branches. Other branches extending into
the decayed part of the trunk were not affected.
Lumbermen regard this ring rot as one of the commonest and most
destructive of the enemies of the white pine. In an area of twenty-
five square feet there were three large white pines, averaging at least
two feet in diameter, that were at least as badly decayed as the one
described above.
Infection in the above-described case must have taken place through
one of the broken branches which was about one and one-quarter
2
18 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
inches in diameter. On the knobs so formed the small pilei were found,
and these were the only places at which the rot communicated with
the surface. No other wound was found. In this region the rot had
developed most vigorously, all of the heartwood being affected and
here and there places in the sapwood also. From here the rot spread
upward and downward. The horizontal spread is peculiar. At the
place of infection the mycelium spreads horizontally as well as up and
down, but not so rapidly. When this mycelium has succeeded in get-
ting a good foothold in a ring of growth or a number of rings, it fol-
lows the ring around the tree and at the same time grows up and down
in the same ring or rings. This gives the rot the ring form which is
so common, and shows that the mycelium spreads more easily tangen-
tially and longitudinally. Another white pine twenty-five years old
was studied. This tree, to all appearances, seemed to be perfectly
sound and healthy. However, at the end of a branch stub one foot
above the ground a very small pileus was found, measuring about one-
half inch in width and a little less in length. At this place there had
been a wound which had healed over pretty well. The tree, which was
about forty feet high with a diameter at the base of eight inches, was
cut down and split through the center. The characteristic greyish
brown decay was found, extending from a few inches under the ground
to nearly four feet above the ground.
The decayed area was widest about a foot above the ground, where
the pileus and the wound were found, being nearly one inch in di-
ameter. The tree had been wounded about eighteen years previously,
when it was only seven years old. If infection took place at once the
fungus was of very slow growth. However, it may have taken place
during any of the succeeding eighteen years, there being nothing to
ehow when it did occur. In this case the rot was not distributed m
rings, as in the log described above. Only the heartwood in the cen-
ter was decayed to a height of nearly four feet. Usually the wood
turns to a dull pale brown color, but in this case it was a light grey-
brown, lighter than the sound heart wood. The little holes and cavi-
ties mentioned by Von Schrenk for tamarack and spruce were just be-
ing formed.
The mycelium is quite vigorous in hemlock, but less so in the pine.
On the whole, it seems that the growth and spread of the mycelium is
much slower in white pine than in any of the other conifers. So that
if the trunk of a tree like the big one described above is almost entirely
decayed within, it must have taken the greater part of a century to
accomplish the work.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. ^9
The rot produced by Trametes pini advances very slowly in white
pine but much more rapidly in tamarack and hemlock. One tam-
arack about ninety-five years old, measuring twelve inches in diameter
four feet above the ground, had its interior wholly destroyed to a
height of nearly fifty feet, except a thin shell underneath the bark
about one-half inch in thickness. This, perhaps, accounts for the
fact that the pilei are so abundant on tamarack and so rare on white
pine. It is very probable that the formation of pilei is dependent not
so much on the amount of mycelium produced within the wood as
upon its ability to get to the surface. I am of the opinion that this is
the case with several other forms. While at Hazelhurst I wounded a
birch infected with Fames nigricans cutting into the wood until the
decay was reached. In less than two weeks small pilei were forming
on the wound. The same result can be obtained with F. fomentarius,
Polystictus pergamenus, Fomes applanatus and probably also with
Trametes pini.
Fomes ungulatus (Schaeff.).
This is a large woody fungus. It is possible that at least four forms
of it have been described under as many different names : F. pinicola
(Schwartz), F. ungulatus (Schaeff), F. marginatus Fries and F. pini-
canadensis Schw.
The form most commonly found here agrees best with Fries' de-
scription of Fomes marginatus. This is the large applanate form,
often growing to one foot or more in width. The upper surface of this
form is hard, rough, concentrically sulcate, and the oldest portion is
black. The youngest sulcation is blood red with a creamy white mar-
gin. The context is corky or hard, wood-colored and zonate. The
tubes are stratified and about one centimeter in length, and of the
same color as the context. The young growing margin, as well as the
pores, stain reddish or pink when touched or bruised.
This fungus is widely distributed, especially through northern Wis-
consin, but it has been found as far south as Madison, where one speci-
men was found in 1899 growing on hickory. It was found especially
abundant in the Star Lake region, where as stated before, about eighty
per cent of the fir trees are infected. One fir tree only ten years old
and a little more than an inch in diameter, when cut down, was found
decayed at the center, from the roots, into which the decay extended
for about six or seven inches to about three feet above the ground.
This tree was simply cut down at random and bore no marks or signs
of infection or wounds above ground. Although there was so much
20 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
rot in the fir trees produced by F. ungulatus, yet there were few
sporophores found on these trees, either living or dead. The most
abundant sporophores were found on hemlock, tamarack, and birch;
next in order comes white pine and spruce; and lastly red pine. On
all of these trees sporophores were found on both living and dead
trees. Large pilei were found only on tamarack, birch and hemlock.
Those on the other trees were always small.
The pilei were never found higher than four or five feet from the
ground; usually a foot or two above the ground. Frequently there
were a half dozen large pilei found at the base of a tamarack or hem-
lock. "White and red pines are often decayed at the center but do not
show any sporophores or other signs of infection or disease on the out-
side. Sometimes the pilei do not form on the trunks until they are
prostrate. In that case they usually grow out near the place where
the trunk broke.
The decay produced by F. ungulatus differs from any of the others
so far described, in that it is not distinctively either a heart rot or a
rot of the sapwood, but may destroy either or both; in fact, it ulti-
mately does in most cases destroy both, no matter in which region it
starts. This, however, is true in a lesser degree of the firs. There is
nearly always a shell of sound eapwood of greater or lesser thickness
in them, although the whole interior may be changed to a brittle brown
substance. In tamaracks, the fungus apparently spreads with as much
ease in the sapwood as in the heartwood.
Wood that is destroyed by this fungus turns to a light brown,
lighter than that produced by Lenzites sepiaria or Fames carneus. It
is light, dry, and extremely brittle, often collapsing at a touch. It is
much cracked in all directions, as if dried suddenly. Sheets of white
leathery mycelium spread through the cracks in every direction, es-
pecially in the cracks between the rings of growth.
The brown decayed wood turns red when treated with phloro-
glucin in presence of hydrochloric acid, from which it appears that
the lignin has not been reduced. In the earlier stages of decay there
is some cellulose still present, as can be shown by staining with zinc
chloriodide.
On the road to Razorback Lake, near Star Lake, a tamarack tree
fifty-seven years old, and about ten inches in diameter near the ground,
was found infected with Fomes ungulatus. On one side was a large
wound produced by the falling of a white pine not more than twelve
years previously. This wound was nine inches wide at the base and
extended upward for about four feet. Out of the wound and out of
the bark beside it five small pilei of the fungus were growing. The
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 21
tree was felled and sections were cut out. Eot like the above de-
scribed was found extending from the base to about eight feet upward.
At a height of about seven feet only a few ''strands" of decay were
found between the heartwood and the sapwood on the side of the tree
which was wounded. The center and the rest of the tree here
were sound and normal. Four feet above ground the rot had
extended over half way around the center, which was still quite sound
here, but in the sapwood it reached the surface, where little knots of
white mycelium indicated the beginning of pilei. About one foot
above the ground the entire heartwood and most of the sapwood, ex-
cept that on the side opposite the wound, were reduced to the brittle
brown condition. On the side opposite the wound, the tree was sup-
ported by a shell of sound living sapwood, about one inch in thickness
and nine inches in width. Numerous small pilei were growing out of
the wound at this height. The roots were sound also, except one or
two of the largest ones into which the rot extended for several inches.
The top of the tree was green but had a sickly appearance. Some
of the lower branches were dead and others were losing their needles.
The growth of the year of the twigs and tips was less than that on
other trees near by, as though the tree was lacking in strength and
nourishment. It was plain that even if the tree escaped the storms,
it would be dead in a few years. From the evidence in this case we
may conclude that:
First: — Infection may take place in wounds, and the decay is
greatest in the region of infection, if the wounds are near the base.
This was shown by the fact that near the base where the wound was
largest, there was the most rot. At that point the mycelium first pene-
trated and hence had had a longer time to produce its effect. Here
also were most of the pilei.
Second: — The spread is upward, radially and tangentially, and
downward. The spread directly upward is very much more rapid
than in any other direction, and downward it is least rapid. The
spread is more rapid tangentially than radially, following the ring^
of growth. It spreads to the center only when most of the rings ini
which it is found are used up. This is evident from the section at a^<
place four feet above the ground, where the sound center was nearly
surrounded.
Third: — The decay spreads only very slowly into the roots of tMe»
tree.
Fourth: — The spread and reduction of wood is quite rapid, as all
of this rotting must have been completed within a period of twelve
years.
22 THE POLTPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Fifth: — Quite a little mycelium must form before pilei are produced,
as none of the pilei were more than three years old.
Other similar examples were found but none so striking as the one
described. The place of entrance in the pines and fir trees is not al-
ways easy to determine. One small fir was cut down and examined.
It was forty-five years old and three inches in diameter. In the
fctump, one inch under the ground, was a wound about an inch in di-
ameter. From this place the rot extended upward into the trunk
aoout three and one-half feet, through the center and a few inches
into four of the larger roots. No pilei had as yet been formed, as the
rot had not reached the surface at any place except near the wound,
and that was under ground. However, the rot was unmistakably that
of F. ungulatus. In several red and white pines the small pilei were
growing through holes in the bark, and it is possible that infection
took place here.
The carbonization of the wood by this fungus is quite complete. In
the advanced stage it does not barn with a flame but smoulders like
charcoal, giving off a comparatively small amount of smoke.
The transition from decay to healthy wood is remarkably abrupt,
there being apparently no intermediate stage between the decayed and
the sound wood. One ring of growth may be healthy and vigorous,
and the next one to it may be entirely broken down.
In small areas here and there, traces of cellulose may be found. In
these spots the secondary lamellae do not have the spiral cracks found
in the other parts. In most of this tissue no cellulose reaction can be
found. It all stains bright red wich phloroglucin, even when in the
last stages of decay. The secondary lamellae crack spirally, and
finally the middle lamella also becomes brittle, so that the whole wood
structure can be easily rubbed into a fine powder with the fingers. In
many cells there are numerous holes through which hyphae pass.
There seems to be little absorption of the wood after change, and no
cavities appear as in the ring rot. However, the medullary cells show
some absorption. This may account for the radial cracks in which
the mycelium grows, as suggested by Von Schrenk.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 23
Polyporaceae.
Fleshy, leathery or woody fungi, the carpophore variously shaped
or wanting. Hymenophore typically porose and on the underside of
the pileus. Pores rounded or angular sometimes sinuous or lacerate.
The following key to the genera is based on that of Fries.
KEY TO THE GENERA.
1. Fructification consisting of tubules only, the receptacle entirely wanting;
tubules gregarious on substratum, at first closed Solenia Hoffm.
2 Pileus expanded, membranaceous; tubules at first papilliform, becoming
elongate Porothelium.
3. Pileus effused, membranaceous, pores mere pits formed by reticulating
folds Merulius Hall.
4. Tubes in a gelatinous layer distinct from the pileus; dimidiate or effuso-
reflexed Gleoporus Mont.
5. Pileus semi-stipitate, pores alveolar, arranged in radiating series from the
stipe Favolus Fries.
6. Pileus dimidiate, coriaceous; pores sinuous, labyrinthine. Daedalea Pers.
7. Pileus usually woody or corky; tubules unequally sunk into the substance
of the pileus, round, or elongate, entire Trametes Fries.
8. Pileus wholly resupinate; sometimes obsolete Poria Pers.
9. Tubules at first punctiform, developed from the center outwardly; hy-
menophore coriaceous, or membranaceous Polystictus Fries.
10. Stratum of tubes distinct from hymenophore, but not separable; usually
stratose, woody, sessile, dimidiate Fomes Fries.
11. Stratum of tubes distinct from hymenophore, but not separable, not stra-
tose; flesh, tough, stipitate or sessile Polyporus Michx.
12. Stem lateral or wanting; tubes distinct from each other but crowded to-
gether at first resembling warts Fistulina Bull.
13. Tubules not easily separating from the pileus nor from each other, formed
by numrous radiating broader lamellae everywhere connected by nar-
rower anastomosing plates Boletinus Kalchb.
14. Tubules longer, with difficulty separating from the pileus; not radiate.
Strobilomyces Berk.
15. Tubules long, easily separable from the pileus and from each other.
. Boletus Dill.
24 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Description of Species.
1. SOLENIA Hoffm.
Plants belonging to this genus are without a pileus. They are sim-
ply a collection cf tubules united at their base by a few loose mycelial
hyphae. Massee, Hennings and others have placed the genus near
Cyphella under the Thelephoraceae. Fries was the first to put it with
the Polyporaceae on the assumption that in Solenia "only the layer of
pores is present without a real f ruir body. ' '
Solenia anomala (Pers) Fries. (Plate I, fig. 1).
Tubules usually crowded, short-stiped, pyriform, regular, pilose,
yellowish to ferruginous; margin of the tubes usually incurved. In-
ner surface of the tubes whitish; spores egg-shaped, hyalin, 4x6 mi-
crons.
Found at Ladysmith and at Madison on the bark of fallen oak twigs,
on the bark of fallen alder twigs near Mud Lake near Crandon, For-
est County, and on alder twigs near Bangor, La Crosse County.
The patches measure from 2 to 10 cm. in length and from 0.5 to 2 cm.
in width. The tubules measure from 1 mm. to 2 mm. in height and
from .5 to 1 mm. in diameter. The spores measure 2 by 7 microns.
They are rod-like and slightly curved. The basidia which line the
tubes are whitish, closely packed long and narrow, measuring 20 mi-
crons in length, and from 2 to 3 microns in diameter.
Following are tbe characteristics upon which identification is based :
Color: Golden brown to dull ferruginous.
Pileus: None.
Tubes: Small, crowded, pyrifonn, mouths usually closed, but open
on being moistened.
Habitat : Encrusting fallen twigs.
Syn. Cyphella fasciculata (Schw.) B. & C.
Solenia villosa Fries (Systema, II, p. 200).
Tubules nearly cup-shaped when young, later cylindrical, growing in
groups, clearly pilose, whitish. Growing on decayed wood.
Apparently rare. One specimen was found near Madison, and one
near Mud Lake near Crandon. The tubules in this species are not
crowded as those in the preceding one, nor are they as large. They
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 25
do not form distinct patches but are more or less scattered in little
groups. The tubes are often nearly spherical. They measure about
1 mm. in height, and from .5 mm. to .75 mm. in diameter. They are
very delicate and brittle. This species is probably often passed by, be-
ing mistaken for a slime-mould.
Following are the distinctive characteristics :
Color: White to grayish white.
Pileus: None or consisting of a few whitish delicate floccose my-
celial strands joining the small groups of tubes.
Tubes: Small, slightly gregarious, spherical to cylindrical, pilose,
whitish; on decayed wood.
2. POROTHELIUM.
Porothelium fimbriatum (Pers.) Fries (Plate I, fig. 2).
Wide spreading, (or effused) membranaceous, thin, white, margin
fimbriate or ragged, tubes crowded in the center, confluent, becoming
more scattered toward the margin, superficial.
Specimens were found at Blue Mounds, Bangor, on an old stump
near Hazelhurst, Star Lake, and Crandon on pine stumps and logs.
The longest specimen is 15 cm. in length and about 4 cm. in width.
The substance is white, very thin and paper-like. The margin is thin
and ragged. The pores start in little papillae or wart-like structures
which finally become depressed in the center into tubes and thus ulti-
mately form pores. Very young specimens do not have pores and are
thus often overlooked.
3. MERULIUS Hall.
This genus is characterized by the loose, soft, mucedineous consist-
ency of the resupinate or reflexed pileus ; the wax-like or subgelatinous
hymenium; the anastomosing folds forming the shallow, irregular and
often sinuous pores.
26 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
§1. CONIOPHOBI. Hymenium powdered with the rust-brown spores.
Merulius lacrymans (Wulf).
Pileus widely effused, often .3 to .8 meters in extent, of membran-
aceous, or spongy-fleshy or leathery consistence, ochre-yellow or fer-
ruginous with white tomentose border. Pores large, unequal, gyrose
meshes; orange-yellow, becoming cinnamon-brown from the spores.
Spores egg shaped, one sided, intensely yellow-brown, 10 microns by 6
microns.
On decaying wood, especially timbers in damp buildings and cel-
lars.
Massee (17, p. 186) says that it grows "On trunks, worked wood,
carpets, etc., the patches varying from 2 to 3 inches to a foot and more
in diameter, % inch or more, thick at times. Very variable, but dis-
tinguished by the slightly gelatinous substance, irregularly rugulose
hymenium, and bright rusty orange spores. Exuding drops of water
when growing."
This is the so called "Dry rot" or "Hausschwamm" of Europe.
Winter (28, p. 395) calls it the "foe of the homes, whose woodwork it
destroys". According to the same author the folds usually lengthen
in old age into teeth, giving rise to the following names: Boletus ob-
liquus Bolton; Sistotrema cellar e, Persoon; and Wallroth's Boletus
Jiydnoideus.
Localities: Madison, Bangor. Some specimens were found in the
woods in the fall of 1903 growing on a charred stump, and some small
specimens were found growing on the ground in a lumberyard, under
the lumber and on pieces of lumber lying on the ground.
The specimens are all very irregular and thin and show well the
long strands or threads of white mycelium which run through the
wood. The margin is white, soft tomentose, not at all reflexed. The
hj'menium begins about 4 mm. from the margin in very shallow pores
of a rusty yellow color. Toward the center the pores are much larger
and deeper, becoming almost brown. The folds are sometimes
toothed.
Syn. : Xylomyzon destruens Pers. ; 23, vol. 2, p. 27.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 27
§2. LEPTOSPORI. Hymenium naked or lightly powdered with, the
white spores.
Merulius aureus FT.
Effuse, thin, membranaceous, adherent, golden-yellow, margin thin,
villous, of the same color; hymenium plicate-porose, gyrose; spores
globose or subglobose, yellowish, 8 microns in diameter.
Several well developed specimens were found at Bangor which were
identified by Bresadola as belonging to this species. It may well be
more abundant in the state than this would indicate.
Merulius corium (Pers.) Fries (Plate I, fig. 3).
Resupinate effused, soft, sub-papyraceous at length reflexed with the
margin free, villose, beneath white. Hymenium reticulate-porose
fiesh-colored becoming paler; spores oblong-lanceolate, hyaline 10 x 3
microns.
Macbride (15, p. 4) says that this species when fresh is noticeable
for its delicate tints and soft velvety snow white margin. Massee says
it is very variable, but known by its white, silky pileus and the reticu-
lato-porose, ochraceous hymenium.
This species seems to be rare in Wisconsin. Our only specimens
were collected at Bangor, LaCrosse Co., in October, 1905. The speci-
mens grew on the under side of an alder branch lying on the ground.
The stick was covered for a distance of about 30 cm., the fungus aver-
aging in width about 2.25 cm., and .5 mm. in thickness when dry. The
pileus is reflexed about 5 mm.
The pileus and margin are white or whitish, but the hymenium is
pale ochraceous with more or less of a rosy tinge. On drying the rosy
tinge disappears, leaving it a pale straw color.
When fresh the substance is soft and waxy, but on drying it be-
comes brittle and papyraceous.
The pores are very shallow near the margin but are deeper in the
center. They seem to be arranged more or less in concentric circles,
around rather definite centers. This characteristic is shown quite well
in the figure. This species seems to be closely related to M. aurantiacus
Klotsch., differing only in the paler color of the hymenium, the less
reflexed pileus and the thinner substance.
Identification is based on the following characteristics:
Color: Whitish pileus and pale ochraceous hymenium tinged with
rose.
28 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Substance: Thin, waxy, becoming brittle when dry.
Pores: Small, very shallow, irregular giving the appearance of be-
ing arranged in concentric circles around various centers.
Merulius aurantiacus Klotzsch (Plate I, fig. 4).
Eft'uso-reflexed 2.5 to 4 cm. across, subcoriaceous, tough, dingy white,
yellowish or gray, coarsely tomentose, indistinctly zoned; hymenium
minutely rugulose, somewhat porose, orange.
"Pileus 2.5 cm. broad; zones obsolete, hirsuto-tomentose. Nearly
allied to M. corium." Berk.
Only two specimens were found on a fallen oak branch in Parfrey's
Glen. The largest specimen covered the stick for about 18 cm. The
pileus was reflexed to a width of one centimeter at its widest part. The
surface is nearly white without any suggestion of yellow — verging
perhaps more toward a grayish-white. The margin becoming in-
curved on drying, is smooth or somewhat wavy and not at all denticu-
late or radiate as in M. tremellosus. The tomentum on the pileus is.
dense and coarse. It is well described by Berkeley (17, p. 190) when
he calls it "hirsuto-tomentose". The zones on the pileus form quite
conspicuous concentric ridges.
The hymenium is of a reddish-orange verging toward ochraceous.
The substance seems to be leathery and tough. The pores are very
shallow, small and irregular.
The hymenium appears to be thrown into circular ridges around
slightly raised centers which make it seem as though the pores are
arranged in concentric circles around these centers. This character-
istic is more striking in this species than in the following.
M. aurantiacus is closely related to M. tremellosus and M. corium.
From the former it is distinguished by its tougher substance, small
pores, darker colored hymenium and smooth margin. From the latter
it differs in its thicker substance, darker colored hymenium, more re-
flexed pileus and the coarser tomentum.
Merulius tremellosus Schrader.
Resupinate; margin becoming free and more or less reflexed, usu-
ally radiato-dentate, gelatinoso-cartilaginous ; hymenium variously ru-
gose and porose, whitish and subtranslucent, becoming tinged with
brown in the center; spores cylindrical, 4 by 1 micron.
THE POLTPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 29
On wood. From 2.5 to 7.5 cm. across remaining pale when growing
in the shade. Margin sometimes tinged with rose, radiating when well
developed.
Common in Wisconsin on the underside of old logs, and charred
stumps. Specimens were found near Madison, Blue Mounds, Hori-
zon, Dodge County, Hazelhurst, Oneida County, Crandon, Forest
County, Sparta, Monroe County, Bangor, La Crosse County, and Mil-
waukee.
The pileus of the older specimens usually becomes more or less re-
flexed especially if they grow on the side of a log. The pileus is then
enow-white above, except at the margin covered with a soft tomentum
when dry. The margin is thin, fimbriate, toothed or radiate, red, turn-
ing reddish-brown. The underside is made up of shallow irregular
pores formed by the anastomosing folds of the subgelatinous red to
reddish-brown hymenium. The pores are usually arranged radially.
When dry the substance is quite leathery or more brittle in old
specimens. Young specimens are quite thin — often 0.5 mm. to 1 mm.
in thickness. These are quite gelatinous, sub translucent, more or less
orbicular; the margin very thin, soon becoming free and more or less
reflexed.
The hymenial layer appears to consist of fine filaments, embedded
in a gelatinous substance, not much interwoven but running more or
less parallel with each other, bending downwards into the folds which
form the pores. The filaments seem to enter the hymenium from the
pileus in strands or bundles. In this respect it differs from Gleoporus
conchoides, the young of which it resembles somewhat in appearance
and consistency. In the latter the pileus passes more gradually into
the denser hymenium which, however, is also made up of more or less
parallel fibres embedded in a jelly-like substance when young. Mature
specimens of G. conchoides are of course at once distinguishable by the
minute, elongated, round tubes.
M. rubellus, a near relative, is never resupinate but always sessile,
more tenacious, less tomentose.
The larger specimens found measured from 4 to 8 cm. in width, re-
flexed to about 4 cm. The pileus is about 3 to 4 mm. thick, the pores
scarcely 0.5 mm. in depth.
Following are the distinctive characteristics :
Color: White above when reflexed; pale rose, red or reddish-brown
underneath.
Hymenium : Gelatinous or waxy, soft, translucent when young.
Pores : Irregular shallow, made by the folds of the hymenium.
Syn. Xylomyzon tremellosum Pers. ; 23, 2, p. 30.
30 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
4. GLOEOPORUS Mont.
Pileus with a coriaceous, floccoso-eellulose context, usually white.
The distinctive characteristic is the tremelline-gelatinous hymenium
with its at first punctiform impressions and which contracts on drying.
Gloeoporus conchoides Mont. (Plate I, fig. 5).
Conchiform, pileus coriaceous, thin, pliant, dimidiate, sessile, convex,
unequal, velutinous then somewhat glabrate, tawny, margin acute;
pores flesh-colored, white when wet, round, minute, superficial, gelat-
inous.
"Pileus varies from white to tawny; from dimidiate to resupinate.
Appeared to Berkeley and Cooke to be a form of P. nigropurpurascens
Schw. or P. dichrous Fr." (Sac., 26, vol. 6, p. 403).
This species seems to be quite common on decayed poplar logs, run-
ning lengthwise and laterally confluent, like P. adustus, and may cover
the whole side of the log. It grows in late summer and fall, even after
frost has come.
When young the hymenium is markedly gelatinous. This charac-
ter, however, is entirely lost when eld. The pores become brown elon-
gated tubes, sometimes 1 cm. in length.
The pilei are either dimidiate and sessile or strongly reflexed ; cor-
iaceous, thin with a thick base ; veiy convex above and concave below —
and hence said to be conchiform. The margin is acute, uneven and
usually lighter when growing.
The pores are at first small, roundish, shallow, unequal, apparently
formed by folds of the hymenium. When moist and growing, the
hymenium is white-primrose ; otherwise it is of a dark-brownish purple
near the base becoming lighter toward the margin where it may be
almost orange, especially in growing specimens.
Old specimens of both G. conchoides and Merulius tremellosus were
found at Elkhorn and carefully compared. From some specimens the
hymenium had rotted or been eaten away. On the underside of the
pileus of Merulius tremellosus were found reddish radiating fibres,
probably the bundles of mycelial hyphae which go to form the hy-
menium as mentioned above. Under the grayish weathered pilei of
Gloeoporus conchoides these red fibres are not found. The underside
is smooth, gray to grayish white.
G. candidus Speg. is closely related. It is thinner and the hy-
menium is very much lighter in color. It may be only a variety of
G. conchoides.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 31
The species may be recognized by the soft, white conchate pilei and
the thin gelatinous, partly separable hymenial layer.
Specimens have been found near Madison, Elkhorn, Bangor, Shana-
golden and Star Lake.
5. PAVOLUS Fries.
Hymenium reticulate-cellular to alveolate. Alveoli formed from
densely anastomosing lamellae, radiating from the point of attachment.
Spores white. Fungi dimidiate, substipitate, fleshy tough, annual.
This genus differs from others in the form of its pores produced by
the anastomosing lamellae.
Pavolus europaeus Fries. (Plate I, fig. 6).
Pileus fleshy, soft, thin, orbicular, smooth, white; stipe short, lat-
eral; alveoli deep, reticulate, subrotund; spores 12 x 4 microns.
Macbride (15, p. 6) says among other things that "they are not
exactly in concord with the above description. Our specimens are
yellow or orange above, white below and while not scaly above, yet
might be described as appressed-squamose or fibrillose, and in these
respects conform to descriptions of F. boucheanus Kl. The latter
again seems not to differ from F. canadensis of the same author".
Specimens found in Wisconsin vary in color. Young and grow-
ing specimens are usually of a pale tan color. Sometimes the color
is of a deeper brownish but scarcely orange. Old bleached specimens
are white. The color of the hymenium is usually the same as that of
the pileus. The fibrillose scales are not always present. The form
of attachment may be sessile, lateral stiped or resetted, and occasion-
ally cxcentrically stiped. The stipe when present is, however, always
very short.
F. europaeus is one of our most common types of polypores, having
been collected in every county visited so far. The most favorite sub-
stratum is a hard wood stick lying on the ground — especially oak and
hickory branches.
The largest specimen measured is 10 cm. broad and 8 cm. long. The
pileus is only a few mm. thick, while the pores are about 4-5 mm. deep.
The largest pores measured were about 3 mm. long and 2 mm. wide. In
size however they vary very much in the different specimens.
Sometimes there is more or less of a depression at the point where
the stipe is attached.
32 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
When moist or growing the pileus is leathery tough and flexible
and it dries very hard and becomes brittle.
The species may be recognized by the smooth, leathery pale-tan
pileus with the large angular or alveolar pores.
Syn.: Hexagona alveolaris (D. C.) Murrill, 19, vol. 31, p. 327.
Favolus rhipidium Berkeley (Plate I, fig. 7).
Pileus coriaceous, reniform, concentrically sulcate, alutaceous or
white, cuticle seceding in small furfuraceous areoles; stipe lateral,
short, tapering downward, primrose, becoming yellow when dry ; pores
small, white, angular, denticulate.
This species resembles Panus stipticus so much that doubtless it is
often passed by collectors of polypores. Like that species, it grows in
small densely cespitose tufts, the pilei being of about the same size
and color as those of P. stipticus. Even the stipe is of about the same
shape and size.
The pilei are nearly always reniform, smooth and leathery in sub-
stance, alutaceous when growing, pale tan when dry. The stipe is
short, curved, lateral and tapers downward, of the same color as the
pileus. The pores are small and have the alveolar shape characteris-
tic of the genus.
Specimens when fresh or moist measure from 1.5 cm. to 2.5 cm.
broad, and from 1 cm. to 2 cm. long, 3 mm. thick ; the stipe from 1 to
1.5 cm. long and 2 to 3 mm. thick. When dry, the pores are scarcely
visible. A few specimens were found on much decayed oak wood by
Mr. B. O. Dodge in Juneau County, and a few specimens were found
near Blue Mounds.
Favolus Curtisii Berkeley.
Pileus orbicular, umbilicate, thin; margin ciliate; stipe central,
thickening downward setulose; pores oblong, medium.
Carolina, Curtis. "Pileus 18mm. broad, pellucid; stipe 2.5cm.
high, 3 mm. thick at the base; 1.5 mm. at the top: Pores roundish 0.5
Tnm. broad. Similar to Polyporus arcularius, but more delicate ".
Sac., vol VI, p. 391.
Several specimens of this apparently rare species were found in
August 1902, near Oakfield, Fond du Lac County, growing from twigs
under the leaves on the western slope of a limestone ridge. They
agree very well with Berkeley's description and thus are easily iden-
tified.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 33
The largest specimen measures about 2.5 cm. in diameter ; the sub-
stance of the pileus is scarcely 0.5 mm. thick and is translucent when
moist. The color is somewhat brighter than that of F. europaeus.
The pores are deep and alveolar as those of F. europaeus but not so
large, a little darker in color than the pileus. The stipe is attached
centrally. It varies in length from 2 to 3 cm., averaging about 3 mm.
in diameter. It tapers upward and is covered with brownish furfur-
aceous scales.
When dry the plant is hard and brittle.
The distinguishing characteristics are the thin, circular, umbilicate
pileus, the favoloid pores and the slender central stem.
From Polyporus arcularius, which it strongly resembles, it may be
distinguished by its lighter color and its delicacy.
Syn. : Polyporus circular iellus Murrill, 19, 31, p. 36.
6. DAEDALEA Persoon.
The genus is readily recognized in most cases by its sinuous and
labyrinthine pores. When young the pores are firm and roundish but
soon break down into teeth or lamellae, usually woody and hard.
Daedalca unicolor (Bull.) Fries.
Pileus leathery, tough, flexible, villous-strigose, ashy zonate, the
zones concolorous ; pores labyrinthine, flexuous, acute, at length lacer-
ate, dentate; lamellae white; sometimes yellowish.
This is the commonest representative of the genus and is found in
all parts of the state. The species is very variable and occurs on
different hosts. It is most often found on old and partly decayed logs
and stumps of deciduous trees, but chiefly on poplar, willow, and
maple. Occasionally specimens are found on living maple and wil-
low trees, growing out of the wounds. The wood on which the speci-
mens grow becomes white and brittle. But whether the trees are
killed by the plant I cannot state.
The pileus is usually soft leathery, hirsute and concentrically sul-
cate, resembling Polystictus hirsutus when seen from above. Some-
times the pubescence is wanting, especially on specimens growing on
living maple and willow. The margin is usually rounded. The color
of freshly growing specimens is normally yellowish-white or aluta-
ceous. Specimens growing on maple trunks and willow are grayish-
white. Older specimens become grayish or grayish-black. Old spe-
3
34 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
cimens often become greenish.. This is due to an abundant growth
of an alga.
The hymenium also varies in color from white through ashy-gray-
to tawny and almost rusty-brown.
The tubes are short, very sinuous with toothed dissepiments which
soon become torn into teeth.
In form the pilei may be resupinate, reflexed, sessile, imbricated or
laterally confluent. Old specimens become black, hard and less hir-
sute.
The distinguishing characteristics are the leathery, velvety-hirsute,
sulcate pileus, and the whitish to grayish shallow sinuous pores which
become cut into teeth.
Syn. : Bdletus unicolor Bulliard; 7, vol. I. p. 365-501, fig. 3.
Cerena unicolor (Bull.) Murrill, 15, vol. 32, p. 97.
Daedalea confragosa. (Bolt.) Persoon (Plate III, fig. 12).
Pileus sessile, somewhat imbricated, slightly convex, of corky-
leathery, almost woody consistence, rough, reddish-brown with indis-
tinct concolorous zones, wood colored within, becoming brown; pores
narrow, labyrinthine, torn, at first gray-pruinose, later reddish-brown.
The pilei are either plane pale above or slightly convex, and always
convex beneath. The surface is usually rough-scabrous, or concentric-
ally corrugated. The color varies from gray to reddish brown. The
margin is acute, and even.
The pores are at first trametoid, white, then they become darker and
more sinuous, finally in old specimens they break down into thin fus-
cous lamellae. If horizontal sections be cut through even the most
lenzitoid specimens, the top of the hymenium will still be seen to be
daedalioid, showing that this breaking down into lamellae is only su-
perficial. A series of pores, from the trametoid type to the lenzitoid
form is shown in figures 12 b to g. The top of the pileus is shown in
figure a.
Sometimes the surface of the pileus becomes roughened toward the
base, while toward the margin it is marked by narrow regular con-
centric sulcations which in turn are crossed by slight radial rugae.
In a few specimens the margin is wavy and lobed.
Peck (22, 30 p. 71) says that D. confragosa, Trametes rubescens,
Lenzites Cookei, L. crataegi, L. proximo, and possibly L. Klotzschii are
oi«e species. Prof. Macbride also includes Lenzites corrugata and L.
bicolor with Daedalea confragosa.
THE.POLYPG'RACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 35
The species is very common in the southern, eastern and western
parts of the state. Specimens were also found in Oneida, Forest and
Ashland Counties. The species grows most abundantly on dead wil-
low, but is also found on living willow, dead oak and poplar. The upper
surface of the pilei is always nicely horizontal no matter in what posi-
tion the wood is on which they grow. Sometimes they are clustered
but usually each plant grows separately.
The largest specimen found measures about 14 cm. in width, 8 cm.
in length and nearly 3 cm. thick behind. Most specimens, however,
are smaller.
The hymenium of a growing specimen turns to a dull brick-red when
wounded or bruised.
Syn. : Daedalea confragosa (Bolt.) Fries, 3, plate 160.
Boletus labyrinthiformis Bulliard; 7, plate 491, fig. 1.
Agaricus confragosus (Bolt.) Murrill; 19, vol. 32, p. 86.
Daedalea albida Fries; Obs., I, p. 107.
Pileus corky to leathery, smooth, flat, zoneless, milk-white, with
delicate tomentum appressed silky smooth, pores entire and of the
same color.
Very well developed specimens of this fungus were found at Cran-
don and were identified by Bresadola, who puts them here rather than
in the genus Lenzites. These specimens are certainly typically daeda-
lioid.
Daedalea obtusa (Berkeley) (Plate II, fig. 11).
Pileus thin, pulvinate, fleshy, spongy, soft, tomentose, white; mar-
gin obtuse; pores unequal, wide, irregular, subgyrose, becoming brown
when dry.
This species was placed under the genus Polyporus by Berkeley but
is here placed with Daedalea because of the large labyrinthine pores
and because the substance of the pileus passes unchanged into the
trama.
Peck, to whom a few specimens were sent, writes: — "It seems to me
a better Daedalea or Trametes than Polyporus."
Macbride (15, p. 22) says: "Perhaps no one at first sight would
consider a specimen a Polyporus at all; it looks more like a Daedalea
perhaps. The pores are very large, irregular, almost labyrinthine
and very long Furthermore the hymenophore descends
36 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
as a trama between the pores in such a fashion as to suggest a Trametes
and the context is delicately zoned. ' '
This is one of our handsomest and most showy poly pores. It is easily
recognized by its massive structure, very obtuse margin; straw-yellow,
tomentose or rough velvety surface; very large sinuous pores which
sometimes reach a length of from 3 to 3.5 cm. The substance is corky-
fibrous. Part of these fibres pass down into the trama, and part up-
ward into the pubescence. I have seen none that are glabrate. When
old and weathered the pileus cracks and forms bunches of stiff hairs
which become gray or blackish. The flesh is pale alutaceous as are
also the pores. The latter become darker on drying.
Specimens vary much in size. My largest specimen measures about
24 cm. in width and 15 cm. in length. The flesh of the pileus is 4 cm.
in thickness and the tubes vary from 3 to nearly 4 cm. in length. The
figure shows part of the hymenium of a specimen enlarged and is a
good representation of the labyrinthine pores.
The specimens are usually sessile dimidiate or crescent-shaped, grow-
ing backward so that they seem to clasp the tree upon which they
grow. Two specimens were collected by Mr. F. E. McKenna in Iowa
County. These are orbicular, growing from the underside of a fence
rail. The pores are closed or stuffed in these. This is a common con-
dition in younger specimens.
Quite common on dead or living black oak and hickory trees. Speci-
mens have been collected in Dane, Walworth, Iowa, Monroe, LaCrosse,
and Chippewa Counties.
Berkeley describes the species as "thin," but our specimens never
appear so; they are always thick. The long tubes and the incurved
margin make the species thick pulvinate and obtuse.
Syn. Polyporus obtusus (Berk) ; 26, vol. VI, p. 134; 15, p. 22.
Trametes unicolor (Schw.) Murrill; 19, vol. 32, p. 638.
Polyporus unicolor Schweinitz ; 26, vol. VI, p. 131.
7. TRAMETES Fries.
Fries describes the genus as follows: Pores subrotund, obtuse, en-
tire, usually of equal depth not forming a heterogeneous stratum, ap-
pearing as if sunk into the flesh of the pileus; the trama continuous
with the flesh of the pileus and similar to it. From woody to suberose,
hard, not stratose, commonly scented.
The most prominent characteristics of this genus are the lignatile
pileus, the pores, with obtuse dissepiments, which are usually subro-
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 37
tund or lengthened radially; tubes of unequal length, with the trama
of the same substance as the pileus. The dissepiments are seldom
toothed or torn.
§1. Context white or whitish.
Trametes sepium Berkeley.
Pilei effused, at base reflexed, often laterally confluent, finely tom-
entose, successively zonate, pale wood color, leathery, sometimes when
young three cornered, substance white; pores slightly sinuous, about
5/6 mm. in diameter.
Found in North and South Carolina on oak, pine, and cypress; in
Alabama on laurel and sassafras ; in Connecticut, Ohio and New Jersey
on oak. (26, VI, p. 342.)
This small, large pored Trametes is quite common on oak fence
posts, fence rails and on oak trunks. It has been found at Blkhorn,
Horicon, Madison, Bangor, Sparta, Crandon and Oakfield. The larg-
est specimen was 3 cm. broad, 1 cm. long ; flesh of the pileus 2 — 4 mm.
thick, tubes from 4 — 8 mm. in length.
The pilei are white, pulvinate, leathery, more or less imbricated, con-
fluent, margin acute, inflexed and finely tomentose when young. The
pores are large, angular or sinuate, sometimes decurrent upon the
soft white tomentose mycelium below. In some specimens the pores
are nearly alveolar or hexagonal, reminding one of Favolus. The
color of the pores varies from white, to straw-yellow and yellowish
brown. Sometimes the pores become torn into lamellae and teeth.
The zones are not very apparent on young specimens but are more
so on mature ones, on which also slight concentric sulcations some-
times appear. The tomentose pubescence disappears with age and
weathering.
This species is closely related to Trametes serialis Fries, and Tram-
etes serpens Fries. It is, however, less resupinate and has larger pores
than either of these species.
Syn. Daedalea sepium Rav. ; Fung. Car., fasc. I, no. 21.
Coriolellus sepium (Berk.) Murrill; 19, vol. 32, p. 481.
Trametes serialis Fries (Plate III, fig. 13).
Pilei laterally confluent, effuso-reflexed, corky-coriaceous, yellowish
to straw color, with obtuse margin. Pores small, white, unequal, in
the reflexed part roundish, in the effused part irregular, oblique,
toothed.
38 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
On the wood of conifers. Pilei 1 — 1% cm. broad, confluent length-
wise for % meter.
Not common; a few specimens were found on a fallen alder trunk
at Bangor, and a few near Stone Lake, Forest County, on an old pine
log. The largest specimen, made up of a number of confluent pilei,
was effused for about 15 cm. in length, and 5 cm. in breadth, the re-
flexed margin bent back not more than iy2 cm. The color is a peculiar
reddish-yellow, "scherben farbig" or tile color, and is more or less
persistent.
Young specimens are orbicular and entirely resupinate. The pores
being longer and larger in the center, become smaller and shorter
toward the margin. On the whole, the pores can be called large, ir-
regular and unequal. In older resupinate forms they are often sin-
uous or labyrinthine, and often become split into teeth.
The chief characteristics of this species are the tile-colored, conflu-
ent pilei and the large, irregular toothed pores.
Trainetes suaveolens (L.) 'Whiter (Plate II, fig. 9).
Pileus thick, pulvinate, 5 — 12 cm. broad, fleshy-corky, tomentose,
azonate; white, with strong anise odor; pores large, roundish, at first
white becoming brownish, dissepiments obtuse. Spores oval, colorless,
9 microns long and 4 to 5 microns thick. On willow trunks.
This large showy Trametes is not very common. Some specimens
were found at Bangor growing from the dead and decayed parts of
living willows and from willow stumps. Two large reflexed specimens
and one resupinate specimen were found near Crandon, Forest County,
on a fallen fir, and a small specimen at Devils Lake. The pores in
these specimens were somewhat smaller with thinner dissepiments than
in the specimens from willows.
The pilei are pure white, soft corky, somewhat uneven, finely tomen-
tose; margin blunt, flesh pure white, smelling strongly like anise, the
odor being more or less persistent. The pores are large roundish, at
first shallow then lengthening. The mouths of the pores are at first
snow-white but darken to smoke color later.
The largest specimen found, measured 10 cm. in breadth, 7 cm. in
length and 1.5 cm. in thickness, with tubes nearly 1 cm. in length.
The specimens found near Crandon were thicker in proportion to
their length and width.
Easily recognized by the soft white corky substance, the large dark-
ening pores and the strong persistent anise odor.
THE. POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 39
Trametes gibbosa (Pers.) Fr. (Plate I. fig. 8.)
Pileus sessile, with gibbous base, 8 to 15 cm. broad, corky, elas-
tic, strigose, obsoletely zonate, whitish, becoming gray with age. Pores
linear, short, and narrow, usually straight, sometimes slightly sinuous.
Odorless.
On trunks of various trees.
Only a few specimens were found growing from the decayed side of
a living apple tree in Horicon, July, 1905. The largest specimen
measures about 8 cm. wide, 3 cm. long and from 2 to 3 cm. thick.
The color varies from whitish to grayish and pale brown. The upper
and lower surfaces are convex, the base being more or less decurrent.
The context is corky and has a wood color.
The pores are large, narrow, unequal and more or less sinuous. The
young pores near the growing margin are small, but they become
larger and sinuous with age.
Trametes Trogii Berkeley.
Fuscous, subolivaceous ; pileus convex, subzonate, clothed with
bunches of rigid hairs ; margin acute, context white ; pores unequal,
eubangulate, dentate.
This looks like T. Peckii, but is smaller, thinner, and lighter in
color, the context being white; the pores also are smaller and much
lighter in color, being almost white with a brownish tinge. They are
more decurrent than in T. Peckii. One specimen which was sent to
Professor C. H. Peck and identified by him was almost resupinate.
This species is not so common as the preceding. Several specimens
were collected at Horicon on a cottonwood stump and another near Elk-
horn en a poplar stump. These specimens are much imbricated and
laterally confluent. The larger one measures 8 cm. in width and 3 to
4 cm. in length. The pileus is about 0.25 cm. thick and the pores vary
in length from 1 mm. to 1 cm. The diameter of the pores is about 0.3
to 0.4 mm.
Trametes Peckii Kalchbrenner (Plate IV, fig. 15).
Pileus suberose, dimidiate sessile, subdecurrent, hirsute, azonate,
ferruginous-fuscous, at length faded, margin acute; pores rather
large, rotund-angulate, concolorous with the pileus, becoming fuscous
with age ; context wood-colored.
40 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
This species is quite common growing on poplars, and oak. Speci-
mens have been collected at Sparta, Bangor, Madison, Horicon and on
Madaline Island. Dead poplar trunks and stumps seem to be the
favorite substrata.
The pileus is dimidiate-sessile and sometimes even crescent form,
very often imbricated, and laterally confluent. The substance is dark
wood color, corky to fibrous, and about one half as thick as the length
of the pores, and, as McBride (15, p. 10) says — "it passes by imper-
ceptible transition into the matted hirsute outer coat."
The margin is usually acute, but in a few specimens quite obtuse,
especially in younger specimens. It usually curves down when
dried. The pores are large, irregular, long, sometimes almost sinuous
and in old weathered specimens torn into teeth. In color they vary
from grayish brown to very dark brown. The pilei are variable in
size, being from 2 to 20 cm. in width; from 1 to 8 cm. in length and
from 0.25 to 1.5 cm. thick with pores from 0.5 cm. to 2 cm. in length.
This species is closely related to T. Trogii, from which it differs in
its larger size, larger pores and darker color. It is easily recognized
by its seal-brown strongly strigose-hirsute pileus and the large irregu-
lar subdecurrent pores.
Syn. : Funalia stuppens (Berk.) Murrill; 19, vol. 32, p. 356.
Trametes heteromorpha (Fries) Bres.
Pileus effuso-reflexed, thin, tubercular, fibrous-wrinkled, leathery,
pale- whitish ; lamellae very broad, crowded, more or less anastomos-
ing, white, growing beyond the margin thus making it appear dentate.
On conifers.
The above is Fries 's description of Lenzites heteromorpha. Peck
(Report no. 42, p. 120) says that L. heteromorpha exhibits three forms;
the daedalioid, the trametoid and the lenzitoid. Bresadola places
them all in the genus Trametes. Our specimens belong to the daeda-
lioid and trametoid forms.
The specimens are nearly pure white, thin but leathery-tough, much
effused and narrowly reflexed. The pores are large, shallow, varying
from roundish to labyrinthine. The leathery substance is easily separ-
able from the substratum and becomes hard and brittle when dry.
Our specimens were found growing on fallen limbs, sticks and logs
at Shanagolden, Crandon and Ladysmith. The largest specimen
measured nearly 10 cm. in length and 3 to 4 cm. in width, 1 to 2 cm.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 41
in thickness. One side was reflexed about 1.5 cm. The surface of the
pileus in this case was minutely tomentose.
Syn. : Lenzites heteromorpha Fries, 9, Taf. 177, Fig. 3; 28, vol. 1,
p. 490.
Trametes stereoides (Fries) Bres. (Plate III, fig. 14).
Piiei imbricated, leathery, thin, stiff, effuso-reflexed, reniform, at
first tomentose, then glabrate, grayish-brown, with concolorous zones,
1 to 1.5 cm. long, 0.5 to 1 cm. broad. Pores short, quite large, obtuse,
variously formed, white.
Trunks of conifers.
This species seems to be quite abundant in the forests of Northern
\Visconsin. Our specimens were collected in pine and mixed woods in
Oneida County, near Hazelhurst, at Shanagolden, Ashland County,
and in the Star Lake region. The specimens were found chiefly on
fallen hemlock or spruce branches and decayed logs. They were much
imbricated, effused and reflexed and laterally confluent, so that the
largest specimen measured about 12 cm. in length and 5 to 6 cm. in
breadth, being reflexed to about 2 to 3 centimenters.
The pilei are thin, leathery but stiff; the surface very uneven, and
of a dark gray-brown. The zones are sometimes blackish, making the
surface look very much like that of Polystictus planus Pk., from
which, however, this species differs in its larger and coarser structure
and the larger pores.
Fries (9) places the species in the genus Polyporus, but Bresadola
(in litt) calls it a Trametes and regards it as identical with T. mollis
Fries.
This species is easily recognized by the very uneven, thin leathery
grayish-brown pileus and the large, shallow white pores which soon
turn gray.
Our specimens agree very well with Fig. 3, Taf. 187 of Fries Icones
II, page 86.
Syr.: Polyporus stereoides Fries; 28, I, p. 415.
Polystictus stereoides Fries Sac.; 26, VI. p. 267.
Trametes scutellata Schw.
"Pileus pulvinate, narrow, zonate, yellowish- white, tomentose, but
at length laccate- glabrate, context thin, almost concolorous; hymen-
ium concave, white; pores punctiform, dissepiments wide, rigid. "
This is another small whitish Trametes. The pileus is pulvinate,
hard corky; sometimes scutellate or even hoof -shaped with a narrow
42 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
base. It is white to pale tawny, the old parts becoming black, and
the context, at first white, becomes darker wood-color and never very
thick. It is usually more or less glabrate, zoned, often concentrically
sulcate ; the white margin smooth, more or less acute, spreading. The
hymenium is white or pale tawny and nearly always concave. The
pores are small even, regular, with thick dissepiments. The tubes are
of unequal length.
Some of the older specimens seem to be quite distinctly stratified,
and look like No. 1010 of Fungi Columbian! (Fomes scutellata). Per-
haps the two forms should be placed together in the genus Fomes. T.
scutellata is said by Macbride (15, p. 10) to be the same as Trametes
Ohiemis Berk.
An entirely resupinate form occurs on the underside of old fence
rails. This is dry, whitish, thin, closely incrusting the surface of the
wood. The tubes are short with small mouths and thick dissepiments.
The hymenium is the same as that of the dimidiate forms. The pileus
follows the unevenness of the wood surface, with here and there slight
indications of becoming reflexed. This is not always evident, however.
T. scutellata is a quite common form growing on old fence rails
and posts. I have never seen it on trees and logs lying on the ground.
Specimens have been collected in Monroe, Walworth, Dane, Fond du
Lac, Dodge, Iowa and La Crosse Counties. They are from 2 to 3 cm.
wide; 1 to 4cm. long; flesh 4 to 6mm. thick. The tubes are 1mm.
long in resupinate forms, and in others form 3 to 10 mm.
The distinguishing characteristics of the species are the hoof-shaped
pileus, the white dry substance, the concave hymenium with small
pores and thick dissepiments.
Syn. Fomes scutellatus (Schw.) ; 26, vol. VI, p. 192.
Trametes oJiiensis Berk. ; 26, vol. VI, p. 342.
§2. Context yellowish.
\
Trametes rigida B. & Mont.
Pileus corky, undulate, by far the greater part resupinate ; the mar-
gin narrow, acute, subzonate, tawny brown; pores medium, round,
equal, obtuse, whitish.
Only a resupinate form was found growing on the underside of
a poplar log at Madison. The specimen was about 15 em. long, 2 to 4
cm. wide, and nearly 1 cm. thick. The color varied from whitish to
tawny. The substance was quite hard and tough.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 43
The tubes were small, equal, and about 4 mm. in length with thick
dissepiments.
Syn. Polystictus rig ens Sacc. et Cub., 26 vol. VI, p. 274.
§3. Substance tawny or ferruginous.
Trametes odorata (Wulff.) Fries (Plate II. fig. 10).
Pileus pulvinate, 5 to 8 cm. broad, corky, somewhat soft, shaggy,
during the first year brownish-yellow, later blackish-brown, widened,
concentrically furrowed, wrinkled, tomentose, with cinnamon colored
margin; pores roundish, or oblong, cinnamon.
On old spruce trunks.
Common. In the woods on spruce logs ; otherwise on spruce planks
and timbers. A small but very common form grows on the planks
and sleepers of sidewalks made of hemlock lumber. Here the species pro-
duces a brownish rot in the wood which causes it to crumble into a fine
brown powder, not unlike that produced by Lenzites sepiaria and Pomes
ungulata.
Our specimens were found in Oneida County, on hemlock logs, and
in La Crosse County, Monroe County and Dodge County, on sidewalks
and bridge timbers. The largest measure about 7 cm. broad and 6 to 8
cm. long ; in thickness they vary from 0.5 to 3 cm.
The pilei may be dimidiate sessile or entirely resupinate. Usually
the specimens grow only one season, but many specimens especially
resupinate forms growing on the underside of bridge timbers have
from two to three strata. The specimens found on spruce trunks in
the woods also show several years growth.
The pores and margin when growing are almost cream-yellow, but
soon change to cinnamon brown. At first they are soft and moist,
staining brown where bruised, but they become corky and brown, and
at last blackish and hard. At first the specimens are tomentose shaggy
but by weathering they become glabrate and rough. The pores are
medium, equal, thick-walled, about as long as the thickness of the
pileus. The specimens growing on worked timbers are usually softer
in substance and richer in color.
The odor is not very pronounced. When fresh they have merely a
disagreeable fungus smell, but on drying the odor becomes stronger
and sweetish. In habit and appearance the younger specimens
strongly resemble Lenzites sepiaria.
The distinguishing characteristics are the rich cinnamon-brown
44 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
color, the soft corky substance, the equal to medium-sized pores, and
its habitat which is almost invariably hemlock.
Syn. Boletus annulatus (Schaeff.) ; 27, Taf. 106.
Trametes pini (Thore) Fries (Plate IV, fig. 16).
Pileus pulvinate or bracket-shaped, sometimes resupinate, 8 — 16 cm.
broad, very hard, of corky-woody consistence, concentrically sulcate
above, rimose-scrupose, rusty-brown becoming black, within yellowish-
brown. Pores large, roundish or oblong, reddish-yellow. Spores
broadly oval, only more rarely globose, 5 — 6 microns long, 4 — 5 microns
broad.
On living trunks, especially of pine, but also on other conifers.
Massee says that the flesh is thick behind, that the pores are 14 inch
deep the first year, but that the species is perennial and eventually the
strata collectively become 1 inch or more thick. He describes them
also as having a slight but pleasant odor.
Specimens submitted to Patouillard were identified by him as Poly-
porus> piceinus Peck. Henning, to whom specimens were also sub-
mitted, expresses the opinion that P. piceinus and Trametes abietis are
the same as T. pini. Polyporus piceinus (22, 42, p. 25) is described
by Peck as follows : ' i Pileus 1-2 inches broad, thin subcorky, sessile,
often concrescent, and imbricated, sometimes resupinate or effuso-re-
flexed, tomentose, concentrically sulcate, and adorned with interven-
ing elevated tomentose lines or narrow zones, tawny-brown or subspa-
diceous, the thin margin at first golden-yellow, soon tawny, then con-
colorous; the hymenium plane or concave, tawny-cinnamon, the pores
minute, subrotund, long, the dissepiments thin but entire; spores mi-
nute, subglobose, 4 microns broad."
In further notes on the same species, Peck says that P. piceinus
grows on spruce only and that its color resembles that of Lenzites
sepiaria. "T. pini," he says, "is a little paler or more tawny." He
notes further that it revives the second year and resembles Fomes pecti-
natus, but that it belongs rather to the Polysticti.
Our specimens were collected in Milwaukee, La Crosse, Oneida,
Vilas, Forest and Ashland Counties on white and red pine, living and
dead, on tamarack, living and dead, on dead spruce and dead hem-
lock. The species is most abundant on tamarack, living and dead, in
the northern part of the state and on living white pine. In the pines
it produces the well known "dry or ring-rot." Hartig calls it "red
rot" (Rothfaule).
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 45
The largest specimen was found on a tamarack near Star Lake.
This measured about 24 cm. broad, 14 cm. long and 6 cm. thick be-
hind. The base was strongly decurrent and many smaller pilei were
growing out of it. The tubes were about 1 cm. long, distinctly strati-
fied and in some places made up of 2 and 3 strata. The specimens
collected from the pines and spruces are always much smaller and
agree more exactly with Professor Peck's description of P. piceinus.
Specimens collected on hemlock logs are larger than those on pines
but not so large as those on tamarack. Von Schrenck has found the
species on fir trees in the New England states, but says that it is rare.
The specimens when dry are very hard and somewhat brittle. In
color and general appearance they resemble somewhat Fomes con-
chat us but the color inclines more to reddish-brown and the pores
jare much longer and more irregular. The older part becomes black,
rimose and moss-covered. When young and growing, the margin is
of a golden-brown and is covered with a soft velvety tomentum.
The La Crosse County specimens were found on the exposed root
of a living white pine.
Syn. Polyporus pini Pers. ; 23, vol. 11, p. 83.
Porodaedalea pini (Thore) Murrill; 19, vol. 32, p. 367.
Polyporus piceinus Peck; 22, no. 42, p. 25.
Trametes abietis Karst. ; 56, vol. VI, p. 346.
8. PORIA.
This genus is made to include all forms which are entirely resupin-
nate. They may be thin membranaceous, fleshy or almost corky ex-
pansions or incrustations. A true Poria should never be reflexed.
This is the tribe Resupinatae under Polyporus of the older authors.
It is considered by some to consist of simply young or abnormal forms
of Polyporus.
Forms whose pores break up readily into teeth are with difficulty
separated from Irpex, and thus endless confusion arises.
The genus is abundantly represented throughout the state.
KEY TO WISCONSIN SPECIES OF PORIA
Pale or white forms 1
Darker or bright colored forms 2
1. Growing on the ground P. terrestris
1. Not on the ground 3
2. Yellow from the start P. nitida
2. Pale yellow, soft P. vitellina
46 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
2, Pale yellow, hard, dry p. xantha
2. Violet, thin P. violacea
2. Purple with white margin p. purpurea
2. Ferruginous with white margin p. marginellus
2. Purple tubes long p. crocipora
2. White becoming yellow and fuscous p. Andersoni
2. Brown, soft P. contigua
2. Brown, harder : P. ferruginosa
2. Purplish brown woody p. laevigata
3. Fleshy, somewhat moist 4
3. Flesh more or less dry 5
4. Very thin, white p. Gordoniensis
4. Substance of radiate flocculose strands P. radula
4. Soft, pores small, thin p. mollusca
4. Dry, thin, pores medium, oblique P. viridans
4. Pores lengthened, torn p. subacida
4. Pores very long, forming almost the entire thickness of the plant
P. medulla-panis
4. Pores sinuous p. sinuosa
4. Pores minute, pale yellow or pinkish P. attenuata
4. Pores minute, yellowish or tawny P. crassa
5. Pores small, blunt P. vulgaris
5. Pores larger, torn P. corticola
6. Pores large, shallow P. vaporaria
5. Pores small, short, stratified P. obducens
5. Pores minute irregular P. subfusco-flavida
5. Pores minute, regular, angular P. pulchella
Poria terrestris (D. C.) Fries.
Effused, very thin, composed of delicate byssoid hyphae, white,
evanescent; pores central, very minute, white, then rufescent.
Only one specimen has been found in the state. It was growing on
the ground in the greenhouse at the University of Wisconsin in De-
cember 1899. It was thin, whitish and moist and measured about
3 cm. in length, 2 cm. in width and scarcely 1 mm. in thickness. It
was iregular in outline. The margin was somewhat fringed, and
the surface was uneven. The pores in the center, were small, irregu-
lar, and shallow, becoming a faint reddish-brown. The plant was held
to the ground by rhizomorphous strands which were about 8 — 9 cm.
long and from 1 — 2 mm. thick. They penetrated the ground in vari-
ous directions for their full length. The spores are subglobose about
4 microns by 3.5 microns.
Syn.; Polyporus terrestris (D. C.) Fries, 28, 1 p. 410; 8, p. 576.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 47
Poria gordoniensis B. & Br.
Effused, membranous , very thin, separable, persistently white ;
margin shortly fimbriate, pores minute, unequal, angulate; dissepi-
ments very thin, fimbriate-dentate.
One lot of specimens of this very small fungus was collected at
Parf rey 's Glen. The largest pileus is about 1 cm. in diameter, very
thin and delicate. The margin is fimbriate, white; the pores scarcely
visible to the naked eye, shallow, angulate.
The whole plant has a waxy, white appearance. It grows on very
much decayed wood.
Poria vitellina Schw
Widely effused, loosely adnate, thick, uneven, soft and fleshy, vi-
telline, with a byssine margin. Pores very large, elevated, unequal,
thin, angular.
Morgan (18, VI, p. 175) says of this species: "A soft and fleshy
fungus of unequal thickness and large and unequal pores. The color
is very elegant and persists even in drying. The egg-yellow pervades
the whole mass. The long pores vary from round to angular and
even sinuous. Strings of yellow mycelium penetrate the rotten wood be-
neath."
Specimens from the underside of sidewalks at Madison are not
quite as thick as described for the species ; the margin is thin and cob-
webby, like that of Polyporus bombycinus. Specimens from Horicon
on poplar are perhaps more typical.
The whole substance is soft-brittle. The pores are thin-walled,
nearly 3 mm. long with a diameter of about 0.75 mm.
The species looks very much like Polyporus bombycinus and like
*the large-pored forms of Poria mollusca.
Poria radula (Pers.) Pr.
Effused, thin, white, formed entirely from the loose, dry mycelium,
villous below; pores medium sized, angular, dissepiments toothed,
pubescent when young.
One specimen was found growing on the under side of a box in the
greenhouse at the University of Wisconsin. The whole bottom of the
box was covered by strands of dryish flocculose white mycelium which
48 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
radiated in every direction. Here and there they combined to form
a thin separable pileus upon which the irregular thin-walled pores
were formed. The hymenium is very uneven, due to the fact that
the older and central pores become somewhat elongated as in P. mol-
lusca. On drying the whole fungus shrinks and becomes a tawny-
yellow color. When the plant body is peeled off from the substratum
it feels soft and velvety.
This species seems to be very closely related to P. mollusca and may
be distinguished from it by its larger pores, its looser substance and
Its loose radiating fibres.
Dudley (22, 41, p. 86) says that this species produces much of the
rot found in lumber piles.
When dry the pileus is thin and soft, almost like white tissue paper.
The pores vary from 0.4 to 1 mm. in diameter ; from 0.3 mm. to 3 mm.
in length.
Syn. : Polyporus radula (Pers.) ; 28, p. 407.
Poria mollusca (Pers.) Fries.
Fructification effused, thin, soft, white and a byssoid, radiating-
fibrillose border; pores developed from various centers, small, thin,
round, unequal, lacerate.
This is a thin soft form more or less easily separable from the sub-
stratum, the soft white mycelium creeping over the substratum forms
centers for the development of the small very thin- walled pores, and
makes the so called ' i fibrillose-radiating ' ' margin. The pores at
length become elongated and torn into teeth.
Comparatively common. Specimens were found on the underside
of a sidewalk, on pine chips and running over dead leaves in the
woods, at Madison ; on an old, partly decayed boat at Sparta ; and one
specimen in a growing condition on December 28, 1899, under a poplar
log at Horicon. It seems abundant in fall and early winter. One
specimen collected by Professor Cheney near Brule river in 1897 is
perhaps the finest and most representative I have seen, and agrees
pretty well with no. 1706 North American Fungi and no. 1013 Fungi
Columbiani. The pores have a slightly pinkish tinge. They are
short, slightly angular, and shallow with very thin walls. The radi-
ate-fibrillose margin is especially well marked and beautiful. This
margin and the thin-walled pores are the distinctive features of the
species.
The largest specimen collected was 30 cm. long, 10 to 12 cm. broad,
and the subiculum very thin. The pores vary in diameter as well as
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 49
in length. The longest ones measured 3 mm. The younger pores are
mere depressions in the subiculum.
Syn. : Poly poms molluscus (Pers.) ; 28, I, p. 408.
Poria viridans Berk, and Br.
Effused, crustaceo-adnate, thin, at first white, later pale-greenish,
with the margin pulverulent tomentose; pores small; angular, dis-
sepiments thin.
On decayed wood, with the habit of P. vulgaris
"On rotten wood. Effused, forming patches a few inches long, per-
fectly white at first, but in drying assuming a delicate pale green, with
honey-like tinge in parts; border pulverulento-tomentose, very thin;
pores minute, angular, dissepiments thin. This pretty species has the
habit of P. vulgaris (B. & Br.) (17, p. 204.) "
Specimens of this species were found near Madison, October 5, 1901,
on very rotten wood. It was very thin, dirty-yellowish with a pale-
greenish tinge. The margin is very thin, lighter in color. The pores
are small; if oblique they are irregular, sinuous; when not oblique
they are angular, small.
The species may be known by its thin substance and pale-greenish
tinge.
Syn. Polyporus viridans. Berk. & Br. ; 28, 1, p. 410.
Poria attenuata Peck (Plate IV, fig. 19).
Resupinate, effused, very thin, separable from the matrix, pinkish-
ochre, the margin whitish; pores minute, subrotund, with thin acute
dissepiments.
Comparatively common on bark, sticks and fence rails. Specimens
have been found near Madison, Oakfield, Horicon and Sparta. The
largest are about 20 cm. long and 10 cm. wide; the subiculum is less
than 1 mm. thick. The pores are 1 mm. or less in length and are ex-
tremely small.
The margin is irregular, white, and somewhat tomentose, as is also
the subiculum. This is only slightly separable from the substratum.
The color of the pores is pinkish or yellowish-pink when fresh ; in some
cases verging towards lilac. In drying it changes to a reddish-tan.
The surface is smooth and even, the pores being round, regular and
sometimes oblique. Easily recognized by the thin even substance, the
white border and the color of the pores.
4
50 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Poria violacea Fries.
Effused, determinate, usually orbicular, thin, smooth and glabrate,
adnate, without much subiculum; violet; pores short, cellular, as if
formed by upraised veins, entire.
" Allied to Merulius, for which a young specimen might be taken."
Very thin, closely adnate; pores small, irregular, shallow, soft.
Color varying from violet to violet purple. When young the violet,
moist mycelium which is sometimes almost gelatinous, covers the sub-
stratum very closely and the pores seem to be formed by upf oldings as
in Merulius, to which it is said to be related. The young specimens
may indeed be mistaken for resupinate forms of Merulius tremellosus,
the color and structure being much the same. Mature specimens may
be confounded with resupinate forms of Polystictus abietinus. From
Merulius this species may be separated by the smaller pores with acute
dissepiments and the innate thin pileus. Polyporus abietinus has
longer, more torn pores and a firmer body. (It is also closely related to
Poria purpurea, but this is usually darker in color and has a white floo-
culose border.
Our specimens were collected near Palmyra on very rotten wood.
The specimens are not large — being about 8 — 9 cm. long ; 2 — 4 cm.
wide ; diameter of pores varying from .3 to 2 mm. The mature speci-
mens have a reddish- violet color and the younger ones turned a darker
purple-violet on drying.
Syn : Polyporus violaceus Fries 28, I, p. 412.
Poria purpurea Fries.
Broadly and irregularly effused, the white floccnlose mycelium
creeping over the surface of the rotten wood and producing here and
there groups of minute, unequal, purple-lilac pores about one line
deep.
Morgan (18, VIII, p. 106) says that it occurs on the bark of sugar
maple; that it is thin and delicate, occurring in straggling patches,
with groups of purple pores on the white mycelium. Some of the
dried specimens bleach out white. He also says that this species is
the same as Polyporus lilacinus Schw.
This is more broadly and irregularly effused than the preceding
species. It is very thin, closely innate, with a more or less white-
flocculose border, the white mycelium creeping over the rotten wood
producing here and there groups of minute unequal purple-lilac pores.
The color is decidedly darker than the preceding species: the pores
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 51
are the same in size, very irregular, almost sinuous when old, because
of the breaking down of the thin dissepiments.
Quite rare. A few specimens were collected at Horicon in 1899 onv
a rotten willow ; and some specimens were collected near Blue Mounds.
The largest specimens are about 16 cm. long, 3 cm. wide ; the whitish
margin is very thin and sometimes even obsolete.
This species is closely related to P. violacea, but is darker in color
and is distinguished by the white margin. The color is well preserved
in our specimens.
Syn. Polyporus purpureus Fries; 28, I, p. 412.
Poria crocipora Berk. Curt.
Effused, pulvinate, thick in drying blackish-rufous ; margin obtuse ;
tubules elongate, medium, dissepiments thin, flaccid, saffron.
On decayed wood.
The specimen referred to here was found near Blue Mounds on very
much decayed wood. It is about 10 cm. long and 4 cm. wide. In color
it is dark-red; the pores short and very small; the flesh thick. It is
darker in color than P. rufa Schrad., and has thicker flesh. This spe-
cies was identified by Bresadola.
Poria marginella Peck.
Resupinate, effused, forming extensive patches 2—6 mm. thick;
subiculum distinct, firm, subcinnamon, the extreme margin white, be-
coming dark-ferruginous with age ; pores at first short sunk in the to-
mentum of the subiculum, then longer, minute, rotund, often oblique,
brownish ferruginous; glaucous within; dissepiments thick, obtuse.
Not common. Some specimens were found under old pine logs near
Ladysmith in August 1905. Specimens collected on Picea mariana, in
September, were remarkable for, and very distinct by reason of the
narrow downy white margin that borders the growing plant.
The largest are 8 cm. long, 3 cm. wide and about 3 mm. thick. When
fresh they are soft, moist, pale cinnamon except the margin which is
white or pale yellowish-white, tomentose. The pores are very small
equal, pale cinnamon and pruinose. When old and while drying they
become dark brown.
The species is easily recognized by the cinnamon-colored pores and
substance surrounded by the bright white or pale-yellowish margin.
52 TEE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Poria subacida Pk. (Plate IV, fig. 18.)
Effused, separable from the matrix, tough, flexible, unequal, deter-
minate; margin pubescent, narrow, white; pores minute, subrotund
2 — 6 mm. long, often oblique, white, verging toward tawny, flesh be-
coming dirty-yellow; dissepiments thin, minutely dentate; odor
strongly subacid.
This is perhaps our commonest Pona,'and is found everywhere un-
der decayed logs. I have specimens from Madison, Sparta, Elkhorn,
Horicon, Bangor, Crandon, Hazelhurst, Star Lake, Brule, Ladysmith
and Shanagolden, on poplar, maple, tamarack and pine logs.
The color varies from snow white to cream, dirty-yellow and tawny.
It always deepens on drying. The surface is always uneven, the mar-
gin very narrow and irregular. One large-pored specimen has a
broad, soft tomentose sterile margin from which the white mycelium
creeps over the surface of the substratum on the leaves and grass.
The pores cannot always be called minute — they are more often me-
dium and sometimes quite large and irregular, varying from 0.3 to 0.9
mm. in diameter. The length varies from 2 to 6 mm. The dissepi-
ments are thin, slightly dentate but often becoming torn. The subicu-
lum is thin and brittle when dry. The odor is quite strong and dis-
agreeable when fresh but becomes less strong and sweeter on drying.
One specimen found under a much decayed tamarack log near Hazel-
hurst had a strong anise-like odor, which is quite persistent.
Old weathered forms have been found almost entirely covered by
new growths. The old portions varied in color from dirty-yellow to
teinnamon. The tubes in these were unusually long.
Most of my specimens were found on much decayed wood — usually
poplar, or oak. The white felt-like mycelium was found everywhere in
the cavities of the wood and looks like that of Polyporus adustus, but
is less firm.
Von Schrenk (Bull. 25, U. S. Dept. Agric.) gives an extended ac-
count of the destruction caused by this fungus. It appears that it at-
tacks living trees and its mycelum grows through the soil to infect the
roots. Von Schrenk says it is very destructive especially to dead wood.
Poria medulla-panis (Pers.) Fries.
Effuse, determinate, subundulate, firm, smooth, white; slightly mar-
gined with a sterile border almost the entire thickness of the plant
made up of the rather long pores which are of medium size and entire.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 53
On rotton wood in a greenhouse, also on the underside of a pine
drain cover at Madison. Probably fairly common in the state. The
specimens found were very well developed forming broad soft almost
doughy masses which peel off from the substratum very readily.
Poria crassa Karst. (Plate IV, fig. 17.).
Corky, about 1 cm. thick, pores very small stratose, white, yellowish
on drying.
Not very common but the specimens from Shanagolden and between
Carr Lake and Little Tomahawk are abundant and well developed on
very rotten wood. The largest specimens from Shanagolden are about
2 cm. thick and form massive crust like expanses which are quite
plainly stratified. The pores are very minute and the surface and
outer strata of old specimens are distinctly yellowish-tawny while the
deeper layers are white and chalky.
Poria sinuosa Fries.
Effused, innate, partly separable from the substratum, coriaceous,
persistent, arising from a subradicating evanescent mycelium, at first
white, then yellowish; beneath naked, brownish; the margin slightly
pubescent when young. Pores wide, usually elongated, bent, of differ-
ent shapes ; dissepiments acute, torn.
The specimens agree with no. 2408 North American Fungi, but dif-
fer from the above description in that they are not il brownish" under-
neath, but rather a dirty yellow, as is also the whole plant. At first
sight, these forms might be taken for Irpex tulipifera, arid for this rea-
son, perhaps, they are not collected ; but the polyporoid characters are
quite distinct.
The few specimens collected were found near Madison growing on
oak bark. They were broadly effused and thin, about 15 cm. long and
10 cm. wide. The subiculum which is slightly separable near the mar-
gin is about 0.5 mm. thick, and the pores vary from .5 to 1.5 mm. in di-
ameter and are about 2 mm. deep. The dissepiments are thin and
toothed at first then torn. The pores are irregular and evenly sinuous.
Old specimens are nearly emarginate. The very young ones which
start as small papilliform bodies have a wide margin made up of white
almost membranaceous mycelium, the pubescence being scarcely per-
ceptible.
The color of the fungus is at first white but becomes a dirty-yellow
on drying or maturing. The fungus is leathery and tough when fresh
but is brittle when dry.
54 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Poria vaporaria (Pers.) Fries.
Effused, innate, the white flocculent mycelium creeping in the wood ;
pores large, angulate, whitish-pallid, crowded in a firm persistent stra-
tum.
This is one of the thinnest of our white Porias. The pileus is often
so thin that it appears as if the pores grow directly from the substra-
tum. The pores are comparatively large, irregular, shallow, seldom
more than 1 mm. d£ep, the dissepiments often breaking down. The in-
nate myclium starts in little patches here and there.
Not very common. A few small specimens have been found at Madi-
son on fallen oak branches and at Horicon and Bangor. The color
changes to cream on drying.
Hartig, in his work on timber diseases, classes this with the most
destructive forms, regarding it as the cause of a sort of "dry rot" of
pine timber and as infecting also the trees themselves.
Our specimens measure about 7 to 8 cm. long, and 2 cm. wide. The
pores usually not more than 1 mm. in diameter.
The species differs from Poria papyracea Schweinitz, and Poria
macer Som., in its habitat rather than in any very definite morphologi-
cal characteristics. The former is found on dead Vitis, the latter on
Populus. P. papyracea' is also somewhat thinner than either of the
others.
Poria corticola Fr.
Very broadly effused, equable, firm, white or pallid; mycelium in-
terwoven into a subcoriaceous stratum. Pores naked, superficial, com-
monly obsolete, punctiform.
Not common. Found on oak wood in Madison. One specimen
partly covers a decaying Nummularia. The largest is about 14 cm.
long, 4.5 cm. wide and scarcely 1 mm. thick. When young it is easily
separable. The whitish margin is thin and tends to become reflexed.
The pores are small and shallow at first and appear to be merely ir-
regular depressions. Later they lengthen somewhat and then become
torn so as to resemble an Irpex, or an old Poria sinuosa, but are harder
and more brittle.
The specimens agree well with no. 1014 Fungi Coluinbiani and no.
3002 North American Fungi. This species is supposed by Morgan to
include the following, which differ perhaps only in the degree of evo-
lution of the substerile pores and the substratum on which they grow :
(a) Poria populina; (b) P. faginea; (c) P. quercina (Pers., Myc. Eur.,
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 55
p. 141) ; (d) P. salicina, (Seer., 2, p. 174) ; (e) P. tulipiferae, which is
broadly effused, white, reflexed; pores subprominent, rough.
Morgan (1) suggests that "perhaps all are only degenerates of
other species."
Poria vulgaris Fries.
Broadly effused, white, flesh obsolete, consisting almost entirely of
closely packed, minute, round, subequal tubes, about 1 to 2 mm. deep ;
margin soon even and smooth.
Our specimens were collected on the bark of a poplar log at Madi-
son; at Devils Lake, Bangor, Ladysmith, Blue Mounds, Algoma, and
under the roof of a barn near Oakfield. The specimen on the log
covered nearly one-fourth of the log and was limited in its develop-
ment apparently by a profuse growth of Polystictus pergamenus. In
color it is grayish- white. It is dry, firm, even. The very small pores
extend to the very margin. They seem to be mere depressions and are
closely packed. They are less than 1 mm. in depth and their diameter
varies from 0.1 mm. to 0.2 mm.
The subiculum is scarcely separable from the substratum except in
small pieces, and is somewhat thicker in the center than near the mar-
gin. In a thicker form the pores are longer, varying from 1 to 5 mm. in
depth and the margin is more conspicuous. The specimens found
under the roof boards were more separable and the tubes more or less
stratified.
This species is closely related to P. medulla-panis but is less separable
and has smaller pores.
Poria xantha Schw.
Resupinate, effused, unequal, subplicate, rugose, determinate; mar-
gin undulate, tumid, substerile; pores minute, regular, angular, tub-
ules suboblique superficial.
On bark. Whole fungus fiavescent, hard, dry, 2.5 cm. broad.
A specimen was found on charred wood in August 1903, near Blue
Mounds. It is 12 cm. long ; 3 cm. broad and 1 mm. thick, and is dry,
hard, pale yellow becoming brownish in spots. The pores are very
small, dissepiments thin; tubes short, oblique. Margin very narrow.
The species may be known by the pale yellow substance, the narrow
margin and the very small pores.
56 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Poria nitida (Pers.) Alb. & Schw. ( ?)
Effused, subadnate, determinate, margin villous, yellow or almost
golden ; pores short, minute, round, equal, shining. ' ' On rotten wood.
Recognized by its bright yellow color. Crust-like, adnate."
Probably not common. Specimens were found near Madison on oak
bark and decaying poplar trunks and at Crandon on maple. They
are 5 to 12 cm. long, 2 to 5 cm. broad ; the subiculum very thin ; it
seems to arise from a loose whitish mycelium which can often be found
in cavities underneath. The pores are small — perhaps 2 mm. in di-
ameter and vary in depth from 1 mm. to 6 mm. When deep they are
often oblique. The mouth of the pores is roundish; the dissepiments
obtuse when young but more acute in older specimens. The pores
often tear apart on drying. The margin is soft velvety in young spe-
cimens but almost disappears in older ones.
The color is bright golden when fresh but becomes duller on drying ;
some fade almost to whiteness. Young layers of pores are sometimes
formed over the older ones so that the plants are somewhat stratose.
This condition occurs in one small specimen only. The specimens
were somewhat moist when fresh.
Poria contigua (Pers.) Fries.
Effused, about 8 cm. long, 2.5 cm. broad and about 1.5 cm. thick, firm,
glabrate, submarginate, cinnamon-brown when young, margin tomen-
tose. Pores large, equal, obtuse, entire.
On decaying wood.
Not common. Specimens were found on a charred pine stump at
Bangor, and a few small specimens were found on decaying sticks near
Crandon.
The specimens are not large, measuring about 4 cm. by 2 cm. and
only 1 to 2 mm. in thickness. They are all dry and of a rich cinnamon-
brown when fresh, soft or felt-like, and separable. The pores are
large, shallow, quite equal but rather thin-walled. Our specimens do
not agree with the description in that they are thin, and the dissepi-
ments can hardly be called obtuse. However, Henning and Patouillard
both determined the specimens submitted to them as belonging to this,
species.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 57
Poria femiginosa (Schrad.) Bres.
Effused, firm, thick (2.5 cm.) uneven, yellowish-brown, old specimens
chestnut — or rusty-brown, with sterile margin. Pores medium, very
long, rotund and torn, cinnamon-brown.
Specimens were found at Horicon on an oak rail, but are not com-
mon in the southern part of the state. In Oneida, Vilas, Ashland and
Forest Counties this species is quite common on the bark of dead arbor
vitae.
When young the specimens are soft-felt-like but they soon become
hard and firm. The color is a rich rusty ferruginous when fresh, ap-
proaching cinnamon in older specimens. The surface is very uneven,
being usually higher in the center. The pores are unequal, varying
from small, near the margin to large in the center. The tubes also
vary in length from 1 mm. near the margin to 5 mm. in the center.
The pores are usually rotund, but may be irregular and even sinuous.
The subiculum is inseparable. The margin is not always conspicu-
ous; in young specimens it is often of a golden-brown and velvety.
The tubes are lined with many large cystidia.
Poria laevigata Fries.
Broadly effused, leathery rigid, determinate but immarginate, sep-
arable from the substratum when mature, even, cinnamon, pores very
small, round, entire.
Well-developed specimens were found on birch at Crandon and
Muscallonge Lake. The largest were 3 mm. thick by 12 or more cm.
broad and were plainly stratified and very woody so as to possibly re-
semble a resupinate effused specimen of Fomes nigricans. The sur-
face is very uneven almost nodular due to irregularities in the bark
and the color a deep almost purplish-brown.
Poria Andersoni (Ellis & Everhart),
A resupinate plant with golden yellow spores, covering large areas
of decaying wood; mycelium thin, dirty white, forming an almost im-
perceptible subiculum ; pores at first whitish-yellow folds of the subicu-
lum, leaving scarcely any margin not occupied by various stages of im-
perfectly formed pores, at length appearing yellowish from the abund-
ant spores; pores finally yellowish-brown or dark russet, slightly an-
gular, small (0.25mm.) becoming cristate at the mouth, 1cm. or less
58 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
deep when fully mature, or with occasional longer masses of pores ris-
ing above the general surface, 2 to 2.5 cm long ; spores copious, brilliant
yellow, oval, smooth, 6 by 4 or 5 microns.
Large growths of this plant were found in November 1889 on pieces
of bur-oak which were broken out of the top of a large tree, by the wind,
near the shore of Lake Mendota. The fungus grew under the bark
and in the fissures of the wood. At places near the top, about 60 feet
from the ground it seemed to have completely surrounded the trunk.
The plant is entirely resupinate; the subiculum — whenever it is
found — is extremely thin, dirty- white becoming brownish; it more
often appears to be obsolete. The pores are angular, at first appearing
as shallow folds, whitish then lengthening into teeth or tubes forming
a somewhat uneven surface. As my specimens grew around an up-
right trunk the tubes are very oblique. The become yellowish-black
with age. The spores which are characteristic here are golden-yellow
and very abundant, covering the plant and wood near by, giving all a
yellow color. They measured about 6 microns by 4 to 5 microns and
were nearly oval in outline.
Old specimens might be taken for an Irpex. The tubes are about
1 to 1.5 cm. in length and are very brittle. Its habit is similar to that
of Irpex obliquus.
This species is the same as Poria xanihospora described by Under-
wood (28) in 1893. Ellis and Everhart (8) described it under the
name Mucronoporus Andersoni in 1890. Our specimens agree quite
well with no. 910 Fungi Columbian!.
Poria obducens Pers.
Effused, incrusting, innate, firm, white, formed wholly of the pores.
Pores minute, crowded, equal, distinctly stratified, the older strata pale
alutaceous.
Morgan says that the first year it consists of a thin white separable
stratum of crowded pores which become alutaceous later ; farther, that
it is rather humid when young, thus differing from P. vulgaris which
is always dry and inseparable.
Our specimens were collected under a decaying log at Blue Mounds,
August 18, 1903. They are large, sometimes encrusting the entire
trunk, irregular, 2 — 3 mm. thick. They consist almost entirely of tubes
The best preserved specimens are pale alutaceous, while the older parts
are somewhat discolored and verge towards reddish-brown.
The distinguishing features seem to be the hard, brittle substance
which is inseparable from the substratum, and the stratified tubes.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 59
Poria subf usco-flavida Rostk.
Confluent, broadly effuse, thin, leathery, dry, adnate, from white to
yellowish-tawny; margin thin, white, thready, determinate; pores mi-
nute, irregular.
On oak wood.
We have well developed specimens from Stone Lake and Crandon.
The Crandon specimens are pronounced by Bresadola to be identical
with Fries' type. The spores of the specimens from Stone Lake are less
globose.
Poria pulchella Schw.
Resupinate-effuse, unequal, sub-plicate, rugose, with determinate
margin, outline undulate, nodular, substerile pores minute, regular,
angular, tubules somewhat oblique upon the ridges of the surface.
Found at Madison 011 quite rotten poplar, forming thin expanses of
a delicate ashy-gray tinge.
9. POLYSTICTUS Fries.
May be known by the coriaceous, membranaceous or sometimes
spongy thin pileus, with a thin, loosely fibrous cuticle. The tubes first
appear in the center or near the place of attachment and develop to-
wards the margin; at first superficial punctiform, then becoming
deeper. Never hard, woody nor very thick, nor should the pores ever
be stratified. -
The genus Trametes its nearest relative, may be distinguished from
it by the unequal length of the tubes ; Fomes and Polyporus by struc-
ture and pore-formation.
§1. MESOPODES. Context and spores ferruginous.
Polystictus subsericeus Peck.
Pileus coriaceous, subumbilicate, silky-shining with soft appressed
ferruginous radiating fibres; stipe slender concolorous, tomentose;
pores small, concolorous, angular.
This handsome little fungus was first called P. splendens by Peck
(22, 33, p. 37) ; as the name was preoccupied, he changed it to P. sub-
60 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
sericeus. This species is the same as P. oblectans Berkeley, and P.
cinnamomeus Sacc.
In habit and appearance it is often confused with P. perennis, from
which, however, it seems quite distinct. The surface is always shining
with soft, silky, radiating fibres ; the stipe is of a richer color than that
of P. perennis, and the plant is smaller and more delicate than P. per-
ennis. Like P. perennis, this species grows on the ground from small
roots, preferably those of conifers. Specimens of the two often grow
side by side, and the differences are then apparent.
Our specimens have been collected near Blanchardville, Blue Mounds,
Sparta, Hazelhurst, Star Lake and Crandon. The largest was about
4 cm. in diameter ; the stipe 2.5 cm. long and 4 mm. thick. The pileus
is scarcely 1 mm thick. The pores are about the same as those of P.
perennis.
Polystictus perennis (L.) Fries.
Pileus plano-infundibuliform, 2.5 to 7.5 cm. across, thin, coriaceous,
tough, velvety, becoming smooth, zoned, clear cinnamon, then yellow
to brick-red ; stem firm but not hard, 1.5 to 5 cm high, thickened below,
minutely velvety; pores very short, minute, angular, dissepiments be-
coming torn ; at first with a white bloom, then naked j spores elliptical,
hyaline, 4 to 5 by 2.5 microns.
Found on the ground under trees, especially in sandy regions, in fall
and winter, and it is said to remain in growing condition through the
following summer.
Collected at Sparta, Blanchardville, (McKenna), Blue Mounds,
Hazelhurst, Star Lake, Crandon, Ladysmith, Shanagolden and in the
Lake Superior region (Cheney). Whenever excavations are made in
the northern part of the state in the woods, there this fungus makes
its appearance, like P. subsericeus, growing from minute rootlets that
become exposed.
When young the plant is soft, velvety, but not shiny, cinnamon
brown and tough. Older specimens become harder, glabrate, grayish
brown and zoned with concentric darker circles, ridges or sulcations.
The pileus is usually somewhat depressed in the center, although I have
some specimens that are nearly plane. The flesh is thin, fibrous and
brown in color. The margin is very thin, more or less fimbriate, and
darker than the rest of the pileus. The plants are often confluent —
the pilei and even the stipes growing together. The stipes are short,
slightly velvety, bullose at the base, cinnamon. The pores are large,
short at first, very irregular, almost sinuous, with very thin dissepi-
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. Qi
iments, at length torn and wavy, sometimes becoming oblique. They
are of the same color as the stipe. Dimensions of largest specimen 12
cm. in diameter; stipe 4cm. long, flesh about 2mm. thick.
This species is related to P. subsericeus Peck, from which it is dis-
tinguished by its coarser and larger structure as well as its duller pi-
leus.
§2. DISCIPEDES. Clustered, stipe short, scutate-dilated at base, sub-
reniform or spatulate, coriaceous.
Polystictus conchifer Schw. (Plate IV, fig. 20).
Small, spongy-coriaceous, thin, white; pileus conchiform, very
smooth, shining ; pores medium, dentate.
Young specimens are quite common in autumn on fallen twigs, es-
pecially those of elm. Older and mature specimens are not so com-
mon. A few of the latter have been collected at Horicon, Madison,
Bangor, Hazelhurst, Crandon. The largest of these is about 4 cm.
wide, 3 cm. long and from 1 — 4 mm. thick. They are mostly dimidiate
or flabelliform, a few are scarcely substipitate. The margin is very
acute, either smooth and rounded or lobed and wavy. The pileus is
smooth, or it may in some cases be roughened by scales or tubercles ; it
is often radiately rugose and has narrow concentric sulcations. The
base is usually more or less thickened and narrowed.
The color varies from white to pale-tawny or straw-color. The flesh
is thin, soft, somewhat fibrous, white. The pores are hardly medium
in size, equal, irregular, of the same color as the pileus. The dissepi-
ments are thin and slightly dentate. The length of the tubes is near-
ly twice the thickness of the pileus — averaging about 2 — 2.5 mm.
The mature specimens are very different from the young ones.
These usually arise in the form of small cup or saucer-shaped bodies —
with a longer or shorter stipe, or wholly sessile ; resembling in various
stages small Pezizas or Thelephoras. "Within, the cups or saucers are
dark brown with more or less shining zones or bands. These bands
soon fade when exposed to the weather, if the specimen is dead, and the
plant becomes a lusterless grayish-white. At the saucer-stage the
pores first make their appearance on the outside under the rim. Then
the lower edge of the saucer grows out into a pileus. The saucer may
persist in its entirety, or in part ; it may break up and the fragments
be distributed over the surface of the pileus as tubercles or scales ; it
may simply leave a depression, or it may disappear entirely.
62 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
These tubercles and scales are perhaps the most striking characteris-
tics by which to distinguish the older specimens from the allied species
P. versicolor, P. gossypinus and P. virgineus.
Syn. Poronidulus concMfer (Schw.) Murrill, 19, vol. 31, p. 426.
Polystictus virgineus Schweinitz.
White. Pileus coriaceous, thin, tough, zonate, glabrous, radiately
wrinkled, tuberculose ; the margin thin, undulate ; the context fl occose-
fibrous, white. Pores medium, round, entire ; becoming thin, angular,
acute.
Not common. A few specimens were collected at Star Lake by Tim-
berlake. The largest specimen is 8 cm. wide, 5 cm. long ; flesh 1 mm.
thick ; pores about 2 mm. long. The specimens are more or less cespi-
tose, attached by a narrow somewhat decurrent base. They are of a
reddish-straw color; densely concentrically sulcate; at first somewhat
velvety then glabrous; depressed behind. The margin is very acute,
more or less lobed. The pores, at first white, become tawny on drying.
They are small, irregular, with thin slightly dentate dissepiments.
The specimens grew on a much decayed piece of poplar.
Macbride (15, p. 17) says this beautiful species is to be included un-
der P. conchifer Schw., but it seems to me to be a larger, darker-colored
species, with larger, more irregular pores. Neither do we find any
scales nor tubercles on the pileus. Still the two species ar doubtless
closely related.
§3. CORIACEI. Pileus leathery, villous, concentrically zoned.
Polystictus versicolor (L.) Fries.
Pileus coriaceous, thin, rigid, applanate, depressed behind, smooth,
velvety, shining, marked by diversely colored zones; pores minute,
round, acute, lacerate, white then pallescent-yellowish.
Next to P. pergamenus this is the most common Polystictus. It is
found everywhere throughout the state on all sorts of wood. The spe-
cies is quite variable in color as well as in form and size. It may be
wholly resupinate, effuso-reflexed, dimidiate-imbricated, resetted, lat-
erally confluent or even substipitate. One small specimen found on a
stump near Elkhorn was apparently centrally stiped with the pores
decurrent.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 53
The pileus is always more or less silky with several darker, shining,
concentric zones, which, however, are sometimes absent in certain
darker varieties. They are quite thin — 1 to 3 mm. — but sometimes as
much as 7 or 8 mm. thick at the base. The margin is always very
acute, wavy, rounded or lobed; sometimes lighter in color — as invar.
albo-marginatus Pk., or concolorous, or darker; either incurved or
explanate. The pores are either white or yellowish; very small and
shallow, but become lengthened and torn with age.
One resupinate specimen which had vesicular pores, thus being a
Myriadoporus, was found on a log near Lake Mendota. The reason
for this distorted growth seemed to be that the log had been turned
over so that the hymenium faced upwards, and thus in the endeavor
to readjust itself to its changed conditions, it formed the cellular pores.
Var. albo-marginatus Fries.
Specimens of this variety are sometimes found. It is described
thus: "Pileus as in type but the margin rather broadly covered by
white hairs often definitely separated from the darker part by a glab-
rous zone; pores white, often lacerated."
Closely related to P. zonatus, P. planus, P. Jiirsutus, and P. veluti-
nus. It is thinner and smaller than any of these except P. planus. None
of them, however, have the characteristic shining zones. Von
Schrenk discusses the destructive work of this fungus on timber and
describes the heart rot of living catalpa due to it which ultimately
brings about the death of the tree and the destruction of the trunk.
The white mycelial strands are said to enter the tree through the
roots, causing them to rot off, and in a few years the tree dies. It
is recommended that wounds in the roots be covered with pitch or
coal tar and also that the base of the trunk should be protected in this
way.
Syn. : Boletus atro-rufus et variegatus (Schaeff.) ; 27, Taf. 268
and 263.
Coriolus versicolor (L.) Quel.; 19, vol. 32, p. 642.
Polystictus zonatus (Nees) Fries.
Pileus coriaceous to suberose, convex, tuberculose and gibbous be-
hind, subzonate villous; margin becoming white; pores minute, round
or angulate, obtuse, whitish.
Probably not very common. A few specimens were found near
Horicon in December 1899, and some at Elkhorn and Bangor and a few
64 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
near Hazelhurst on a shrub ; the first on poplar, the others on oak.
The largest specimen is about 4 cm. wide, 3 cm. long, and 3 mm. thick,
but the base is much thicker. The pilei are usually imbricated or later-
ally confluent ; the base is thick and somewhat decurrent. Young spec-
imens are a pale yellow, while older ones may be grayish or ochraceous.
The margin is acute, even, usually incurved on drying and a little
lighter than the pileus. The whole pileus is covered with very soft
pubescence and has usually from 1 — 3 slight concentric sulcations.
The pores are medium, from white to tawny, or in some instances they
become slaty ; usually irregular, about twice as long as the thickness of
the white floccoso-fibrous substance of the pileus. Dissepiments not as
obtuse as in P. Tiirsutus.
Closely related to P. versicolor, P. hirsutus, P. velutinus and P. bal-
sameus. The shining zones distinguish the first; it is thinner than
P. hirsutus and has larger, less obtuse pores; P. velutinus is thinner,
with a more acute margin, and smaller, more rounded pores. The last
species has also slighter villosity which is distributed in patches or zones.
Polystictus velutinus Fries (Plate IV, fig. 21).
Pileus corky-coriaceous, plane on both sides, soft-velvety, indis-
tinctly zoned, white becoming yellowish, margin plane, acute; pores
round, minute, dissepiments thin, white.
" About 5 cm. broad, moist when young, then hard, not shining like
P. versicolor, zones sometimes a little obscured. ' ' ( Sac.)
This species is not very common. Specimens found on Madaline
Island and at Star Lake on birch logs. Largest specimen 4cm.
broad, 3.5cm. long, 7mm. thick; tubes 4mm. deep. The specimens
belong to the var. glalriusculus Bres. They are glabrate or nearly
so, rough-tuberculate near the base which is narrowed so as to make
the pilei substipitate or flabelliform. The substance is white, the sur-
face yellowish, subzonate; the margin plane, acute. The pores are
small, whitish with thin dissepiments.
The species is distinguished from its allies P. hirsutus, P. versicolor
and P. zonatus by being more delicate, lighter in color and weight, and
less zonate.
Polystictus hirsutus (Schrad.) Fries.
Pileus suberose-coriaceous, convexo-plane, rough with rigid hairs of
one color, whitish, but zonate with concentric furrows; pores round,
obtuse, whitish or sub-fuscous.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 65
Very common on all sorts of wood.
My largest specimen is 10 cm. wide, 6 cm. long and 5 mm. thick; the
pores are 3 mm. in length. Some specimens are very much thicker, es-
pecially when young. One specimen measures 3 cm. in width, 1 cm.
in length and 2 cm. in thickness; the pores in this one are 0.4 mm. long.
This form seems to be more typical for young pilei, which are often
truly ungulate.
Older or mature specimens may be dimidiate, helicoid, resetted and
very much imbricated or they may be single and centrally attached on
the upper side of a limb. In color they vary from straw-yellow,
through tawny to gray, becoming black when weathered. They are
covered with a dense velvety pubescence and show few or many con-
centric furrows or sulcations.
The margin becomes acute; it may be even, wavy or lobed and is
sometimes a little lighter than the pileus. The flesh is white and soft
but tough. The pores are small, round, obtuse when young, but be-
come more acute with age and sometimes even torn. In color they vary ;
some are white, some straw color, or tawny or slaty. In a few speci-
mens all of the pores are of a slaty gray, and in some there is a band
of slaty pores near the margin while the rest are yellow. However, it
appears that the mouth only has this color, the rest of the tube is white.
The present species may be distinguished by its hirsuteness and the
more or less obtuse dissepiments. It is larger and thicker than P. zo-
natus and has smaller pores; it is more densely hirsute than P. velu-
tinus; and P. versicolor differs in its shining zones, thinner substance
and more acute dissepiments.
Polystictus abietinus (Dicks) Fries (Plate IV, fig. 22.)
Pileus thin, coriaceous, flaccid, effuso-reflexed, or sometimes entirely
resupinate, silky- villous, grayish white or with an ochraceous tinge, in-
distinctly zoned ; pores shallow, unequal ; dissepiments torn, violet, be-
coming pale; spores elliptical-oblong, 4 by 1.5 microns.
Quite common throughout the pine belt of the north. Our speci-
mens have been collected from Crandon, Hazelhurst, Star Lake, Lady-
smith and Shanagolden, chiefly on hemlock, dead and living, also on
various pines, fir, and tamarack. It is usually smaller than P. per-
gamenus, which it resembles very much; however, it probably never
occurs on any other than coniferous trees. The surface is zoned with
concentric sulcations. The pores are larger, more delicate, and shal-
5
66 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
lower than those of P. pergamenus. The color of both species is the
same.
P. abietirius is a very destructive fungus in our northern woods, at-
tacking especially the hemlock and tamarack and producing decay.
These trees may become infected through wounds in the bark from
which infection spreads around the tree through the sapwood, produc-
ing a peculiar decay to a depth of about two inches. Eventually the
fungus kills the tree.
Syn. Coriolus abietinus (Dicks.) Quel. ; 19, vol. 32, p. 654.
Polystictus planus Peck.
Pileus thin, coriaceous, plane, suborbicular, about 2.5 cm. broad, some-
times confluent, dorsally attached, minutely villose or velvety, brown or
brownish, fawn colored, variegated with narrow darker glabrous
zones, margin whitish, pores minute, obtuse, short, subrotund, whitish
or pallid ; flesh pallid. Colors of P. scutellatus.
This little species seems to be rare and has been collected twice. The
specimens were found near Madison on oak branches and twigs near the
ground. They are darker and thinner than P. versicolor, not sericeous
nor shining. On one specimen the zones are almost black. The pileus
is explanate, the thin margin slightly reflexed. One specimen is drawn
out into a sort of irregular lateral stipe, another is sessile — both of these
are gibbous behind. The color varies from brown to almost black.
Substance thin, coriaceous, white. The margin very thin, lighter than
the rest of the pileus.
The pores are small, shallower than in P. versicolor, from whitish to
pale tawny. The dissepiments are at first quite obtuse ; later they be-
come thinner.
§4. STUPPOSI. Dimidiate-sessile, pttei floccose, (jlabrate or appressed-
villous, uneven, azonate; context fibrous to lignose.
Context white.
Polystictus fibula Fries.
Pileus leathery, soft, tough, velvety-hirsute, azonate, whitish, often
radiate-rugose, snow-white within, with entire acute margin; pores
small, roundish, acute, at length lacerate, yellowish.
On fallen oak branches. Pilei variously shaped; flabelliform, or-
bicular, shield-shaped or resetted.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 67
Common on fallen oak or hickory branches. Specimens have been
found near Madison, Oakfield, Hazelhurst, Crandon, and Bangor.
The largest specimens are about 4 to 5 cm. in breadth, 2 to 3 cm. long
and 2 to 4 mm. thick. The specimens are usually more or less concen-
trically sulcate, with a very acute margin. The pubescence is thick and
soft, whitish when young tut turning to a pale brownish gray, espe-
cially when exposed to sunlight while growing.
The pores are smaller and more acute than those of its nearest rela-
tive— P. Jiirsutus. The substance of the pileus is white, corky and of
very light weight.
This species is often mistaken for a small form of P. hirsutus. It dif-
fers, however, in the more acute margin, the smaller lighter colored
pores, the softer context and in its color.
Polystictus molliusculus Berk.
Whitish, pileus corky, thin, radiately wrinkled, zonate, velvety-stri-
gose ; margin often lobed ;. the context floccose, white. Pores medium,
subrotund, then thin, acute, lacerate.
Morgan says of this species that the pilei are "usually imbricated
and usually effuso-reflexed ; the zones of soft strigae are sometimes a
little deeper colored. The dried plants are very light and of an isabel-
line or alutaceous hue." P. fibula Fries, an allied form, he says, dif-
fers from, it in its uniform and more conspicuous pubescence not ar-
ranged in zones.
Two specimens were found at Bangor in the fall growing on elm;
a few old and discolored ones were found at Sparta on birch. Some of
them are imbricated but none effuso-reflexed. The best formed speci-
men measures about 4 cm. wide and 1.5 cm. long; the white, zonate
flesh of the pileus is about 4 mm. thick or as thick as the length of the
longest tubes, and looks about the same as that in P. hirsutus. Some
of our specimens are somewhat thickened behind. The zones are
marked by glabrous, somewhat brownish bands. The margin is thin
and somewhat curved downwards ; in older specimens it is often waved
and lobed.
This species seems closely allied to P. hirsutus, P. zonatus, and P.
fibula. It differs from them in its glabrous zones and the shorter and
softer pubescence.
Syn.: Coriolus biformis (Kl.) Pat.; 19, 32, p. 653.
68 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Polystictus pergamenus Fries.
Pileus coriaceous-membranaceous, rigid, tomentose, concentrically
sulcate, white; pores seriate (pallescent), changing at length into very
thin dentate lamellae.
This is probably our commonest Polystictus, occurring on the wood
of very many species of deciduous trees and found at all times of the
year; even in winter beginning to grow with every warm spell of
weather.
It is quite variable, being resupinate, reflexed, dimidiate or imbri-
cated. The color varies from almost snow white to gray; sometimes
without zones, and sometimes with variously colored zones or more or
less shining bands; soft velvety; tomentose or glabrate. The margin
is always acute but may be even or lobed ; it may be of a fuscous color,
or violet or whitish. It is usually violet when growing but not always.
The pores are small, irregular, seriate, produced at length in the
form of very thin, dentate, more or less concentric lamellae. Their
color varies. It is usually violet when growing but changes to some
shade of brown on drying. However, some are never violet, but may
be pale tawny or straw-color.
Old pilei seem to grow from the margin so that one frequently finds
specimens concentrically sulcate, with a broad whitish margin while
the rest of the pileus is darker gray.
According to Peck. (22, Kept. 33, p. 36) the synonomy includes
P. elongatus Berk., P. pseudopargamenus Thiim., and according to
Berkeley and Curtis P. Mendanianus and P. laceratus also belong here.
I have collected a small form — narrow and long — usually growing on
birch, which is perhaps Berkeley's P. elongatus. It is almost glabrous
from the beginning with delicate concentric shining zones and with ra-
diate striations.
P. pergamenus varies much in size and shape, the resupinate forms
often covering the whole underside of a log. My largest dimidiate
specimen is about 10 cm. wide, 5 cm. long and from 2 to 4 mm. thick.
Of the small variety the largest is about 3 cm. wide, 4 to 5 cm. long
and not more than 1 mm. thick.
The soft white mycelium creeps through the wood and produces very
destructive decay. We find it on wood that is comparatively sound as
well as on very rotten wood. In nearly all cases the mycelium can be
found throughout the infected piece of timber. Von Schrenk has de-
scribed the decay in detail.
Syn. : Coriolus pergamenus (Fries) Pat. ; 19, 32, p. 654.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Polystictus bif ormis Klotz.
Imbricate; pileus effuso-reflexed, coriaceous, soft, villose-tomentose,
white, zoneless at first, even, then concentrically sulcate ; margin entire
acute; pores rather large acute pale wood color, finally lacerate den-
tate.
Well developed specimens of this species were found at Crandon and
Ladysmith. The largest measured 2 to 3 cm. in width by 8 to 10 cm.
in length.
Polystictus ciimabarinus ( Jacq.) Fries.
Pileus suberose, convexo-plane, subzonate, rugulose, from pubescent
to glabrate, cinnabar-red, fading, within floccose, brighter ; pores round,
medium, bright cinnabar.
Specimens have been collected from Madison, Blue Mounds, Hori-
con, Sparta, Hazelhurst, Shanagolden, Crandon, and the Lake Superior
region (Cheney).
Common on hickory, poplar, wild cherry and oak. My largest spe-
cimen is about 14 cm. wide, 6 cm. long and 1.5 cm. thick. The tubes
are about 4 mm. long.
Very easily recognized by its bright red or cinnabar color, which
weathers to a reddish-gray on top but is persistent below. Young pilei
and the growing parts of older ones are very softly pubescent but the
older parts become rough with wrinkles and pits and are more or less
glabrate. The flesh is soft, pulpy, lighter in color and delicately zoned.
The pilei are convex above and plane beneath, dimidiate, sometimes
laterally confluent ; margin acute.
The pores are small, roundish, bright red. The dissepiments not
very thick, slightly dentate. In one old specimen the tubes are dis-
tinctly stratified. It seems there was a renewal of the hymenium
which, however, did not extend entirely to the margin. The tubes in
the old layer are 2 mm. long, and in the new, 2.5 mm.
P. sanguineus L. seems to be the only species that looks very much
like this handsome fungus ; it is thiner, less pubescent, has smaller pores
and is said to be substipitate.
This species is often placed in the genus Trametes, but the pores I
think show more of the characteristics of Polystictus than of Trametes.
Syn. : Boletus coccineus Bull. ; 7, tab. 501.
Pycnoporus cinnabarinus (Jacq.) Karst. ; 13, p. 18-, 19, 31,
p. 420.
70 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
10. FOMES Fries.
This genus is characterized by its woody-indurated pileus, (rarely
soft), fioccose interwoven texture, covered with a rigid crust, azonate
at first but becoming concentrically sulcate; perennial, the successive
strata being formed by the further growth from the surface of the last
formed stratum.
Here is where the large, hard, woody bracket fungi belong, easily
recognizable by their hard crust and stratified pores.
A number of closely related species having their tubes lined with
spines and spinules are placed by some authors in the genus Mucrono-
porus E. & Ev., but are here retained in the genus Fomes.
KEY TO WISCONSIN SPECIES OP FOMES
1. Stipitate, laccate F. lucidus
2. Sessile
a. Substance dark-brown F. applanatus
F. fomentarius
b. Substance rust-colored F. Everhartii
F. Bakeri
F. igniarius
F. nigricans
F. rimosua
F. conchatus.
F. ribis
c. Rose-colored F. carneus
F. roseus
d. White or pale F. ungulatus
F. marginatus
F. populinus
F. connatus
F. officinalis
3. Resupinate-reflexed F. salicinus
§1. LIGNOSI. Hard, lignose, covered with a fhin rind.
Pomes populinus Fries.
White, pileus between corky and woody, rigid, zoneless, villose, mar-
gin obtuse ; white within ; pores minute, short, rounded.
Rare. Collected on dead Populus tremuloidies. The largest speci-
men is about 6 cm. broad, 4 cm. long and 2 cm. thick. Most of them,
however, are smaller. The pilei are imbricated and grown together
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 71
at the decurrent base. They are said to be floccoso-mealy at first, and
not stratose ; however, I find my largest specimen to be somewhat strati-
fied. The pubescence is between hirsute and villous. The hairs be-
come stiff and ragged (Zottig) with age. Young specimens look much
like young specimens of Trametes Peckii (Kalch.), but the color of the
latter is darker and the pores are longer and larger. The pores are
small and short, not more than from 1 to 2 mm. in length with thick dis-
sepiments.
Distinguished from F. Neesii Fr. by the obtuse margin and the per-
sistent pubescence and from F. ulmarius, another near relative, by be-
ing smaller, less stratose and by the pubescence.
§2. FOMENTARH. Punky, not fleshy not spongy; incrusted with a
"horny rind. Pores stratose.
(a). Substance white or pale.
Fomes connatus Fries (Plate V, fig. 23).
Between corky and woody, effuso-reflexed, densely imbricated, later-
ally confluent, velvety, grayish- white ; flesh white, zoned, tubes stra-
tose, pores minute, roundish, white.
Common on maple and elm, on living and dead trunks.
Localities : Horicon, Blue Mounds, Baraboo, Shanagolden, Crandon
and Algoma (Dodge). The species grows out of wounds and cracks on
maples, elms and beeches and produces a rot in the heartwood of these
trees. The method of infection and spread of the fungus in these trees
is a subject for further study. The largest specimen is 12 cm. in
width and 10 cm. long ; the total thickness is 10 cm. The tubes in the
strata are from 4 to 8 mm. in length.
The surface of the older parts of the pilei is rough, grayish- white and
usually moss-covered. The younger portions are white, soft, almost
spongy, when fresh, somewhat velvety. On drying this part as well as
the pores and flesh become a pale wood-color. The substance is some-
what soft, fibrous-corky. It is indeed the softest Fomes in our col-
lection and the lightest in weight. The margin is somewhat acute and
turns down. The pores are small, equal, with acute dissepiments.
Can be easily recognized by its white color, soft substance, the densely
imbricated and confluent pilei and the short, even, stratified tubes.
Kelated to F. cystisinus Berk., but distinct by reason of the softer
substance and smaller pilei, however, like F. cystisinus, the pilei are
sometimes tuberculated.
72 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Fomes roseus (Alb. & Schw.) Fries.
Pilens suberose-lignose, hard, triquetrous, smooth, clustered, within
and without rose-color, the color obscured without by a grayish-black
bloom, within floccoso-fibrous ; pores minute, rotund, concolorous ; spores
6 microns long.
"Pileus 5 — 12 cm. broad, base 1-^-3 cm. thick. Subcespitose. Poria
stalactites Hoffm. is a subterranean monstrosity of this fungus/'
Saccardo (26, VI, p. 189).
Common. Found chiefly on tamarack, hemlock, spruce and pine.
Localities: Hazelhurst, Shanagolden, Star Lake, Crandon, Ladysmith,
Brule, Horicon and Blue Mounds. Largest specimen 6 cm. broad, 3 cm.
long, 2 cm. thick. The pileus is hard-corky, glabrous, smoky, or gray-
ish-black toward the base, the rose tints becoming more and more
marked toward the margin. The substance is fibrous-corky, pale rose-
color, as are also the tubes. Pores small with obtuse dissepiments, tub-
ules stratified. This species is closely related to F. carneus Nees, from
which it may be distinguished by the hard, smooth, ungulate pileus.
The flesh and tubes are of a slightly paler color.
Peck (22, Kept. 54, p. 154) gives further notes on F. roseus as fol-
lows : ' ' The pores have nearly the same color, and size as in F. carneus
and the young pileus and newly grown margin also resemble those of
F. carneus in color, but the shape of the pileus is different. It is
thicker, triquetrous or ungulate, not imbricate, nor laterally confluent,
the surface more even and covered with a corneous crust after the first
year. The pileus becomes blackish or cinereous and is somewhat marked
by concentric furrows or depressions showing the limits of the yearly
increments. The substance is similar to that of F. carneus, but the
color is slightly paler."
Syn. : Fomitopsis rosea (Alb. et Schw.) Karst. ; 13, p. 18.
Fomes carneus Nees.
Pileus effuso-reflexed, lignose, hard, thin, rugose, glabrous, azonate,
carneus or flesh-colored, concolorous within; pores minute, round de-
current at the base.
Pilei longitudinally effused, imbricate, rarely solitary, 8 to 10 cm.
long, 2.5 to 4 cm. broad, 5 to 7 mm. thick.
Peck (22, Kept. 54, p. 169) makes the following observations on this
species: "Very abundant on decaying trunks of spruce trees in Adi-
rondack region. It is perennial, the upper surface of the pileus gen-
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 73
orally becomes more or less blackened after the first year. Occasion-
ally a new flesh-colored growth overspreads it either wholly or in part.
Two forms occur which depart somewhat from the type. In one the
pileus is more or less zonate, especially toward the margin, though of-
ten indistinctly so. Sometimes the margin is zonate and the rest tu-
berculate. This seems to me to be worthy of varietal distinction, and
I propose for it the name Fomes carneus subzonatus n. var. Its pilei
are often imbricated, and the color is paler than in the common form.
In the other the surface of the pileus is uneven and scabrous with mi-
nute tufts of short, erect hairs or fibrils. To the naked eye the surface
appears somewhat granular. To this variety I apply the name Fomes
carneus granularis n. var. ' '
This species is quite common on larch, pine and spruce logs. Locali-
ties: Milwaukee, Hazelhurst, Star Lake, Shanagolden and Ladysmith.
Largest specimen 10 cm. wide, 8 cm. long and 8 mm. thick.
The species differs from F. roseus, whose color and substance are
about the same, by being thinner, very much imbricated and laterally
confluent, and its lack of the horny crust that is found in old specimens
of F. roseus.
F. carneus Nees subzonatus Pk.
This variety as described above by Peck, is also quite common.
Our specimens of the above two species agree well with the descrip-
tions, still I am inclined to question whether F. carneus may not be
merely a variety of F. roseus.
Fomes ungulatus (Schaeff.) Sacc. (Plate V, fig. 24 a and b; Plate
VIII fig. 28.)
Pileus ungulate, 10 to 12 cm. broad, thick, concentrically sulcate, ru-
fous to ochraceous, subzonate, rugulose (not at all varnished) ; margin
yellowish-tawny ; pores minute, short, whitish-yellow.
Saccardo (26, VI, p. 126) says: ''perhaps an ungulate, sulcate-zonate
variety of the preceding. " (Fomes pinicola).
I include here most of the forms which Peck, Von Schrenk and others
have included under F. pinicola Fries.
Writing of F. pinicola Fries, Peck (22, 54, p. 169) says: "This spe-
c-ies is very common in the Adirondack region, growing on old trunks
of coniferous trees. If rightly limited it is a most variable species not
only in shape and color but also in size. It is usually 7.5 to 12.5 cm.
in diameter, but sometimes much larger. Two specimens were found
74 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
growing on a hemlock stump near Gansevoort that were more depressed
than usual and were from 25 to 30 cm broad. A form growing on
wood of deciduous trees is less common and is destitute of the red and
yellow colors that are generally present in forms on wood of coniferous
trees/'
This species is very common in the northern half of the state and
very variable in form, color, size and host. It grows on pine, tamarack,
spruce, hemlock and birch. Localities: Gagen, Crandon, Hazelhurst,
Star Lake, Ladysmith, Shanagolden, Brule river (Overton) and the
Lake Superior Region. (Cheney.) One specimen was found on a
hickory stump at Madison by McKenna.
Schweinitz (24, p. 157) describes a form as Pomes pini-canadensis :
"suberose, almost entirely resupinate, the margin of the pileus not
conspicuous, inseparable from the wood, hard and contracted, grayish-
brown, adpressed-fibrous, subzonate; ovate-orbicular in outline; mar-
gin acute, 10 — 15 cm. in diameter; tubes long, toward the margin
sterile, tawny-reddish, within grayish, pores minute, angular, reddish-
fleshcolor. On trunks of Pinus canadensis."
This is in my opinion a resupinate form of F. ungulatus and is found
on the underside of pine logs on which the reflexed forms are also
present. A specimen was found near Hazelhurst which was 31 cm.
long, 12 cm. wide and 2.5 cm. thick, consisting of six strata which
averaged about 4 mm. in thickness. One specimen found at Montreal
by Cheney is 12 cm. long, 9 cm. wide and 8 cm. thick. In. this re-
supinate form as well as in the type form, red colors are regularly
lacking from the surface of the pileus.
Fomes ungulatus pinicola (Sw.) (Plate V, fig. 24 c and d).
I include here less common ungulate forms with bright red margin.
Pileus at first pulvinate then ungulate, covered with a rind, glabrous,
unequal, tawny becoming blackish, margin of the adult cinnabar, with-
in hard, pallid ; pores minute, dissepiments obtuse, from pallid to ochra-
ceous.
Specimens belonging to this form are most common on coniferous
trees, but are found also on birch. They are thick, less applanate than
F. marginatus, the zones more narrow, the tubes shorter and the sub-
stance harder than that of F. marginatus. The variety differs from
the type in the thicker pilei and in the bright red color of the margin.
The newest growth is yellowish and the next a narrow zone, is red ; the
rest of the pileus is grayish or blackish. The largest specimen, which
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 75
grew on a tamarack stump, was 12 cm. long, 13 cm. wide and 13.5
cm. thick, and was composed of 22 strata of tubes, the average thick-
ness of each stratum being about 6 mm.
It seems to me that F. pinicola (Swartz) and F. pini-canadensis
Schw. should be treated as above. Their characters are certainly not
definite enough to be distinctive of species. Whether they indicate the
existence of well marked varieties is perhaps also a question.
Fomes marginatus Fries No. 1204 of Fungi Columbiani E. & E., is
what we have identified as the resupinate form of F. ungulatus. Schaef-
fer's figures (27, tab. 137) agree quite well with our specimens of
F. ungulatus, especially with the variety pinicola.
Murrill (19, 32, p. 487) makes F. pini-canadensis Schw. a synonym
of F. PUotae of the same author. However, we have specimens which
agree well with the description of F. PUotae which grow on much de-
cayed wood of deciduous trees, and specimens which agree with the de-
scription of P. pini-canadensis which were found on pine. The two
types appear to be widely different.
Syn. : Boletus ungulatus Schaeff. ; 27, 2, taf . 137, not 138.
Boletus fulvus Schaeff. ; 27, 3, taf. 262.
Fomitopsis pinicola (Swartz) Karst. pr. p. ; 13, 3, p. 18 (1881.)
Fomes marginatus (Fr.) (PL VI, fig. 25).
Pileus suberose-lignose, subapplanate, covered with a rind, concen-
trically sulcate, glabrate but grayish-pruinose, margin pallid, of vari-
ous colored zones, alutaceous within; pores round straw-colored, when
rubbed turning reddish.
Saccardo gives the following substrata for this form : ' ' On oak trunks,
beech, birch, pine, etc., in Europe and near Conception, Uruguay,
South America." Fries says the pileus gets a different-colored zone
every year; the first is whitish-gray; the second tawny-bay, the third
blood-red; older zones are blackish.
The specimens which we include here are large explanate, concen-
trically sulcate, rugose and glabrous. The colors are very characteristic ;
the most recent growth pale yellowish; this is followed by a broad
bright red zone and this in turn in the most rapidly grown specimens
by a dark purple-red zone. The older parts are grayish-black. The
substance and the tubes are pallid or straw-color as in the preceding
species. The young margin and tubes turn pale flesh-color when
bruised, as do also those of F. ungulatus and its varieties. Largest
pileus 35 cm. wide, 28 cm. long and 8 cm. thick. One specimen, con-
76 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
sisting of five layers of tubes, was 20 cm. wide, 11 cm. long and 6 cm.
thick ; the strata averaged about 6 mm. in thickness. This shows the
relation of the thickness of the strata to the width of the zones of
growth. The relation of the width of the pileus to the number of zones
of growth shows most clearly the difference between F. marginatus and
F. ungulatus.
The young specimens of F. marginatus regularly have a red var-
nished appearance. The freshly growing margin and tubes often exude
drops of a clear colorless liquid which has a slightly subacid taste.
No. 54 [F. ungulatus (Schaeff.) ] of Sydow's Mycotheca Germanica
agrees well with the above forms. Polyporus pinicola (Swartz) of El-
lis and Everhart's North America Fungi also agrees with our F. mar-
ginatus. I have also compared a full series of herbarium specimens
of these species from the Adirondacks with our forms and find that
they show the same types as do the Wisconsin forms. Boletus semio-
vatus Schaeff. (27, tab. 270) seems to be like a young partly resupi-
nate form of F. marginatus.
I have retained the two species F. ungulatus and F. marginatus be-
cause the forms as found in Wisconsin seemed to be quite different in
color, shape, size and relative rate of growth in width and thickness.
They are alike, however, in general habit, substance of the pileus, pores,
and color of the substance and it is possible that the whole series should
be included in one very variable species. Murrill (19, 30, p. 328.)
takes this view.
(b.) Substance rust-colored or ferruginous brown.
Pomes salicinus Pries.
Woody, very hard, undulate, the greater portion usually resupinate,
with a narrow indurated, smooth, free margin, that is obtuse and pat-
ent, cinnamon, then grayish; pores minute, rounded, ferruginous-cin-
namon, as is also the flesh ; spores 5x3 microns ; cystidia plentiful 12
to 35 by 6 microns.
Comparatively common on willow. Found also on dead and living
trunks of oak and iron-wood. All the specimens but one are entirely
resupinate. The longest one was about 20 cm. long, 5 to 7 cm. wide.
They vary in thickness. A young unstratified specimen is about 5 mm.
thick. One specimen with eight strata measures about 1.4cm. in
thickness. The reflexed portion of the pileus is 1.5 cm. wide.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 77
The substance is very hard and thin, of a dull yellowish-cinnamon
color. The tubes usually are more than 2 mm. in length. A very thin
layer of the hymenophore is usually present between the layers.
The whole plant is more or less pulvinate, smooth, with a rather
broad sterile margin, at least when young. The pores are usually
oblique with exceedingly small gaping mouths, in our forms cystidia
are not as plentiful as might be expected from the description.
This species can readily be separated from its near allies by its re-
snpinate habit, and it is never as, thick as F. igniarius and F. nigricans.
Winter states that perhaps P. plicatus Persoon, and P. loricatus of the
same author, belong here. Our specimens agree well with no. Ill of
Shears' New York Fungi.
Fomes ribis (Schum.) Fries.
Horizontal, imbricated, coriaceous, rigid, flattened, almost even, vel-
vety, ferruginous then umber, margin acute ; pores short, minute naked,
and with the substance fulvous.
Not common. My specimens were found on gooseberry bushes on
the University farm, near Madison. They are said to grow on cur-
rant bushes and rose bushes.
This species is very much like F. conchatus. The pilei are, however,
less sulcate, less hard, more velvety when young, less resupinate ; color
of the substance slightly darker; the mouth of the pores more yellow-
ish-brown. The tubes are of the same size as in F. conchatus. The
surface is very uneven, but not much sulcate. One specimen is almost
ungulate.
Syn. : Pyropolyporus Ribis (Schum.) Murrill 19, 30, p. 118.
Polyporus ribesius Persoon; 23, 2, p. 80.
Fomes conchatus Fries.
Thin, rigid, effuso-reflexed, the reflexed portion somewhat shell-
shaped; pileus dark brown, concentrically grooved, minutely silky,
margin acute; pores short, very minute, colored like the pileus;
spores 4x5 microns ; cytsida scanty, 15 — 30 x 9 microns.
Fries says this species is ' ' closely allied to F. igniarius but is smaller
and thinner, closely concentrically sulcate, concave below, margin
acute. ' ' And Berkeley says : ' ' The principal distinction between this
and F. ribis appears to reside in the harder substance, and smoother
pileus. It varies in the degree in which the surface is grooved."
78 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Common on willow trunks about Madison. The largest part of the
specimen resupinately incrusts the trunks ; reflexed about 6 cm. or
more ; 30 cm. or more broad, 7 to 9 mm. thick. Closely concentrically
sulcate, yellowish-brown becoming black on top, often covered with
moss. The pores are minute, short, stratose. The under surface is
usually uneven. The " silky pubescence'* is scarcely noticeable. Most
of our specimens are convex below instead of concave. This may be
due to the fact that they grow on the under-side of leaning or fallen
trunks. Cystidia or spines are large and plentiful.
Very much like F. ribis, its nearest ally. F. igniarius is thicker and
less resupinate, and F. salicinus is more pulvinate and less reflexed,
also darker in color. The species also grows on living Crataegus and
on lilac bushes. In these forms the pilei are small and scarcely re-
flexed.
Syn. : Pyropolyporus conchatus (Pers.) Murrill pr. p. ; 19, 30, p. 117.
Fomes Ellisianus Anders.
Pileus dimidiate, unguliform, 5 to 6 cm. thick, radiate-rugose and
zonate ; surface whitish and subpulverulent at first becoming yellowish
and glabrate, rimose, and finally of a dark weather-beaten wood color ;
margin subobtuse or rounded, in the plane and concave specimens fre-
quently with a distinct edge along its center ; pores stratose, sub-cylin-
drical, about three to a millimeter (including dissepiments). Margin
sub-acute, color at first white, finally creamy, or faintly yellowish, fra-
gile, easily bruised and rubbed off, leaving the surface ochraceous ; sur-
face concave becoming plane or convex in age. Pores extending nearly
through to the upper surface of the pileus, being covered above only
by a thin (2 to 4mm.) corky, pale-ochraceous layer. Spores hyaline,
elliptical-globose or oblong, 5 to 6 by 4 to 5 microns.
On Stiepherdia.
The specimen referred to this species was determined doubtfully by
Bresadola.
Femes Everhartii Ellis & Gall. (Plate VI, fig. 26). (PL VII, fig. 26).
Pileus dimidiate, zonate-hoof -shaped, attached by a broad base, con-
vex above, subplane below but convex near the base and concave to-
ward the margin, crust opaque, then brownish black ; 9 to 12 cm. wide,
6 to 8 cm. long, margin subobtuse, finely tomentose and of a rhubarb-
brown color; pores rhubarb brown, equal, round, 0.11 to 0.12mm. in
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 79
diameter, 1 cm. long, substratose, cystidia numerous 15 to 25 microns
long, 6 to 10 microns thick inflated at the base; spores ferruginous,
globose, varying toward ovoid-globose, 3 to 3.5 microns. Context
suberose to coriaceous. Pores not decurrent but separated by a defi-
nite margin.
In habit and context it is like Fomes igniarius. The color seems to
verge more toward cinnamon in some of our specimens. Specimens
referred to this species were collected near Madison, Blue Mounds, and
Ladysmith on oak and maple logs or stumps. The largest specimen is
15 cm. broad, 8 cm. long and 5 cm. thick. The pores change color when
viewed while turning the specimen in the light.
Syn.: Pyropolyporus Everliartii (Ell. & Gall.) Murr.; 19, 30, p. 114.
Mucronoporus Everhartii (Ell. & Gall.) ; Journ. Myc., vol.
5, pp. 141—142.
Fomes Bakeri (Murr.) (Plates VI and VII, fig. 27).
Pileus woody, compressed-ungulate to applanate, dimidiate, slightly
decurrent, 4 to 10 by 8 to 20 by 3 to 5 cm. ; surface smooth, anoderm
becoming glabrous, 2 — 3 times deeply sulcate, isabelline to gray or
umbrinous; margin very broad and rounded, ferruginous, finely to-
mentose, perfectly smooth; context woody, dark-luteus, somewhat shin-
ing, 1.5 to 2 cm. thick; tubes distinctly stratified, 5 to 7 mm. long each
season, avellaneous to fulvous within, mouths circular, four to 1 milli-
meter, edges obtuse, entire, light-yellowish to fuliginous; spores glob-
ose, smooth, hyaline, 5 microns.
Common on black birch along the Wisconsin river near Kilbourn
and Sauk City. Perhaps it is only a form of F. Everhartii.
Fomes igniarius (Linn.) Pries.
Pileus at first tuberculose-globose, with a thin light covering, ap-
pressed-flocculose, canescent, then ungulate, blackening; the margin
rounded; the context zonate ferruginous; pores very small, convex,
stratose, cinnamon, at maturity white-stuffed, at first canescent.
On oak and birch.
Very common and abundant on living oak trees at Horicon and
Madison. The specimens on birch come from Monroe County. The
largest specimen was found on birch. It measures 24 cm. wide by 18
cm. long and 12 cm. thick in the thickest part near the base. It has
four distinct sulcations and four strata of tubes — the oldest ones be-
80 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
ing somewhat indistinct. The tubes in this specimen are about 1 cm.
long, smaller than in F. fomentarius and with thinner dissepiments;
their color like that of the flesh, is a yellowish ferruginous, and there
is a layer of hymenophore separating each stratum. The pilei are di-
midiate and frequently imbricated. The older part of the surface is
blackened, and opaque, rimose ; the margin is yellowish-rust color, even,
tomentose. Specimens of this large type are not common. The usual
form is ungulate, about 10 cm. wide, 8 cm. long and 7 cm. thick. The
tubes stratified but continuous, each layer about 5 to 7 mm. in length
and like the hymenophore of a rich ferruginous color. The substance
of the pileus is distinctly zonate. Young nodular specimens appear to
be made of concentric shell-like layers which are often partially separ-
able.
A few specimens of this smaller type were sent to Peck. He identi-
fied them as F. igniarius, but not typical. They seem in fact to ap-
proach in appearance the variety of F. nigricans which is found so
commonly on poplar in this region. The resemblance is so close that it
is often difficult to keep the two separate. F. nigricans, however, is
much darker in color and harder ; the sulcations are also more numerous
and narrower. Its pileus is more triangular in cross-section and the
margin in young plants is not so much rounded as in F. igniarius, nor
has it ever the yellow tomentum. F. salicinus is also closely related
but this is always distinguishable by its harder substance and the re-
supinate form.
Syn. : Pyropolyporus igniarius (L.) Murr. ; 19, 30, p. 110.
Polyporus igniarius (L.) Winter; 28, p. 424.
Fomes nigricans Fries (Plate VIII, fig. 29).
Hoof -shaped or pulvinate, very thick, pileus densely and concentric-
ally sulcate, cuticle very hard, with a crusty varnished surface layer,
black, smooth, shining, margin very obtuse, ferruginous; flesh very
hard, ferruginous; tubes elongated, distinctly stratose ferruginous;
pores 0.3 mm. across, obsoletely angular, naked from the first ; spores
elliptical, both ends rounded, brown, 5 by 3 microns.
Fries describes a form of this species with the "pileus triangular,
rugose, opaque, which approaches Fomes igniarius." He might have
added ' ' and radially rimose, ' ' to complete the description for our spec-
imens.
Very common on poplar, birch, maple and elm. Localities : Horicon,
Bangor, Sparta, Madison, Hazelhurst, Crandon, Star Lake, Shana-
golden and Ladysmith.
TEE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 81
The form growing on maple, elm and birch is the type-form and is
easily recognized by the black rimose surface. The largest of these
measured 12 cm. in width, 9 cm. in length and 3 cm. in thickness. The
shape is, however, very variable. Another specimen measured about
10 cm. in length, 10 cm. in width and 15 cm. in thickness. This speci-
men grew from the trunk of a living rock elm and had 22 strata. It
is quite common on living elm and birch at Shanagolden.
The usual form which grows on dead or living poplar is quite dif-
ferent. It is duller in color, and irregularly orbicular. The largest
specimens being about 9 cm. long, 9 cm. wide and from 3 to 5 cm.
thick. Many grow immediately beneath small branches, along which
they spread upwards a distance of 10 or 12 cm., thus appearing resupi-
nate, but in nearly all cases the lower surface is ascending, never hori-
zontal. They also grow into, and push up the bark of the trunk so
that it is difficult to tell where the bark ends and the fungus begins, for
the color of the top of the pileus is very much like that of the bark.
This color is an opaque grayish-black instead of a varnished black.
Below, the fungus is a dark cinnamon brown. The substance and the
tubes are also dark cinnamon brown and very hard. The surface is
densely sulcate and much checked. The margin is smooth, gray, and
where the hymenium meets it, brown. It is quite obtuse in resupinate
forms but more acute in others. In cross-section these specimens are
always triangular. Sometimes young specimens are nodular with a
thick, brown rounded margin like our F. igniarius; but the forms can
usually be distinguished from the latter by their intimate connection
with the bark, and by the darker, harder and more brittle substance
which is only faintly zonate.
The tubes are small, stratose and not more than about 5 mm. in
length, soon becoming white stuffed. The pores are extremely small,
roundish, regular, with thick dissepiments. Since this form is quite con-
stant and easily distinguishable I shall describe it as a variety.
Fomes nigricans populinus n. var.
Irregularly orbicular or sessile, triangular, opaque, rugose, radially
rimose with very small pores, common and abundant on poplar.
The above species, especially the variety, is closely related to F.
igniarius, but can usually be distinguished by its habit of growth and
by its hard, black, densely rimose surface. The substance of the pileus
is never as thick as that of F. igniarius.
6
82 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Fomes rimosus Berk.
Pileus woody, very hard, pulvinate, ungulate from the annual strata,
at length rimose, subumbrinous, deeply sulcate, the growth of the year
velvety-p ruinate, cinnamon; context very hard, fibrous; pores very
long, thin, fulvous-ferruginous with the mouth indistinct, rhubarb
color.
Not common. A few specimens were found on oak and on locust near
Madison. The largest is about 12 cm. wide, 8 cm. long, and 3 to 4 cm.
thick. Most of the specimens are very rough and uneven. The speci-
mens are very hard but not "deeply" sulcate, although some have two
and three strata of pores. The color is very much like that of Polyporus
gilvus — perhaps a little darker — and it becomes black with age, the
surface cracking in every direction. The plant is convex on both sides
with a somewhat acute margin.
The tubes are long, 1 cm. or more, and indistinctly stratified. The
pores are very minute, roundish, equal ; the mouth indistinct.
Young and unstratified specimens can hardly be distinguished from
Polyporus gilvus, but the older are easily recognized by the checked sur-
face, the stratified tubes and usually the deep sulcations.
Fomes fomentarius (L.) Fries (Plate IX, fig. 30).
Pileus ungulate-pulvinate, thick, glabrous, remotely concentrically
sulcate, from sooty to canescent, within soft floccose, fulvous ; the crust
thick, hard, persistent; margin and pores prolonged, the latter min-
ute, distinctly stratose, at first glaucous-pruinose, then rusty.
Common westward and northward. Localities : Monroe County, on
dead birch; Madaline Island (Allen) ; Lake Superior (Cheney) ; and
in Dane, Oneida, Vilas, Ashland, Forest and Clark Counties.
Largest specimen is 9 cm. broad, 6 cm. long and 9 cm. thick, being
strongly hoof -shaped. Another flatter type is 9 cm. wide, 9 cm. long
and 2 cm. thick. The pileus in all of the specimens is comparatively
thin. In the largest specimen the pileus is 2 cm. thick near the base,
near the margin it is only 0.5 cm., the rind is about 1 mm. thick, and the
tubes vary from 3 to 6 cm. in length. In the flatter specimens the
pileus averages 0.75 cm. thick and the tubes vary in length from 2 mm.
near the margin to 1.5 cm. near the base. The tubes are indistinctly
stratose and somewhat white-stuffed. They have about the same color
as the pileus — a ferruginous brown, the mouths are paler and duller.
The rind is dark brown in substance with a gray surface, concentrically
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 33
eulcate. The older parts are darker than the newer ones. The margin
in most cases is very obtuse sometimes lobed or wavy. The substance of
the pileus is composed of a fine-grained punk, rather lighter in color
than the substance in F. applanatus but firmer. The tubes are un-
equally sunk into the flesh, suggesting the habit of a Trametes. The
mouths of the pores are round, small, equal and frequently stuffed. The
dissepiments are obtuse. The surface of the hymenium is usually con-
cave.
This species is regarded by Fries as the type of the genus and has long
been known for the excellent punk obtained from it.
Related to F. applanatus, but distinguished by the thicker crust, hoof-
shaped pileus and the longer tubes. It is also quite distinct from its
other near allies, F. igniarius and F. nigricans. Both of the latter are
harder in substance and the color verges more towards the yellowish.
Syn. : Elfvingia fomentaria (L.) Murr. ; 19, vol. 30, p. 298.
Boletus ungulatus Bull. ; 7, tab. 491, fig. 2, C. D. E, and tab.
401.
Fomes applanatus (Pers.) Wallrath (Plate IX, fig 31).
Pileus dimidiate, flat, somewhat thickened behind, nodose, indistinctly
zoned, and sulcate, glabrate, or pulverulent, at first brown then gray
or ashen with a rigid but fragile crust ; context soft, flocculose ; margin
tumid ; pores very small, ferruginous, the moiiths whitish, brown when
rubbed.
Localities: Horicon, Bangor, Sparta, Milwaukee, Algoma, Elkhorn,
Madison, Blanchardville (McKenna), Hazelhurst, Star Lake, Shana-
golden, Crandon, Ladysmith, Milwaukee, Dells (Holden).
This is our commonest Fomes. Found chiefly on oak stumps, also on
trunks of poplar, basswood and elm. One small specimen was found
on a young and living apple tree at Horicon. The tree had been look-
ing sickly for the past two or three years, but I found no external
fungus growths upon it until a pileus of this species appeared on the
trunk. The heartwood of the tree is badly decayed and probably the
mycelium has been in the wood for some time. I also find pilei of this
fungus growing out of the base of living oak and cottonwood trees,
without apparently any effect on the trees. I find, however, that in
all of the cases examined the pilei arise in regions where the tree has
been wounded, but they do not always grow from the dead wood in such
places. The specimen which I took from the apple tree mentioned above
was attached to the living bark of the tree as though it was a parasite.
The pilei are also found on living willows.
84 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Largest specimen found was on a poplar at Horicon and measured
nearly % meter in width, about 24 cm. in length and 15 cm. in thick-
ness near its base. It shows about 10 or 12 strata, the older ones some-
what indistinct. The pilei are usually sessile, sometimes substipitate —
especially those growing from the roots of stumps and trees — often
imbricated. The young growth is pure white, soft, moist and turns
brown when injured. It then hardens into a whitish-gray crust which
soon becomes brown-pulverulent due to the numerous spores which are
scattered on the pileus either by currents of air or by overhanging
pilei. Sticks and stones lying beneath are usually likewise covered.
The spores are ovoid and about 6 to 7 microns in diameter.
The species varies in form from very thin explanate to thick ungu-
late; it is easily recognized by the whitish horny crust, the white-
pruinose hymenium which turns brown when bruised, and the dark
ferruginous context made up of the two layers of horny fibers — one go-
ing upwards to form the crust and the other turning down to form the
tubes. In most stratified specimens examined there are traces of the
hymenophore between the strata (PL IX., fig. 31). Old specimens are
often black and rimose.
Related to F. reniformis, F. fomentarius and F. vegetus. Distin-
guished from the first by its thicker crust and harder consistency ; from
the second by its smaller and shorter pores and by being flat instead of
ungulate; from the last it is said to be distinct because it has thicker
flesh and is not supposed to have the "floccose layer" separating the
strata.
With Atkinson I cannot follow Lloyd (12 p. 60) in the conclusion
that the American forms referred to this species are in reality to be
identified with F. leucophaeus Mont., and that F. reniformis Morg., is
F. applanatus (Pers.). Lloyd's view is that in general the two species
are very much alike, but that F. applanatus has softer tissue and
echinulate spores, while our common form (F. leucopJiaeus) has smooth
spores.
The forms of F. applanatus as I have identified them agree very well
with the specimen of F. applanatus No. 302, Sydow's Mycotheca ger-
manica, from the Hartz mountains. The spores of the German speci-
men also are smooth like those of ours and of the same shape. The
tissue is no softer in Sydow's specimen than in ours, except in the case
of very old forms which may become unusually hard in some cases.
I also find that our common forms often interpose a new stratum of
hymenophore between the first and second year 's growth, as Morgan says
is the case in F reniformis; still I am inclined to think that Morgan's
form is distinct.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 85
I have compared our specimens with no. 302, Sydow's Mycotheca
germanica ; which with no. 801 North American Fungi ; Polyporus ap-
planatus (Pers.) from West Chester, Pa., agrees well with our forms and
with No. 339, P. S. F., F. applanatus (Pers.), Stanford University,
Cal., (identified by Peck). In this latter specimen the tubes are long
and the strata hardly visible, like the tubes in F. fomentarius, but the
spores agree with those of our forms. No. 114, C. A. F., Fomes ap-
planatus (Pers.), from Castillo, Nicaragua, has a thinner cuticle and
softer substance than our forms, except some of our younger specimens
which agree quite well with these southern types. Specimens from
Berlin, Germany, from the Palmhouse in the Botanic Garden, deter-
mined by Magnus, agree in every other respect except that they have
a whitish instead of a dark ferruginous hymenophore.
Syn.: Elfvingia megaloma (Lev.) Murr. ; 19, 30, p. 300.
Fomes megaloma (Lev.) Cke. ; 11, p. 18. 1885.
Fomes leucophaeus Mont. ; 26, VI, p. 173.
Fomes officinalis (Vill.) (Plate X, fig. 33).
Hoof -shaped thick; surface nodulose, corky to fleshy, when fresh
soft but tough when dry ; porous, friable, with yellow and brown zones
and concentric furrows, glabrous, yellowish white, with hard rimose
rind ; pores delicate, short yellowish, when older brownish.
On Larch.
A gigantic specimen of this fungus is preserved in the University
herbarium. Its origin is unknown ; but it is probably from the north-
ern part of the state. It measures about 65 cm. in height and 105 cm.
in circumference at its thickest part. It shows about 70 strata.
The fungus has been reported by various collectors as found on larch
in the northern part of the state and a doubtful specimen is reported
by Dodge from Algoma.
Pomes lucidus (Leys.) Fries (Plate IX, fig. 32).
Horizontal, flabelliform or subreniform, laterally stipitate, pileus
5 — 15 cm. across ; corky, then hard and woody, sulcato-rugose, blood-red
with a chestnut tinge, polished, shining ; pores 6 mm. to 12 mm. long,
minute, whitish then cinnamon; stem variable in length, rugose, col-
ored and polished like the pileus ; spores 7 by 5 microns, brown.
86 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.'
Quite common on various woods. Localities: Florence (Miss Riley) ;
Lincoln County (Dr. F. S. Forbes), on hemlock logs; Lake Superior
region (Cheney) ; Crandon, Ladysmith, Shanagolden, Star Lake, Hori-
con, and Madison. The specimens collected at Horicon were growing
on a maple stump, and the Madison specimens on an oak stump. In
the northern part of the state the species usually grows on hemlock or
tamarack.
Our largest specimen is about 30 cm. wide, 17 cm. long and 2.5 cm.
thick. The specimens are dimidiate-sessile, laterally stipitate, or ap-
parently excentrically stiped. In all cases where the stipe is excentric
it is found that the pileus has grown backward surrounding a lateral
stipe, thus making it seem excentric.
The context is made up of two layers, both soft, velvety-fibrous, bat
the upper one firmer and much lighter in color than the lower one
next to the tubes. The flesh is comparatively thin. The pilei are cov-
ered by a dark-red shining crust. In one specimen it is considerably
wrinkled and more or less concentrically sulcate, its margin wavy,
acute and turned down. All of my specimens are stiped except two
found on a maple stump ; these are dimidiate, sessile and stratified. All
of the others are unstratified.
The pores are small, equal, varying in length from 1 to 2 cm. In
the larger and older specimens the color of the tubes is dark cinnamon,
and in the younger ones it is paler.
The context is of the same soft floccose consistency as in F. applan-
atus and F. reniformis except that it is a little lighter in color. The
tubes also are very much the same as in these species but lighter in
color. The species is very easily recognized by its red laccate crust.
Murrill (19, 29, p. 602), following the lead of Patouillard and Que-
let, places this species in the genus Ganoderma, formed by Karsten in
1899 for Fames lucidus, based on the laccate pileus and stipe. Under
this genus Murrill lists the following related species: G. parvulum
Murr., G. tsugae, Murr., G. pseudololetus (Jacq.) (this is F. lucidus)?
(jr. sessile Murr., G. Oerstedii (Fries), G. zonatum Murr., and G. suca-
tum Murr.
Syn. : Ganoderma pseudoboletus (Jacq.) Murr.; 19, 29, p. 602.
Polyporus lucidus (Leyss.) Fries; 28, p. 442.
Polyporus laccatus Pers. ; 23, 2, p. 54.
Boletus variegatus Schaeff. ; 27, tab. 263.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 87
n. POLYPORUS.
The chief characteristics of this genus are as follows: Central or
lateral stemmed, or sessile. Pileus fleshy, tough, rather soft and moist,
at length becoming harder; neither sulcate nor zoned externally, but
the internal texture consisting of radiating fibres, often more or less
zoned. Pores never stratose but forming an inseparable distinct stra-
tum. A few species of this genus are edible.
KEY TO THE WISCONSIN SPECIES OF POLYPOBUS
Dimidiate or sessile 1
Cespitose 2
Stiped 3
1. Flesh white 4
1. Flesh, yellowish to ferruginous 5
1. Flesh reddish-orange 6
4. Tubes smoke to sooty P. adustus
4. Tubes faintly smoky P. fumosus
4. Tubes scarcely smoky, fragrant P. fragrans
4. Tubes whitish, not fragrant P. pubescens
4. Tubes whitish, pileus very moist P. chioneus
4. Tubes whitish, turning bluish when bruised P. caesius
4. Tubes whitish, pileus grayish P. sordidus
4. Tubes whitish, turning brown when bruised P. fragilis
4. Tubes whitish, pileus tomentose P. lacteus
4. Tubes whitish, pileus thick, hirsute P. spumeus
4. Tubes whitish, pileus tough, strigose P. borealis
4. Tubes whitish, pileus brown P. resinosus
4. Tubes whitish, large, pileus fleshy-fibrous P. delectans
4. Tubes whitish, pileus hoof -shaped P. stipticus
4. Tubes whitish, turning pinkish when bruised P. guttulatus
4. Tubes whitish, not turning pinkish, subcespitose P. epileucus
4. Tubes whitish, pilei grayish, subcespitose P. tephroleucus
6. Flesh yellowish brown P. gilvus
5. Flesh ferruginous, soft P. nidulans
6. Flesh ferruginous, hard P. radiatus
6. Flesh ferruginous, pileus golden P. aureonitens
5. Flesh ferruginous, pileus cuticulate ! P. cuticulans
6. Pores large P. aurantiacus
6. Pores smaller p. Pilotae
2. Scarcely cespitose, white P. salignus
2. Scarcely cespitose, small P. floriformis
2. White, heavy P. osseus
2. Alutaceous, fleshy to leathery P. distortus
2. Yellow P. sulfureus
2. Grayish-white, frondose P. frondosus
£8 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
2. Grayish-white, pilei broad P. anax
2. "White, pilei central stemmed P. umbellatus
2. Greenish tawny, scarcely connate
2. Brown, hard, fragrant P. graveolens
3. Laterally stiped 7
3. Not black at base 8
3. Black at base 9
7. Small, with veil P. volvatus
7. Larger, no veil P. betulinus
7. Pores large P. Jiispidellus
8. Stipe central, pores large P. arcularius
8. Stipe central, pores small P. trumalis
8. Pores large, pileus whitish P. lentus
8. Pores small, pileus white to greenish P. flavovirens
8. Substance brown, in two layers P. circinatus
8. Brown, not in two layers P. tomentosus
8. Brown, large, fleshy P. Schweinitzii
8. Whitish, pileus irregular, fleshy P. ovinus
9. Lateral stiped P. squamosus
9. Stipe punctate P. picipes
9. Stipe not punctate P. elegans
9. Stipe rooting P. radicatus
Polyporus adustus ("Willdenow) Fries.
Pileus fleshy, soft, thin, villous, ashy-pallid, effused-reflexed behind;
margin straight, blackening ; pores small, short, round, obtuse, whitish-
pruinose presently ashy-fuscous, the marginal obsolete. Spores color-
less, 4 to 5 microns.
Morgan (18, VIII, p. 106) says that the typical villous form is sel-
dom met with, but that a form velvety, isabelline in color, thin and
coriaceous when dry, like P. isabellinus Schw., is common. Among
other things, Macbride says: "Our specimens are not villous unless
when young, generally soft, velvety or pulverulent.*'
I have seen no specimen that can be called villous. They are gla-
brous when old, and velvety or soft tomentose when young.
The characteristic feature of the species is the dull smoky or blackish
LymeniunL The pores are very small, short, obtuse, whitish-pruinose,
blackening when bruised ; the whole hymenium, which is of a soft, semi-
gelatinous consistence when young, turns black with age.
This species is very common in the southern part of the state on pop-
lar and oak, but is not so abundant in the north. Specimens have been
collected at Cudahy, County Line, Madison, Horicon, Bangor, Sparta,
Blue Mounds, Blanchardville (McKenna) ; Star Lake, (Timberlake
and Denniston) ; Crandon, and Shanagolden. The largest specimen
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 89
measured about 5 cm. in width, 4 cm. in length and 5 mm. in thickness.
The tubes are rarely more than 2 to 6 mm. in length.
P. adustus is closely related to P. fumosus and P. fragrans Pk. It
is thinner than P. fumosus, and darkens more. P. fragrans is dis-
tinguished by its odor, and its hymenium does not blacken.
Syn.: Bjerkandera adusta (Willd.) Karst.; 19, 32, p. 634.
Myriadoporus adustus Peck; 19, 11 p. 27.
Polyporus fumosus (Pers.) Pr.
Pileus fleshy, corky, azonate, sericeous, becoming glabrate, sooty, pal-
lid, dilate-adnate behind, within fibrous, subzonate; pores small, short,
round, entire, whitish-smoky, becoming darker when rubbed.
This species has not been found abundantly in the state. Two speci-
mens were found in November 1899, at Madison, growing on the trunk
of a living locust tree. A specimen was found at Star Lake, and sev-
eral small ones were found at Bangor growing on old logs. The largest
one is about 6 cm. wide, 3.5 cm. long, and from 1 to 1.5 cm. thick.
The pilei are imbricated and effused behind; soft and fleshy when
fresh but become corky when dry. When young the pileus is some-
what corky but it soon becomes glabrate. The hymenium is thinner
than in P. adustus, white-pruinose, but does not turn as dark when
bruised. The pores are very small and obtuse, scarcely ever more than
2 mm. in length. As in P. adustus, there is always a wide sterile band
at the margin.
The species may be distinguished from P. adustus by the thicker pi-
leus and the lighter colored hymenium.
Syn.: Bjerkandera fumosa (Pers.) Karst.; 19, 32, p. 635.
Polyporus fragrans Peck.
Fragrant ; pileus flesy-tough, effuso-reflexed, imbricating, 2.5 to 5 cm.
high, 5 to 10 cm. broad, rather thin but sometimes thickened be-
hind, velvety to the touch and clothed with a minute tomentum; pale
reddish gray or alutaceous, the thin margin concolorous and sometimes
a little roughened, often sterile beneath; flesh slightly fibrous, zonate,
concolorous; pores minute, unequal, angular, about 2 mm. long, dis-
sepiments thin, acute, toothed or lacerated, whitish becoming darker
with age, and blackish-stained when bruised.
This little species is rarely collected in Wisconsin and is also reported
,as ' ' rare ' ' in Iowa by Macbride. Only two specimens have thus far been
90 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
found ; one by Cheney in the Lake Superior region, and one by myself
at Lady smith on a small stump.
The largest specimen is about 5 cm. wide and 2 cm. long, but less than
5 mm. thick except at the base where it is somewhat gibbous. In color,
shape and general habit it strongly resembles P. adustus. However,
the pores are larger and longer and more irregular, the dissepiments,
are toothed, and do not become smoky or black when bruised, but
merely darken somewhat in color. The dried specimen on the whole is
more yellowish than either P. adustus or P. fumosus. From both of
these species it can also be distinguished by its pleasant odor which is
quite persistent after drying.
Syn. : Bjerkandera fragrans (Peck) Murr. ; 19, 32, 'p. 636.
Polyporus aurantiacus Peck (Plate XI,, fig. 35).
Pileus soft, thin, sessile, dimidiate, sometimes confluent, fibrous-to-
mentose, obscurely zoned, orange-color ; pores small, angular, acute, un-
equal, at length lacerated, pallid inclining to orange ; flesh tinged with
orange ; obscurely zoned. Pileus 2.5 to 5 cm. broad, pores 2 mm. long.
On old logs, July. Eelated to Polystictus Uformis.
Not common. Collected at Blue Mounds, Brule Eiver (Overton), at
Crandon on a birch log, and Ladysmith on a maple log. Largest speci-
men 8 cm. broad, 3 cm. long and 3 cm. thick in its thickest part. Most
of the specimens, however, are small. The pilei are soft-spongy at first,
becoming coriaceous. The color is orange-red at first, but becomes an
orange-brown with age.
The pores in our specimens are quite large, irregular and unequal.
The dissepiments are thin and often torn. When growing they are
cream-color inclining to reddish-orange. In form, the pilei may be ses-
sile, imbricated, resetted or confluent. The surface is rough-tomentose
and uneven.
The orange tints and the large irregular, soft, cream-colored pores
are the chief distinguishing characteristics. It may be the same spec-
ies as P. fibrillosus. Karst.
Polyporus Pilotae Schw.
Crimson-orange. Pileus very large, pulvinate or subungulate,
nearly glabrous, spongy, fibrous, becoming hard and corky; the sub-
stance within uneven, zonate. Pores long, medium dissepiments at
first round and thick, then thin and angular.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 91
Morgan (18, VIII, p. 101 — 102) says that the pileus is from 10 to 15
cm. or nearly 30 cm. in diameter; that the color varies greatly with
age, being at first a gorgeous crimson-orange, then growing paler
through orange to alutaceous; the hymenium growing darker through
brownish crimson to dark brown. The substance, he says, varies to
reddish and pale wood color and is remarkably zonate. .
Collected at Devil's Lake in July and August of 1903, 1904 and 1906.
It was growing on very rotten oak logs and stumps. It was a bright
orange when fresh, of a soft spongy consistency. The color fades very
much in drying. The distinctly concentrically zonate substance is pale
wood color, with reddish stains. The rough somewhat pitted sur-
face is grayish with reddish-brown spots. It is covered with a very
slight tomentum.
The pileus is thick and irregularly triangular in cross-section. The
pores are not very long, round; dissepiments thick, wood color. The
pileus projects about 8 cm. and is about 8 cm. thick through the thickest
part.
Its soft, fleshy substance when fresh and its bright color are the chief
distinguishing marks.
Syn. : Aurantiporus Pilotae (Schw.) Murr. pr. p.; 19, 32, p. 487.
Polyporus pubescens (Schumacher) Fries (Plate XI, fig. 36).
Pileus fleshy becoming tough, suberose, soft, convex, subzonate, pub-
escent, white throughout; margin acute, at length yellowish; pores
short, small, nearly round, even.
Our specimens probably belong to the variety grayii E. and E.,
which differs from the type in the elongation of the tubes ; but Bresa-
dola thinks that this variety is the same as Polystictus velutinus. As
a matter of fact, I have found it difficult always to distinguish easily
between the two species, except that Polyporus pubescens is thicker and
more hirsute than Polystictus velutinus. In substance and habit they
are alike.
When growing, P. pubescens is of a moist, soft, almost leathery con-
sistency but dries into a light, brittle, corky, substance. It is pure white
within and without, but becomes yellowish in drying. The pubescence
is quite as dense and coarse occasionally as that of P. hirsutus, but usu-
ally it is much softer and finer making the pileus agreeably velvety to
the touch.
The pilei are always very convex above and concave below, more or
less gibbous and decurrent at the base and more or less laterally conflu-
ent.
92 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
The pores are medium, becoming lengthened, so that they equal the
thickness of the pileus, whitish, becoming pale straw-yellow on drying.
The dissepiments are thin and more or less toothed.
Common on birch logs and alder. Specimens have been found at
Bangor on birch and alder; at Hazelhurst, Cudahy, Shanagolden, Lady-
smith and Star Lake. A few specimens were found at Sparta on an
old oak stump.
The largest specimens measured 5 cm. in width, 6 cm. in length, and
8 mm. in thickness at the base. The tubes were as long as the thickness
of the pileus. The species is commonly infested by larvae.
Syn.: Coriolus pubescens (Schum.) Murr.; 19, 32, p. 645.
Polyporus chioneus Fries.
Pileus white, fleshy, soft, smooth, glabrate, azonate, frequently ex-
tended behind ; the margin incurved ; pores short, slender, round,
equal, dissepiments entire.
When fresh and moist the whole fungus becomes hygrophanous, and
when dried specimens are thrown into water, they become swollen and
somewhat hyaline but not as brittle as are fresh specimens. When
dry they are soft and brittle.
The species is quite common in wet weather, growing on sticks, old
logs and stumps. Localities: South Milwaukee, Horicon, Madison,
Blue Mounds, Crandon, Hazelhurst, Star Lake, Gliddon, Ladysmith,
Bangor and Sparta. The largest specimen measures about 9 cm. in
breadth, 8 cm. in length and 2 cm. in thickness. When dry they as-
sume a slightly alutaceous hue.
The hygrophanous texture of the growing plant makes it quite dis-
tinct among the common white polypores. When dry, the light, soft
brittle substance, the regular pores and the smooth pileus distinguish
it.
Polyporus caesius Schrad.
White here and there with a bluish tinge. Pileus fleshy-soft, tena-
cious, unequal, silky. Pores small, unequal, long, and flexous, dentate,
lacerate.
Morgan (18, VIII, p. 106) says that this species grows in the "woods
on sticks. Pilei % to 1% inches broad and long ; simple, subimbricate
sometimes substipitate, color assumed by my specimens is bluish-gray.
Pores rather small become toothed and lacerate. "
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 93
The species is not very common. One specimen was found at Madi-
son, one at Crandon, several at Oakfield on sticks and stumps; one at
Horicon growing at the bae of a dead oak trunk, and one at Bangor
growing under an old sidewalk. This latter specimen was perhaps of
the small white variety forma minor et albida as described by Bresa-
dola.
Largest specimens about 6 cm. wide, 4 cm. long and 1 — 2^ cm. thick.
In color they are of a pale bluish gray, with a rough surface. Only
the young specimens can be called silky; the older ones are glabrate.
The flesh is whitish, soft and moist when fresh, corky when dry. The
pores are medium and not flexuous in all the specimens.
The species seems to be closely related to P. sordidus Cke., and
P. tephroleucus. It is distinguished from both by the tendency to be-
come bluish or greenish blue when bruised. In some specimens this
change in color, however, is slight. It probably depends upon the age
and conditiion of the specimen ; the younger and more active the stage
of growth, the greater is the change in color. The small white specimen
(forma minor et albida Bres.) changed very distinctly to a greenish
blue.
Polypoms sordidus Cooke.
Pileus fleshy-soft, firm, pulvinate, attenuated behind, finely velvety
sordid-fuliginous, glabrate around the margin; context white; subzo-
nate; tubules medium, 5mm. long; pores white, unequal angular, 0.25
to 0.5 mm. ; dissepiments thin, entire.
On trunks of old trees. Pileus 4 to 5 cm. in diameter, 2.5 cm. thick.
Hare. Only a few specimens were collected at Horicon on a very
rotten log. The largest of these was about 2 cm. broad, 2.5 cm. long
and 1 cm. thick. The surface is gray, rough and little if any silky.
The pileus is convex above and below and narrowed at the base. The
pores are small, roundish, fairly equal, short, whitish. The flesh is
whitish, of a cheesy consistency and usually infested with larvae.
When fresh the pileus gives out a vile odor.
Morgan (18 VIII, p. 106) tninks this is only a form of P. tephroleu-
cus, as he says in a letter. However, it may be distinguished from that
species by its grayish color, smaller size and the disagreeable odor.
Still it is possible that the odor is due to the larvae which usually in-
fest it.
94 THE POLYPORACEAE OF W I KG ON SIN.
Polyporus fragilis Fries.
Pileus kidney-shaped, flat, depressed, convex beneath, sometimes at-
tenuated at the base, stipitate and pendant, rugose, whitish, becoming
brown-spotted when touched, of fleshy-fibrous substance, brittle. Pores
delicate, long, bent and flexuous.
On diseased wood of the conifers.
Quite common in the northern part of the state. Specimens have
been collected at Crandon, Ladysmith and Shanagolden, chiefly on de-
cayed pine logs. The largest specimens are about 5 cm. wide and 6 cm.
long. There is also a type which is effuso-reflexed and laterally con-
fluent. This form, by far the commonest, is very soft, fleshy when
young but dries harder than the typical form. It may be a distinct
species.
The type form when freshly growing looks very much like P. guttu-
latus Peck. ; however, it is smaller, more delicate and brittle. Its color
is whitish becoming rusty-brown almost the instant that it is touched.
"When drying the whole specimen becomes brownish and very light.
This change of color is the most reliable and distinctive characteristic.
Polyporus lacteus Fries.
White, pileus fleshy-fibrous, fragile, triquetrous, pubescent, azonate ;
margin inflexed, acute, pores thin, acute, dentate, at length labyrinth-
ine and lacerate.
This small species is not very common. Specimens were collected on
pine stumps near Hazelhurst and Crandon. They are not typical and
are somewhat doubtfully referred here. The largest specimen is about
3 cm. wide and 2 cm. long. The thickness of the pileus is about 8 mm.,
and the tubes are about 4 mm. in length.
The pilei are convex above and concave below ; the base is decurrent.
There is very little pubescence except in very young specimens. The
color is white throughout.
The species is closely related to P. chioneus and P. stipticus. The
hyaline structure of the former distinguishes it. The latter species is
larger and thicker, and usually has a reddish band on its surface.
Polyporus stipticus (Pers.) Fries.
Pilei imbricated, pulvinate, up to 12 cm. in width, 2i/j cm. thick, with
gibbous base, fleshy-corky, brittle, smooth, glabrate, whitish with blunt
reddish margin. Pores long, roundish, equal, white.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 95
This species is occasionally found on pine trunks and stumps.
Our specimens were collected at Hazelhurst. Largest specimen 6 cm.
wide, 2 cm. long and 2 cm. thick.
The pilei are usually white with a pale reddish zone near the mar-
gin ; pulvinate, smooth, the blunt margin somewhat incurved. The
flesh pure white-fleshy then corky and brittle. The tubes are long and
equal.
The distinguishing features are the whitish pulvinate pileus and the
reddish zone near the margin. This, however, fades on drying.
Polypoms borealis Fries (Plate XI, fig. 39).
Horizontal, subspatulate, or reniform, either attenuated behind into
a short more or less distinct stem, or thick and sessile, 5 — 7.5 cm.
across, whitish then dingy yellow, spongy, then corky, compact, hairy,
flesh thick, composed of parallel fibres, whitish; tubes 4 — 6 mm. long,
pores unequal, flexuous, dissepiments thin, torn, white ; spores colorless,
subglobose, 4 microns in diameter.
The following forms on varieties occur: montanus; Pileus fleshy,
thick, hairy, margin obtuse; pores obtuse, entire; spatulatus; pileus
thin, villous, margin acute, extended into a short stem, dissepiments
thin, much torn.
Specimens of this species were collected at Madison, November, 1899,
at Horicon, Oakfield and Blue Mounds, on very much decayed poplar
logs.
Largest specimens about 15 cm. wide, 3 — 5 cm. long and 1.5 — 2 cm.
thick. The pilei are usually much imbricated and laterally conflu-
ent. When fresh they are fleshy but become corky. The substance is
white, composed of parallel fibres running horizontally through them.
The color above is whitish to straw color; below, a little paler with a
suggestion of pink. The surface is very rough in places, being covered
with scale-like processes which are probably the remains of a strigose
pubescence.
The tubes are long, 1 — 1.5 cm. but of unequal length like those of
Trametes. The pores are irregular, sinuous, somewhat radially elong-
ated, when old, white-stuffed. The dissepiments are thickish and
toothed. When fresh the specimens are inodorous but on drying give
out a faint sweetish odor.
The species may be known by its hispid surface, the fibrous substance
and the obtuse, irregular, medium sized pores.
Syn.: Spongipellis loredlis (Fr.) Pat.; 19, 32, p. 475.
96 THE POLTPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Polyporus resinosus (Schrad.) Fries (Plate XI, fig. 37).
Pileus fleshy becoming suberose, flocculose-pruinose, rusty-fuscous,,
the cuticle adnate, rigid, wrinkled, resinaceous; within azonate, pallid;
pores minute, equal, pallid. t
Quite common on various kinds of decayed logs especially basswood
and on living elm and maple. Specimens have been collected at Wau-
watosa, Horicon, Sparta, Elkhorn, Madison, Blue Mounds and Ban-
gor, Oakfield, Crandon, Hazelhurst, and Shanagolden. At Shana-
golden the specimens were found growing out of living maple and elm
trees, which had a diameter of from 37 to 45 cm. In these cases the
entire center of the trees was in such an advanced state of decay, that
the wood could easily be torn out with the hand. This decay extended
upwards into the trunk for a distance of from 10 to 20 feet, and down
into the stump. The trees had a shell of sound sap-wood varying from
5 to 7.5 cm. in thickness. The pilei grew out through the so-called
frost-cracks in the wood, through which, possibly, infection took place.
This is a large species. Largest specimen 45 cm. wide, 24 cm. long,
and from 3 to 4 cm. thick. Usually, however, the pilei are smaller.
When vigorously growing, the pilei exude a transparent, brownish,
tasteless liquid, which on drying on the finger is somewhat sticky.
Peck (22, 33, p. 21) says it closely resembles P. benzoinus Wallr.,
which occurs on hemlock trees while P. resinosus occurs on f rondose
trees. P. benzoinus has an odor like Trametes odorata, and is probably
only a subspecies of P. resinosus. P. rubiginosus is hardly different,
but it is tomentose instead of flocculose-pruinose, and the pores are cin-
namon.
The species may be known by its large size, rusty-brown cuticle, ru-
gosely wrinkled when dry, the pallid, brittle substance and the pale
liquid oozing out of the growing margin and pores.
Polyporus delectans Pk.
White, becoming yellowish. Pileus fleshy-fibrous, firm, simple or
subimbricate, azonate, subtomentose. Pores large, unequal, at first sub-
rotund and obtuse, then thin, angular and dentate.
"In woods on fallen trunks; common. Pileus two to four inches in
breadth, with a projection of one to two inches, or, confluently, several
inches in width. The stratum of pores is about half the thickness of
the pileus." (Morgan 18, VIII, p. 128).
THE POL7PORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 97
Collected at Star Lake in August 1901. It measures about 5 cm. long,
4.5 cm. wide, and scarcely 1 cm. thick. The base is somewhat narrowed
behind and drawn down, thus differing a little from the type. The sur-
face is rough and tomentose. The margin is thickish and drawn in-
wards on drying so that there seems to be a broad sterile band.
The pores are medium, at first shallow and obtuse, then deeper and
dentate, appearing lacerate in places, tawny.
Polyporus spumeus (Sowerby) Fries.
Pileus compact, pulvinate, gibbous, strigosely-hispid, with stem-like
base, margin incurved, whitish, fleshy-spongy, about 8 cm. broad ; pores
small, round, sharp, entire, separable from the pileus.
On old trunks of various deciduous trees.
Massee (17, p. 253) says -that the species grows "on living or dead
trunks. The plants are 3 — 4 inches across, oozing out of a tree in a
very soft mass which hardens in a day, and if it dries favorably the
pileus becomes hispid. ' '
Only a few specimens were found, one at Madison on hickory and a
few growing out of chinks in the end of an elm log at Shanagolden.
The largest specimen when fresh measured about 8 cm. in width, 4 cm.
in length and 2.5 cm. to 3 cm. in thickness, but it shrunk to about two-
thirds its former size.
The specimens were quite soft, moist hispid, obtuse, and of a red-
dish straw color when fresh. They could hardly be said to have a stem-
like base, however, unless the mycelium by which they were attached in
the chinks of the log be called the stem. In color and shape the fresh
specimens looked very much like Daedalea obtusa. The pores are me-
dium, toothed and irregular.
Syn.: Spongipellis spumeus (Sow.) Pat; 13, 3, p. 17; 19, 32, p. 474.
Polyporus guttulatus Peck (Plate XI, fig. 38).
Pilei of a cheesy consistency, broad, flattened, sometimes confluent,
sessile or narrowed into a short stem, slightly uneven, white or yellow-
ish-white, marked with darker zones and watery spots; pores minute,
subangular, short, whitish sometimes tinged with brown; flesh white;
10 to 15 cm. broad, 12 to 16 mm. thick. Trunks, July.
In texture and shape this species is related to P. sulphureus, but the
pores are smaller than in that species. Plants are sometimes cespitose,
7
98 THE PO-LYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
sometimes single. The spots in dried specimens have a smooth, de-
pressed appearance.
The species is quite common in the northern part of the state grow-
ing from pine and hemlock stumps and logs. Specimens were collected
at Hazelhurst, Star Lake and Shanagolden. At Star Lake a few spec-
imens were taken out of a pine stump decayed by Fomes pinicola.
The largest specimen measures about 12 cm. wide, 5 cm. long and
1 cm. thick. Some of the specimens are stipitate, some sessile-dimidi-
ate, and some cespitose. In color they are pale yellowish-white, with
faint reddish-brown zones and spots. The flesh is pale yellowish- white,
brittle when dry. The pores are of the same color, short, angular and
small.
When fresh, the substance is soft, moist and cheesy. The growing
margin and pores become spotted with a faint pinkish-flesh color when-
ever touched or bruised, and often exude drops of colorless, viscid,
tasteless liquid.
This species seem to be allied to P. epileucus and P. tephroleucus on
one hand and to P. sulphureus on the other.
From P. epileucus and P. tepJiroleucus it may be distinguished by
the softer substance, the brownish spots and pits in the surface of the
flat uneven pileus.
Syn. : Polyporus maculatus Peck ; 22, 26, p. 69.
Polyporus tephroleucus Fries.
Pileus fleshy-cheesy, triquetrous, obtuse, villous, unequal, gray, with-
in white, zonate ; pores round, elongate, obtuse, entire, whitish.
"Distinguished by its snow-white hymenium and context. The pores
are longer than in any other of our white-pored species, one cm. at the
maximum. Not uncommon on rotten logs in marshy places where it
sometimes extends many centimenters. " Macbride.
Not very common. One specimen was found at Sparta growing from
an old log in a pond, and several small specimens have been collected
at Oakfield and Horicon. The largest specimen is about 8 cm. wide,
6 cm. long and 8 cm. thick. The pilei are flat, villous when young,
more or less glabrate when old, grayish- white.. The pores are even,
equal, small, round, as long as the thickness of the pileus.
The species is allied to P. epileucus, Fr., P. guttulatus Peck, and
P. pallescens Fries. The last named is scarcely distinct except that it
is "glabrate" ; the others differ in color and in their shorter pores.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 99
Polyporus epileucus Fries.
Pileus dimidiate, semicircular, concave below, at first cheesy-soft
later firm, but not fibrous within, shaggy-rough, whitish, subzonate;
pores small, round, entire, whitish.
"Not uncommon on birch and willow, not likely to be mistaken for
any other species; when fresh soft, rather echinate above, when dry
very hard and heavy like putty" (Macbride, 15, p. 26).
Not common. Specimens have been found near Blue Mounds, near
Madison and at Shanagolden on old logs and stumps.
The largest specimens are about 10 cm. wide, 6 cm. long and 1 to 1.5
cm. thick, the tubes being about three-fourths as long as the thickness
of the flesh. When fresh the specimens are of a pale yellowish white
color, cheesy-moist and almost leathery. The upper surface is uneven
and sometimes tubercular, sometimes nearly hispid. The pilei are
usually flat above, slightly convex below ; sometimes sessile-dimidate ;
sometimes cespitose.
When dry the substance is hard and bony, heavy like putty, thus re-
sembling Polyporus osseus. The pores often contract and become torn
on drying. The shaggy pubescence often disappears with age, the
pilei becoming glabrate.
Polypoms gilvns Schw.
Pileus corky, woody, dimidiate-sessile, or effused behind, yellow-fer-
ruginous, azonate, rough, uneven, the margin tomentose, acute; pores
very small, crowded, entire, brownish, changeable, context yellow-ferru-
ginous.
"The pileus may remain thin," says Morgan (18 VIII, p. 105), "or
it may become excessively thick and subungulate ; the surface soon be-
comes scabrous, and sometimes it is furnished with warty granules; it
is often very uneven or scrupose. Specimens occur that are distinctly
zonate. The reddish-yellow of the growing margin soon changes to
ferruginous, and very old specimens have assumed a canescence. ' '
Very common in the southern part of the state especially on dead
oak, but also on basswood, poplar, maple and hickory. Less abundant
in the northern part of the state where it is found on maple, elm and
basswood. The largest specimen is 12 cm. broad, 7 cm. long, and 6 cm.
thick. Most of the specimens are quite thin. They are usually hard ;
the substance is rhubarb color, as is also the growing margin. The
young growth is usually quite tomentose ; sometimes the margin is ob-
100 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
tuse, sometimes acute. The surface may be either smooth, even, or un-
even and rough. The base is often decurrent. Kesupinate and re-
flexed forms are also found. The thicker forms are distinguished with
difficulty from young Fames igniarius and F. rimosus. Polyporus
gititus is more yellow and somewhat softer. Moreover, it is never
stratified.
Some of the thick forms were submitted to Professor C. H. Peck, who
regarded them as well within the limits of the species.
The species is very destructive to young oaks and hickory, attacking
the living trees and producing a rot in the sap-wood, immediately under
the bark. Infection seems to take place in wounds produced by break-
ing off branches or in exposed roots. The mycelium spreads upward
as well as downward, ultimately killing the tree. This disease needs
further investigation.
Syn.: Hapalopilus gilvus (Schw.) Murr.; 19, 31, p. 418.
Polyporus nidulans Fries (Plate XI, fig. 34) .
Pileus fleshy, very soft, subpulvinate, villous then smooth, azonate,
reddish-gray, of the same color within. Pores long, medium, unequal,
angular, tawny-reddish.
Common, on broken branches lying on the ground. Specimens have
been found at Madison, Bangor, South Milwaukee, Star Lake, Crandon
and Lady smith. The largest specimen is about 12 cm. broad, 6 cm.
long and 2 — 3 cm. thick. The pilei are somewhat imbricated and in
general appearance resemble those of P. cuticularis. The color, how-
ever, is rather a pale gilvous or even cinnamon, sometimes with reddish
tints. The surface becomes rough with age and uneven. The margin
is acute and slightly incurved. The substance is very soft and spongy.
This is especially noticeable when the pileus is soaked in water for a
few minutes.
The hymenial surface is very convex ; the upper surface is usually
plane. The tubes are a little longer than the thickness of the flesh and
unequal, resembling those of a Trametes. The mouths are medium and
angular. The tubes are grayish brown within ; the mouths are a little
darker than the pileus.
This species is a little softer than P. rutilans, its nearest ally, and
P. gilvus, some forms of which it resembles ; besides it has larger pores
than either of these species.
Syn.: Hapalopilus nidulans (Fr.) Karst.; 13, 3, p. 18.
i Hapalopilus rutilans (Pers.) Murr.; 19, 31, p. 416.
THE POL7PORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Polyporus radiatus Sowerby.
Pileus corky, coriaceous, rigid, radiately wrinkled; at first velvety,
tawny; afterward glabrate, ferruginous-brown; margin spreading, re-
pand. Pores minute, pallid silvery-shining, at length ferruginous.
Common in the northern part of the state on old maple and elm logs.
Collected at Star Lake, Crandon, Ladysmith, Shanagolden, on maple
and elm logs, and at Bangor on broken alder trunks ; at Sparta on birch
trunks.
Variable. Usually effuso-reflexed, imbricated and laterally conflu-
ent. The rigid pilei are reflexed about 1 to 3 cm. Those collected on
the alder at Bangor are flabellif orm measuring about 3 cm. in width
and 3.5 cm. in length. The surface is rough, usually glabrate, tawny
yellow when young changing to ferruginous-brown. When dry they
are hard and brittle.
The species may easily be known by the brown radiately-wrinkled
pileus and the silvery sheen of the pores when turned in the
light. Very closely related to P. aureonitens Pat. ; but it is harder and
duller in color.
Syn.: Inonotus radiatus (Sow.) Karat; 13, 3, p. 19; 19, 31, p. 599.
Polystictus radiatus (Sow.) Pr.; 8, p. 565; 26, VI, p. 247.
Polyporus aureonitens Pat. et Pk.
Pileus 6 — 18 cm. broad, rather thick, corky, sessile, variously concres-
cent and imbricated, minutely velvety-pubescent, when young, soon gla-
brate, radiately fibrous-striate, the young plant and growing margin at
first sulphur yellow, then golden tawny, finally tawny-ferruginous.
' ' Generally concrescent, marked with darker lines or zones, somewhat
shiny, substance tawny; pores minute, subrotund, short, ferruginous
with silvery lustre; spores whitish or very pale, yellowish, elliptical,
naviculoid, .2 x 1.6 microns. Birches, alder and maple. August and
September. Belated to P. radiatus; but paler, lineate-zonate and pale
spores. ' 7
Not common. A few small specimens were found near Mud Lake,
Crandon, on birch branches and stump.
The specimens were much imbricated, hard, small, the largest being
about 3 by 2 cm. and 8 mm. in thickness.
The specimens much resemble P. radiatus, but the margin is covered
by a band of bright golden yellow, shining like silk.
This species, as well as the preceding, is placed by Saccardo in the
genus Polystictus, but is here retained in the genus Polyporus because
102 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
of the tough and fleshy character of the pileus, which becomes hard and
corky.
* .*
Polyporus cuticularis Fries.
Pileus thin, spongy, fleshy, later dry, applanate, hirsute and tomen-
tose, rusty-brown becoming blackish, within loosely parallel-fibrous.
Margin fibrous-fimbriate, incurved. Pores longer than the thickness of
the flesh, small, rust-color. Imbricated pilei sometimes growing into
each other. Tomentum strigose or velvety, disappearing at length.
"The pores in fresh specimens/' says Morgan (18, VIII, p. 105),
"are cinereous-pruinose, glittering when turned in the light. Spores
very abundant, Indian yellow, 5.6 microns long."
Not common. A group of specimens was found growing on a poplar
stump near Oak Center in July 1902. The pilei were very much imbri-
cated and at first were confused with those of P. gtivus; however, on
closer examination they appear quite different.
The largest pileus is 7 cm. broad, 4 cm. long, and 2 cm. thick. The pilei
are plane above and convex below. The younger specimens are light-
tawny and covered with a velvety pubescence. When they get older
the pubescence becomes more hispid and the color becomes more fer-
ruginous. The margin is thin but incurved. The flesh is at first soft,
but becomes very hard. It is composed of fibers of a dark ferruginous
color.
The pores are medium, irregular and long ; the spores are produced
in abundance and soon cover the old pileus giving it the characteristic
yellow-rust color.
Easily recognized by the plano-convex pileus, the hispid surface, and
the yellow-rust colored spores which always cover the lower pilei.
Polyporus salignus Fries.
Pilei imbricated, dimidiate, effused, kidney shaped, soft-leathery, ap-
pressed-hairy, whitish, depressed around the wavy, swollen margin or
furrowed. Pores delicate, close, lengthened, sinuous, white.
On old willow trunks.
Not common. A few specimens were found at Sparta on a willow
stump, and one small specimen was found at Star Lake on a poplar log.
The largest of these measured 6 cm. in width, 3 cm. in length and 6 mm.
in thickness.
The specimens are usually imbricated and confluent ; gibbous, with a
concentric depression near the margin. When young the surface is
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 1Q3
covered with a thin appressed pubescence which disappears with age.
The pilei are white when young and soft fleshy; they become grayish
with age and more or less corky. The thin margin is incurved. The
pores are white and small.
Polyporus florif ormis Quel.
Imbricato-multiplex ; pileus tough, fleshy, subcoriaceous, subsessile,
dimidiate, longitudinally radiate-wrinkled, from white to grayish,
sometimes the margin grayish-subzonate, 2 — 3.5 cm. broad ; pores small,
subrotund, then oblong-lacerate or fimbriate, white ; flesh white, rather
bitter or subacid ; spores hyaline, subcylindrical, 4x2 microns ; basidia
clavate 56 x 15 — 20 microns.
On fragments of larch wood near the ground in mountainous re-
gions. Externally resembling P. candidus; also like P. osseus, but its
habit and growth are different and the flesh is never ' ' osseous. ' '
This is a small species plainly belonging to the tribe of the Meris-
moidii. A few specimens were found near Shanagolden in August
1904, and a few on the university grounds, Madison, August 18, 1906,
both specimens were growing on very rotten wood. The largest speci-
mens are 2 cm. long and 2 cm. wide ; pure white. When moist, tough,
fleshy, soft. When dry they become hard and brittle. Not all the
specimens are radiately wrinkled nor are they all grayish-subzonate
near the margin, but this may be because our specimens are young and
rather immature.
Closely related to P. osseus, but smaller and more imbricated.
Polyporus osseus Kalchb.
Imbricated, multipileate, white ; pilei variously formed, nearly dimi-
diate, concave or depressed, variously confluent, elastic, tough, later
firm, glabrate, smooth, white within. Stipes short, out of a common
bulb. Pores decurrent, small, later torn, discolored.
Rare. Found only once growing out of the top of a pine stump.
The specimens are immature. The largest pileus was 5 cm. broad and
7 cm. long. The average thickness is about 1.5 cm. They are pale
greyish-white, but darkened a little when dry. When fresh they are
fleshy-tough, elastic, heavy like putty. When dry they are hard and
heavy. The surface is smooth, and the margin slightly incurved. The
spores are small, white; tubes short. Stipe very short, thick.
Easily distinguished by the heavy, elastic substance of the pileus.
104 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Polyporus distortus Schw.
Pileus rather fleshy, circular, often aborted and very irregular or
entirely resupinate, alutaceous to whitish ; flesh white ; pores decurrent,
snow white, variable in size.
Localities, Algoma (Dodge) and the Dells.
Polyporus sulphureus (Bull.) Fries (Plate XII, fig. 40).
Cespitose, multiple, moist, cheesy; pileoli very wide, imbricate and
undulate, smoothish, yellow with a tinge of red; pores small, plane,
sulphur-yellow ; pores ovoid, papillate 7x5 microns.
Peck (22, 48, p. 301) describes the species in the following manner:
" Pileus broad, somewhat irregular and wavy, growing in tufts and
closely overlapping each other, uneven, reddish or orange color when
young and fresh, fading with age, flesh white ; tubes very small, short,
sulphur yellow; spores elliptical, white, .0003 inches long, . In
using the sulphury Polyporus for food, only the young and fleshy grown
caps were taken. These thinly sliced and fried in butter were much
better than I expected to find them. Mature specimens would prob-
ably be tough, dry, disagreeable and indigestible."
"Specimens when dried," says Massee (17, p. 240)," are often more
or less incrusted with a deposit of crystals of binoxalate of potash. ' '
The species is quite common all over the state, growing on old logs
and stumps of various trees, as well as from trunks of living oaks and
maples. Specimens have been collected at Madison, Horicon, Bangor,
Elkhorn, Algoma, Milwaukee, Hazelhurst, Star Lake, Blanchardville,
Crandon and Shanagolden. Specimens can be collected from June to
September. Tufts have been found with a diameter of 40 cm. The in-
dividual pilei may grow to 10 cm. in width, 15 cm. in length and 1 to
2cm. in thickness. The color is sometimes sulphur yellow, sometimes
orange-red. The pores are always yellow when mature, whitish when
young. This color soon fades on drying and the whole plant takes on
on a pallid wood color. The substance on drying becomes brittle and
corky.
The species attacks living oak, maple and hickory trees. It enters
the tree through wounds or exposed roots. It spreads chiefly through
the heart- wood upward as well as downward. However, a tree infected
may live many years. An oak tree near the Northwestern tracks near
Bangor had several pilei growing from the broken ends of exposed
roots.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 1Q5
Polyporus imbricatus (Bull.), Polyporus anax and P. Berkeleyi Fr.
are near relatives, but the sulphur polypore can always be distinguished
by the yellow and orange colors.
Syn.: Polypilus sulpJiureus (Fr.) Karst.; 13, 3, p. 17.
Laetiporus speciosus (Batarr.) Murr. ; 19, 31, p. 607.
Polyporus anax Berk (Plate XII, fig. 41).
Intricately branched; branches passing over into variously formed
pileoli, of various sizes, imbricate and confluent, obscurely gray or lead-
color, sometimes subtomentose and fibrillose; pores white, variously
formed, generally large and angular ; flesh coriaceous, fragile when dry
with the odor of anise.
Peck (22, 51, p. 299) says that this species is often confused with
P. intybaceus, and that the spores of P. intybaceus are described as
elliptic or ovoid, while those of P. anax are globose. Mcllvaine
(16 p. 482). gives the spores of P. anax as ' ' subelliptic, 7 — 8 microns
long. ' ' The fresh spores in our specimens are globose and 5 microns in
diameter.
At the base of an oak stump on a lawn in Madison. Tuft 40 cm. by
25 cm. high ; largest pileolus 15 cm. broad, 20 cm. long, 9 mm. thick
The pileoli grow densely imbricated, branching out from a common
massive stalk, the pilei thin, flabellate, white underneath,* dirty- white,
grayish-pruinose above; glabrate or finely tomentose, more or less
wrinkled and rough. Substance white, fibrous, leathery, becomes
brittle when dry. Pores small, dissepiments thin, white ; spores white,
globose, with a single large oil drop.
This species differs from P. frondosus in its larger and broader pilei
and the larger pores and globose spores, and from P. intybaceus in
its globose spores and the color of the pores.
Polyporus frondosus Fries (Plate XII, fig. 43) ..
Very much branched, fibrous, fleshy, rather tough; pileoli very nu-
merous, dimidiate, rugose, lobed, intricately recurved, smoky-gray;
stems white, growing into each other; pores very small, acute, white
round, or torn when in an oblique position.
Growing in large tufts from 15 to 30 cm. in diameter ; the pileoli 2 to
3 cm. broad and 2 to 3 cm. in length ; the thickness varying from 5 to
12 mm. ; the tubes about one-third as long as the thickness of the flesh.
Not as common as P. sulpJiureus. Specimens have been found near
106 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Madison growing at the base of a living oak tree ; at Blue Mounds and
at Crandon, growing on the roots of small tamaracks. Most of the
specimens are some shade of gray, but sometimes they are while
throughout.
P. frondosus differs from the other white Merismatae in the abund-
ant branching and interlacing of the stems. The substance of the stems
and pileoli is soft leathery and tough. When young and growing vig-
orously the pileoli are not rugose but smooth.
The pores are snow-white, delicate, as large as those of P. sulpliureus,
and usually lacerate. The pilei are attached laterally to the stipe and
thus differ from those of P. umbellatus.
Syn.: Grifolia frondosa (Dicks.) S. F. Gray; 19, 31, p. 336.
Polypilus froiidosus (Dicks.) Karst. ; 13, 3, p. 17.
Polyporus umbellatus (Pers.) Fr.
Pilei numerous, more or less depressed, umbilicate, 1 to 4 cm. in di-
ameter, entire, or the larger ones lobed and cut, of fibrous-fleshy sub-
stance, somewhat tough, united to form tufts one span high. Stems
lengthened, separate but united at the base, white like the small un-
equal pores. On the ground under deciduous trees and at the base of
trunks.
Not common. One tuft was collected by Mr. B. 0. Dodge near Al-
goma. It measures about 10 cm. in diameter, and is made up of nu-
merous small more or less central-stemmed pileoli. These pileoli are
thin, umbilicate, more or less circular and measure about 2 to 2.5 cm.
in diameter. The stipes vary from 5 to 8 cm. in length and from about
5 to 8 mm. in thickness. When dry the whole plant is of a brownish-
gray color. It has also been found at Devils Lake and Parfrey's Glen.
The species is closely related to P. frondosus, with which it is some-
times confused. However, it can easily be distinguished from that
species by the fact that the pileoli are more or less central-stemmed and
umbilicate.
Syn.: Grifolia ramosissima (Scop.) Murr.; 19, 31, p. 336.
Boletus umbellatus Pers. ; 23, p. 519.
Polyporus cristatus (Pers.) Fr.
Branching, fleshy-solid, fragile ; pilei entire and dimidiate, imbricate,
depressed, subpulverulent-villous, finally rimose scaly, greenish tawny ;
stipes, connate irregular, white; pores minute, angular and lacerate,
whitish.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 107
Specimens from Horicon and Blue Mounds. Largest specimen 12
<?m. long and wide, 1.5 cm. thick.
Polyporus graveolens Schweintz (Plate XIII, fig. 44).
Corky or woody, extremely hard, very closely imbricated and con-
nate forming a subglobose or polycephalous mass. Pileoli innumer-
able, inflexed, appressed, plicate, brown. Pores concealed, very mi-
nute, round, pale brown ; dissepiments thick and obtuse. In woods, on
old dead trunks.
As I have not seen any fresh specimens of this species, I subjoin Mr.
Morgan 's observations : * ' This remarkable fungus consists of innumer-
able pileoli forming a subglobose or elongated mass 3 — 6 inches in di-
ameter and often many inches in length especially on standing trunks.
When fresh and growing it has a varnished or resinous appearance and
often purplish or reddish tints with a paler margin. Substance within
ferruginous, rather soft and floccose, but covered by a very hard brown
crust. The pores are brown, but lined by an extremely minute, white
pubescence. Pileoli so closely imbricate and appressed as almost to en-
tirely to conceal the pores. I am unable to separate from this P. con-
globatus of Berkeley ; this latter, Fries states to be a species of Trametes
(Nov. Symb., p. 67) while he refers Polyporus graveolens to the Meris-
moidii (1. c. p. 62.) It is called "Sweet Knot" by the people, but I
am unable to verify the poplar notion concerning the wonderful fra-
grance perceptible at a great distance from the tree on which it grows.
When fresh it has a strong disagreeable odor, as described by Schwein-
itz."
Localities: Mauston (Dodge). This specimen is about 7cm in di-
ameter. The pileoli are very closely imbricated and measure about
1 to 2 cm. in width and 2 to 2.5 cm. in length. They are glabrate,
smooth, and covered with a hard, dark-brownish crust. The interior
is hard ferruginous-brown, floccose. The tubes are very small and
short. The specimen gives out a faint sweet odor.
The distinguishing characteristics are the closely imbricated pilei
forming a more or less globular mass, the short pores and the sweet
odor of the substance.
Syn. : Glolifomes graveolens (Schw.) Murr. ; 19, 31, p. 424.
Polyporus conglobatus Berk.
Fomes graveolens (Schw.) Cooke.; 11, 13, p. 118 (1884) ; 15,
p. 20
108 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Polyporus volvatus Peck (Plate XIII, fig. 45).
Stfbglobose, fleshy, firm, smooth, flattened behind, and apparently
sessile, but usually attached to the matrix by a small point, whitish,
more or less tinged with yellow, red or reddish brown, the cuticle con-
tinuous, completely covering the hymenium like a coriaceous volva, at
length, rupturing below, revealing the hymenium ; pores long, whitish,
minute, punctiform, the mouths yellowish, with a tinge of cinnamon;
flesh white ; spores elliptical, flesh-colored, 7.6 to 8.9 microns long by 5
microns broad.
This most peculiar and most interesting little fungus has been found
only a few times in the northern part of the state on white and red
pines, both living and dead. Our specimens were gathered in Oneida
county near Hazelhurst. Most of the dead standing trunks of red
pine, about 1 to 1.25 feet in diameter showed this fungus. Two speci-
mens were taken from a living white pine which was 2 feet in diameter,
and several were taken from a living red pine which was 11 inches in
diameter. The dead red pine from which most of the specimens were
taken had been killed by a fire the year before. On each tree infected
there were a large number of pilei growing out of the trunk from a few
feet above the ground to at least 100 feet up. It is not probable that all
of the pilei came from one center of infection; it is more likely that
each is the result of a separate infection. Most of the pilei grew out
of holes in the bark made by bark-borers.
The cuticle and the substance of the pileus is like that of P. betu-
linus. The hymenium, at first yellowish-brown, soon becomes pale
cinnamon. The tubes are long, their length exceeding the thickness of
the flesh. The pores are small, round, equal, and obtuse. The most
interesting and distinguishing feature of the species is the volva. This
is formed by the continuation of the cuticle, thus completely envelop-
ing the whole specimen, tubes and all. When mature, the volva breaks
down, forming an oval opening for the exit of the rust-colored spores
which sometimes form a small conical heap on the inner side of the
volva.
Largest specimen 2 cm. broad and 1.25 cm. long. The tubes were
8 mm. long ; the white flesh 5 mm. thick ; and the cavity formed be-
tween the pores and volva was 4 mm. in depth.
Syn.: Cryptoporus volvatus (Peck) Shear; 19, 30, pp. 423-424; 19,
32, p. 490.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 1Q9
Polyporus betulinus Fries. (Plate XIII, fig. 46).
Pilei circular, hoof or kidney-shaped, with obtuse margin, the base
narrowed into a short stipe, fleshy becoming corky, azonate, glabrate
covered with a thin separable brownish to brownish-red cuticle, size
variable. Pores short, small, unequal, white, separable when old.
On trunks of Betula.
The birch polypore is one of the commonest of polypores wherever
the birch grows. It is found on living as well as dead birch. Locali-
ties: Lake Superior region (Cheney), Star Lake, Shanagolden, Cran-
don, Ladysmith, Sparta and Bangor.
Largest specimen measured 24 cm. in width, 14 cm. in length and
3 cm. in thickness. It was kidney-shaped and showed the short thick,
curved stem so peculiar to the species.
The substance when fresh is white, soft cheesy-fleshy, but becomes
soft-corky on maturing and drying. The pilei are usually more or less
circular, umbonate and hoof-shaped. The obtuse margin is incurved,
and projects all around beyond the pores. The pores are at first white
but darken somewhat on maturing. From the hymenium project nu-
merous spines, thus giving it a bristly appearance. The cuticle is usu-
ally of a grayish color, darkening with age. Sometimes there are
darker colors on the top of the pileus.
This fungus produces a white-rot in the wood of the birch. Infec-
tion probably occurs by the spores lodging in the cracks of the bark.
Syn. : Piptoporus suberosus (L.) Murr. ; 19, 30, p. 425.
Piptoporus betulinus (L.) Karst. ; 13, 3, p. 17.
Polyporus hispidellus Peck.
Pileus fleshy, tough, dimidiate, pale fawn-colored or grayish-brown,
clothed with short stiff hairs, flesh white ; pores small, short, subrotund,
white, the dissepiments thin, the edge uneven, dentate or lacerate ; stem
short, lateral, solid, often irregular, clothed like the pileus ; spores fusi-
form 12.5 microns long and 4 microns broad.
Locality: Star Lake. The pileus has a very bitter taste. It is
grayish-brown on top, with a tawny hymenium. The pileus measures
5 cm. long and 7 cm. broad with an average thickness of about 7 mm.
The surface is rough with short hairs. The pores are medium, equal,
toothed and somewhat decurrent. The stipe is excentric, unequal,
bent, a little lighter than the pileus, measuring about 7 cm. long and
1 to 1.5 cm thick. The substance of the pileus is somewhat fleshy but
is thin and brittle when dry.
HO THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Polypoms arcularius (Batsch) Fries.
Pileus coriaceous, tough, convex, subumbilicate, zonate, brown scaly
at first, then glabrous, yellowish, the margin strigose ; the stipe short,
slightly squamulose, brownish ; pores oblong, . thin, entire, whitish,
fairly large ; spores 3 by 8 microns.
Macbride (15, p. 30) says of them "Lignatile, not rare in early sum-
mer in wooded regions, easy to recognize by the depressed pileus, thin
context and large rhomboidal pores at first whitish then on drying yel-
lowish."
Quite common on sticks and logs in the woods. Localities : Madison,
Horicon, Oakfield, Bangor, Crandon and Ladysmith. The largest had
a diameter of 3 cm. ; the stipe 4 cm. in length and 4 mm. in diameter.
The length of the stipe varies from 1 to 5 cm.
The species is very closely related to P. brumalis from which it is
not always easy to separate it. It is usually lighter in color, thinner
and more depressed in the center than P. brumalis. Its most distinc-
tive features are the large rhomboidal pores and its prevailing occur-
ence in spring and early summer. P. lentus Berk., is very much like P.
arcularius, but its pores are white, roundish or subquadrate and much
more decurrent, running soemtimes down to the base.
The stem may be excentric but is usually central.
The specimen in North American Fungi agrees well with ours but
the C. A. F. specimen no. 58 is a little darker.
Polyporus brumalis Fries (Plate XIII, fig. 47).
Pileus 3 to 12 cm. across, thin, pliant, then coriaceous and rigid,
more or less umbilicate, during the first year umber and densely vil-
lous, in the second year minutely scaly, becoming smooth, and paler;
pores shallow, large, angular, and usually elongated radially, white,
then yellowish, dissepiments thin, very minutely toothed at the margin ;
stem colored like the pileus, velvety or squamulose, spores colorless, lin-
ear oblong, sometimes slightly curved, 5 to 6 by 2 microns.
Winter characterizes the species as follows: "A very variable species,
and hence having many synonyms which are in part doubtful. It ap-
pears that the well marked form characterized by small roundish ob-
tuse pores — Polyporus tomentosus Rostk., in Sturm, Deutschl. Flora
3, p. 25, Taf . 13, and Polyporus trachypus Rostk., (1. c. p. 27, Taf. 14)
belong to P. brumalis, while P. intermedius Rostk., (1. c. IV. Bd., p. 69,
Taf. 33) and P. alveolarius Rostk., (1. c. 27/28 Heft, p. 29, Taf. 15) had
better be referred to P. arcularius Batsch." (28, p. 450.)
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Quite common in fall and late summer growing on railroad ties, fal-
len branches in the woods and decayed logs and fence posts. Localities :
Bangor, Sparta, Milwaukee, Madison, Elkhorn, Crandon and Star
Lake. The largest specimen was 7 cm. in diameter with a stipe 2 cm-
long and 6 mm. thick.
The pileus is usually circular but sometimes irregular and wavy. The
color varies from almost black to yellowish brown. Most of them are
of a dusky brown, often becoming lighter towards the margin. A few
specimens found at Bangor were of a pale cream color.
The stipe is usually short, central or excentric, sometimes scaly but
more generally hirsute. The pores vary in size from very small and
round, to 0.5 mm. in length. When large, they are usually radially
elongated. The species is closely related to P. lentus and P. arcularius.
Both of these have larger pores.
Polyporus lentus Berk. (Plate XIII, fig. 48.)
Pileus fleshy, tough, then coriaceous, umbilicate, minutely scaly ; pale
ochraceous ; stipe short, incurved, hispid, and furfuraceous, concolorous.
Pores decurrent, irregular, white.
Morgan (18, VIII, p. 93) says that the pores are deep, roundish or
subquadrate.
Not common. Blue Mounds (Dodge) on ground; probably growing
on wood underneath. This specimen is Dodge's Polyporus sp.
Largest specimen : diameter 5 cm. ; stipe about 11 cm. long and 5
mm. thick. The substance is leathery-tough, drying hard but rather
fragile. The pores are rather large for a Polyporus, angular or quad-
rate, decurrent upon the stipe. The species seems to be affiliated with
Fomes europeus, but is centrally stiped and the pores are smaller.
Polyporus tomentosus Fries.
Pileus irregular, up to 12 cm. in diameter, often several pilei con-
fluent and imbricated, of corky hard consistency, zoneless. Stipe some-
times central, sometimes lateral, short, colored like the pileus. Porea
small, irregular, obtuse, entire, at first white-pruinose. On the ground
in woods of coniferous trees.
Not common. A few specimens were collected at Brule river, and
some were collected near Shanagolden and Algoma. The largest speci-
men measured about 12 cm. in breadth and 9 cm. in length, with a
thickness of about 10 mm. The stipe is 2 cm. long and 2 cm. thick. In
112 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
color they are paler than P. circinatus and more yellowish. The pilei
are very irregular, from circular to kidney-shaped. Stipe excentric or
lateral, thick and irregular, and attached to twigs and roots in the
ground. The surface is uneven and soft tomentose as is also the stipe.
The pores are medium, irregular, shallow near the sterile margin,
but deeper near the center, pruinose when young.
This species is closely related to P. circinatus but differs in the paler
color, the irregular pileus and the lateral stem.
Syn. : Coltricia tomentosa (Fr.) Murr. ; 19, 31, p. 346.
Polyporus dualis Peck; 22, 30, p. 44.
Polyporus circinatus Fries (Plate XIII, fig. 49.)
Pileus circular, flat, compact, thick, zoneless, velvety, yellowish-
brown, composed of two layers; the lower layer continuous with the
stem and woody to corky, the upper soft, felt-like. Pores decurrent,
small, entire, grayish-brown. Stipe thick, inflated, colored like the
pileus, velvety.
On the ground, under conifers.
Not common. Localities: Star Lake, Brule river (Overton) and
Crandon.
Largest specimen 8 cm. in diameter and 1.5 cm. thick. The stipe is
irregular, about 2 cm. long and 1 to 1.5 cm. thick. Both stipe and pileus
are yellowish-brown, a little paler than Polystictus perennis. The
small, somewhat decurrent pores are grayish-brown.
The chief distinguishing feature is the double-layered pileus. The
upper layer is made of a yellowish-brown soft, felt-like substance which
is thicker near the somewhat depressed center. The lower layer is of
a brownish-wood-color, hard and corky. In general appearance it re-
sembles a young P. perennis, but is larger, thicker and with smaller
pores.
Polyporus Schweinitzii Fries (Plate XIV, fig. 50).
Pileus 15 to 22 cm. broad, rugged strigoso-tomentose, scrupose, dark-
brown with ferruginous tinge, flesh thick, spongy and soft, fibrous
bright brown, sometimes almost obsolete ; tubes about 6 mm. long, open-
ings large irregular and variable in form, yellow with tinge of green ;
spores elliptical obliquely apiculate, pale yellow 7 to 8 by 4 microns.
"Distinguished from P. Jiispidus, P. spongia, etc., by the central stem
which is however sometimes obsolete; it is never attached by a broad
htteral base." (Massee, 17, p. 231.)
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. H3
Common on pine, spruce and hemlock. Localities : Star Lake, Shana-
golden, and Bangor. The specimens from Bangor were taken in Aug-
ust from the roots of a living white pine ; the rest from stumps or dead
trunks. This species attacks the living trees through the roots, spread-
ing upwards for a short distance. It produces a brown rot, not unlike
that produced by Fomes pinicola, making the wood very brittle, and ul-
timately killing the tree.
The largest specimen found had a diameter of about 30 cm., the flesh
being about 3 cm. thick near the center. The stem is short and thick.
The pileus is rough above, dark brown when dry, lighter when fresh.
The center is usually somewhat depressed. The flesh is of a bright
brown, soft, fibrous and very brittle. The pores are large, yellowish-
brown, decurrent and irregular. When freshly growing the pores are
quite delicate and stain darker where bruised and touched. Wood con-
taining fresh mycelium of this species is phosphorescent.
Syn: Polystictus Schweinitzii (Fr.) Karst. ; 13, 3, p. 18.
Polyporus hispidoides Peck pr. p. ; 22, 33, p. 21.
Romellia sistotremoides (Alb. et Schw.) Murr. ; 19, 31, p. 339.
Polyporus flavovirens B. & Rav.
Pileus soft, irregular, cushion-shaped or depressed, finely tomentose,
yellowish-green ; stipe pale, nearly the same color, thick. Pores irregu-
lar, dissepiments thin, yellow. Pileus 8 to 10 cm. broad, stipe 5 cm.
long, 12 mm. thick. Pores 0.5 mm. broad.
In Grevillea vol. 1, p. 38, the same species is described as follows:
"Pileus irregularly lobed, subreniform, subtomentose dirty yellow
marked with yellowish green zones. Context white. Stipe central and
lateral, same color as pileus. Hymenium yellowish-green, deeply decur-
rent. Pores decurrent angular, irregular, lacerate when old. Related
to P. rufescens. Like P. cristatus."
Most of our specimens came from Blue Mounds. A few were found
on Cradle Bluff, Sparta and at Milwaukee. These agree best with the
second description given above. Their pores are much smaller than
those in the Blue Mounds specimens, and longer.
The largest of our specimens measured about 10 cm. in diameter,
scarcely 1 cm. thick. The stipe is 6 cm. long and 1 cm. thick.
When fresh the color of the pileus varies from creamy-yellow to
greenish-yellow, and they often seem almost glabrous. The margin is
very irregular and lobed, curling downwards on drying. The zones
8
114 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
are not clearly marked. The stipe is thick, irrgeular, excentric. The
pores large, irregular, shallow, decurrent.
The plants grow on the ground usually in groups, often cespitose
and confluent.
When dry the color becomes a dull seal-brown, the hymenium remain-
ing lighter.
Syn. Scutiger radicatus (Schw.) Murr. ; 19, 30, p. 430.
Polyporus squainosus (Huds) Fries (Plate XIV, fig. 51; Plate XV,
fig. 51).
Pileus generally very large (0.5 meter broad,) flabelliform, tough-
fleshy, ochracecous, with broad, appressed, dark colored scales ; stipe
excentric or lateral, thick, reticulated above, becoming black below;
pores thin, at first small, then angular and torn, pale. Spores ovate,
colorless, 12 by 15 microns.
Not common. Localities : Madison, Oakland Park. The largest one
is laterally stiped and is about 23 cm. wide, 14 cm. long and not more
than 1 cm. thick. The stipe is about 4 cm. long and 3 cm. thick. Two
smaller specimens are nearly centrally stemmed, the pileus being some-
what depressed above. The stipes here are cespitose and longer than
in the large specimen — about 4.5 cm. long and 1 cm. thick and are reti-
culated above.
The color is pale ochraceous. The scales are dark-brown and radially
arranged. The margin is thin and curved down. The flesh is thin,
soft and white.
The pores are angular, very shallow in the young specimens, not very
large. In the larger specimens the pores are deeper and look very
much like the pores in Favolus europaeus. At length they become torn,
the dissepiments being very thin.
This species is easily recognized by the large dark-brown scales and
the very large angular pores which are usually decurrent on the short
thick stipe which is more or less reticulated.
Syn. : Boletus Juglandis, Schaeff. ; 27, Taf . 101-102.
Polyporus caudicinus (Scop) Murr.; 19, 31, p. 40.
Polyporus ovinus (Schaeff.) Whit. (Plate XII, fig. 42.)
Pilei very variable in form, compact but fragile, fleshy, when young
smooth, but soon scaly cracked, whitish. Stipe short and thick 2.5 to
3 cm. long, sometimes bulbous, unequal, white. Pores small, round,
equal, at first white then yellowish.
Common at Standing Rock near Kilbourn, September 1910.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. H5
Polyporus radicatus Schw. (Plate XV, fig. 54).
Pileus fleshy-tough, pulvinate, depressed, sooty-pale, sub-tomen-
tose. Stipe excentric, long, tapering downward, rooting, black below.
Pores somewhat decurrent, very large, obtuse, equal white.
In his notes on this species, Morgan (18, VIII, p. 94) says: — "I find
this plant as Berkeley says, of various sizes, from the small plant which
Schweinitz described to five inches or more across with the stipe six
inches or more in length. The long tapering stipe penetrates the earth
several inches the tip always being attached to some portion of an old
root. The pileus is brown or blackish and more or less tomentose ; the
upper part of the stipe is colored like the pileus, whitish at the top ; the
lower rooting portion is black and more or less crooked or deformed.
The pores are very large averaging .65 mm. in diameter. P. Morgani
Frost appears to me to be this plant."
Localities : Madison, Blue Mounds, Milwaukee, White Fish Bay. The
largest specimen found measures 30 cm. in diameter, the pileus being
4 to 5 cm. in thickness. The stem is 14 cm. long, the thickest portion
being 6 cm. in diameter. The black radicating part is 7 cm. long and
tapers irregularly downwards. The pores are angular nearly 1 mm. in
diameter, and 3 to 4 mm. long, turning brown when bruised. The pil-
eus is a bright red-brown in color, finely scaly or subsquamulose. The
margin is thin, recurved. The flesh is white with rather acrid taste.
Its weight when fresh was four and one-half pounds. This is the speci-
men figured.
The species may be easily recognized by the black radicating stipe.
Syn. : Polyporellus brumalis (Pers.) Karst.; 19, 31, p. 33.
Polyporus polyporus (Retz.) Murr. ; 19, 31, p. 33.
Polyporus subradicatus (Murr.) (Plate XIV, fig. 53).
A rather large thin plant with light-brown, almost glabrous, surface,
small white serrated tubes and short black stipe. Pileus irregular in
outline, convex to plane, 12 by 9 by 0.5 cm. ; surface fibrillose, drab-
colored to isabelline; margin very thin, inflexed when young, irregu-
larly undulate at maturity: context fleshy-tough, 1 to 7 mm. thick,
pure milk-white even when dry; tubes mere areoles at first, short and
small at maturity, scarcely 1 mm. in length, 3 to 4 to a mm., decurreut
to the blackened part of the stipe, white, yellowish when dry, mouths
polygonal, regular, at length much elongated by a confluence or other-
wise irregular, edges thin, toothed or fimbriate when mature: spores
116 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
ovate to ellipsoidal, smooth hyaline, not abundant, 3 to 4 by 5 to 7 mic-
stipe short, thick, central, tapering, and attached at the base,
sooty-black up to the pores, 4 by 2.5 cm.; context milk-white, firm,
fleshy-tough, surface minutely tomentose, rugose-reticulate when dry.
Algoma (Dodge,) August 15, 1909. The specimen figured was iden-
tified by Murrill.
Polyporus picipes Fries (Plate XIV, fig. 52).
Pileus fleshy, becoming rigid, thin, glabrous, smooth; depressed be-
hind; stipe excentric or lateral, firm, at first velutinous, then naked,
punctate, black to thin, small, white then yellowish or gilvous.
" Distinguished from Polyporus varius by the even pileus and velvety
stem" (17, p. 235).
Common on willow trunks, living and dead, and on oak and maple
logs. Localities: The Dells (Holden), Blue Mounds, Blanchardville,
Madison, Elkhorn, Horicon, Algoma, Milwaukee, Bangor, Sparta, Cran-
don, Ladysmith, Star Lake, Palmyra, Shanagolden.
The largest specimen 18 cm. in diameter, 1 to 2 mm. thick ; the stipe
4 to 6 cm. long and from 0.5 to 1.5 cm. thick.
The thickness of the pileus is variable. The thinnest pilei are scarcely
1mm. in thickness, and the thickest is 1.2 cm. When dry the pileus is
thin, hard, brittle, dark-brown, with spots or granules; the margin is
sharp, usually undulate and often lobed. Towards the margin the color
becomes lighter, whereas, the disk is almost black.
The color of the hymenium varies from straw-color to dark yellow.
The pores are very small, round, equal ; dissepiments thin ; tubes short,
usually more decurrent on one side of the stipe.
The stipe is thickest at the base ; firm, black, more or less velvety, de-
pending on their age and stage of growth, being more so when young
and growing vigorously; usually punctate.
Distinguished from P. varius by the velvety stipe, the subglobose
spores, and the pileus which in the latter is streaked; P. elegans is
smaller, not depressed and lighter in color.
Polyporus varius (Pers.) Wint.
Pileus variable in form, tough, fleshy soon becoming woody, thin,
smooth, slightly streaked; stipe excentric lateral or wanting, smooth,
becoming grayish-black below. Pores decurrent small, shallow, round
unequal, at first whitish then brownish.
Not rare. Shanagolden, Star Lake and Kewaunee County (Dodge).
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. H7
Polyporus elegans (Bull.) Fries.
Pileus fleshy, but soon hardened, becoming woody, explanate smooth ;
the stipe eccentric, or lateral, glabrate, pallid, becoming abruptly black
below, rooting ; pores small, roundish, even, white, becoming yellowish.
Very common on sticks and twigs buried in the ground or on old logs.
Localities: Algoma, Bangor, Wauwatosa, Madison, Elkhorn, Hazel-
hurst, Oakfield, Crandon and Shanagolden. The species is variable in
shape and size. The largest specimen measured 10 cm. in diameter,
and 8 mm. thick; the stipe is 3 cm. long. The longest stipe measured
was 10 cm. long and 3 mm. thick. The smallest pileus was 8 mm. in
diameter.
The pileus is smooth, thick becoming thin abruptly at the margin.
The shape is variable ; it may be circular and central stiped or irregu-
lar with the stipe excentric, the most usual form ; or it may be flabel-
liform with the stipe lateral. The color varies from a clear cinnamon
brown to a pale grayish-brown. With weathering, the pileus becomes
gray or grayish- white. The pores are quite small and not unlike those
of P. picipes.
Distinguished from P. varius and P. picipes by the smooth thickish
pileus which becomes abruptly thin at the margin, and by the long,
slender stipe.
12. FISTUUNA Bull.
The hymenium is formed on the under surface of a fleshy pileus, at
first warty and then developed into cylindrical tubes. These tubes re-
main free from each other. Somewhat fleshy fungi.
Superficially resembling a Polyporus, but distinguished by the pores,
which are distinct and free from each other ; when young they seem, to
be mere warts, but they lengthen and open up forming cylindrical
tubes.
Fistulina hepatica (Huds.) Fries.
Pileus roundish, dimidiate, or subspatulate, attached by a broad base
or substipitate, blood-red, fleshy and soft, streaked internally ; tubes at
first pallid, then red; spores broadly elliptical, salmon-color, 0.005 to
0.006 mm. by 0.003 to 0.004 mm. Conidia 0.006 to 0.010 mm., by 0.005
mm.
118 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Rare. Only two specimens have thus far been fonnd, one on a log
near Lake Mendota, and one growing from an oak stump near Oak-
field. The larger measured 4 cm. in width and 6 cm. in length, with a
thickness of about 1 cm. Both specimens are subspatulate, attached by
a narrow base. They were old, dry and leathery-tough when collected.
The colors had all changed to dark-reddish-gray. The tubes were dis-
tinct, reddish-brown, about 4 mm. in length and 0.5 mm. in diameter.
The fungus is popularly known by the names Oak-tongue, Chestnut
tongue, Beef -tongue and Beefsteak fungus. It is edible. It can readily
be recognized by the free cylindrical pores.
13. BOLETINTJS Kalchbrenner.
"Hymenophore not even (as in Boletus) but extended in sharp ridges
or lamellae descending like a trama among the tubes. Tubes not easily
separable from the hymenophore and from each other, stem annulate,
spores pale yellowish/' Saccardo, vol. 6, p. 51.
Peck (21, 2, 8, p. 75) gives the following description of this genus:
"Hymenium composed of broader radiating lamellae connected by
very numerous narrower anastomosing branches or partitions and form-
ing large angular pores. Tubes somewhat tenacious, not easily separ-
able from the hymenophore and from each other, adnate or subdecur-
rent, yellowish.'7
Boletinus pictus Peck (Plate XV, fig. 56; Plate XVI, fig. 56.)
"Pileus convex or nearly plane, at first covered with a red fibrillose
tomentum which soon divides into small scales revealing the yellow col-
or of the pileus beneath, flesh yellow, often slowly changing to dull
pinkish or reddish tints where wounded ; tubes tenacious, at first pale-
yellow, becoming darker or dingy ochraceous with age, sometimes
changing to pinkish-brown where bruised, concealed in the young plant
by the copious whitish webby veil; stem equal or nearly so, solid,
slightly and somewhat evanescently annulate, clothed and colored like
or a little paler than the pileus, yellowish at the top ; spores ochraceous,
9 to 11.4 microns long, 4 to 5 microns broad. Pileus 5 to 10 cm. broad;
stem 4 to 9 cm. long, 6 to 13 mm. thick. Woods and mossy swamps."
Common in the northern part of Wisconsin in low grounds and on grav«
elly soil. Localities: Crystal Lake, Crandon, Star Lake, Algoma,
Durward's Glen, Madison, Hazelhurst, etc.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. H9
The largest was 8 cm. in diameter; the stipe 7 cm. long and 1 cm.
thick. The pileus when young is nearly conical, but becomes more
flattened with age; the color is dark red at first, becoming areolate
showing a grayish or yellowish tomentum in the cracks; the margin is
thin, sometimes appendiculate. The pores are large, irregular yellow,
adnate ; spores rust-color.
The veil is flocculose, whitish or grayish, leaving a more or less per-
sistent grayish-white annulus. The stem tapers upward, and is gray
with red-fibrillose scales, tough. The flesh is yellowish, tasteless and
with out any changes in color.
Syn. : Boletus Spraguei B. & C. ; 11, 1, p. 35.
Boletinus decipiens. Peck.
Pileus dry, minutely silky, whitish-yellow or pale buff, 8 mm.
thick; hymenium plane or somewhat concave, yellow, consisting
of large, unequal flexuous radiating tubes resembling multiseptate la-
mellae ; stem equal, solid but spongy ; veil floccose, evanescent, adhering
for a time to the margin of the pileus; spores rather minute, oblong,
ochraceo-ferruginous, 7.6 to 10 microns long, 3.5 to 3.9 microns broad.
Pileus 5 cm. broad ; stem 5 to 7 cm. long, 6 to 8.4 mm. thick.
Collected near Lake Mills in November. I have not seen fresh spe-
cimens. The dried ones are of a dark brown color above and below.
The stem is somewhat flexuous and in some cases excentric. The dis-
tinguishing feature seems to be the large radiating pores which are
scarcely separable from the pileus. The spores are of a brownish rust
color.
There seems to be considerable variation in the color of the pileus as
well as in the size of the pores. One specimen has a sort of rose color,
and several others have a shining almost tan-colored pileus. The pores
in the latter are rich cinnamon in color and quite small.
Boletinus porosus (Berk.) Peck.
Pileus fleshy, viscid when moist, shining, reddish-brown, flesh 6.3 to
19 mm. thick, the margin thin and even ; hymenium porous, yellow,
formed by radiating lamellae one to two mm. distant, branching and
connected by numerous irregular veins of less prominence and forming
large angular pores ; stem lateral, tough, diffused into the pileus, reticu-
lated at the top by the decurrent walls of the tubes, colored like the
pileus ; spores semiovate. Pileus 5 to 10 cm. broad ; stem 12.6 to 35 mm.
long, 8.4 to 12.5 mm. thick.
120 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
This species, which is reported by Bundy under the name Boletus
lateralis, does not seem to be very common. A few specimens were col-
lected by B. 0. Dodge at Algoma, and a few were found at Bangor in
September, '05.
The species grows in low damp ground. The Bangor specimens were
found in a marsh growing under willows. The largest specimen meas-
ured 8 cm. in diameter ; the stipe 3 cm. long and 1 cm. thick. In color
they were of a dull yellowish brown, only slightly viscid.
The species may be easily recognized by the distinctly lateral stipe
and by the prominently radiating lamellae from which the pores are
formed. This feature seems to be the most prominent in B. porosus
and B. paluster Pk.
Boletinus paluster Peck. (Plate XV, fig. 55.)
Pileus thin, broadly convex, plane or slightly depressed, sometimes
with a small umbo, floccoso-tomentose, bright-red; tubes very large,
slightly decurrent, yellow, becoming ochraceous or dingy ochraceous;
stem slender, solid, subglabrous, red, yellowish at the top ; spores pink-
ish-brown, 7.6 to 8.9 microns long, 4 broad.
Pileus 2.5 to 5 cm. broad ; stem 2.5 to 5 cm. long, 4.2 to 6 mm. thick.
Peck (21, 2, 8, p. 78) says further of this plant: "This is a small
but pretty fungus which inhabits cold, mossy swamps and is somewhat
gregarious in its mode of growth. Sometimes it grows on decaying
moss-covered sticks or prostrate trunks. The color of the spores is pe-
culiar, being dull purplish or pinkish-brown, quite unlike that of any
other species. The mouths of the tubes are large for the size of the
plant, and the radiating lamellae are plainly visible. The umbo is
not always present. The red color of the pileus is apt to fade with age
or to become tinged with yellow."
Not common. A few specimens were collected by B. 0. Dodge near
Algoma. The largest specimen is about 5 cm. in diameter. The stipe
is about 3 cm. long by 5 mm. thick. The blood-red color of the pileus
has persisted through the drying, but has perhaps darkened somewhat.
The growing plant may, at a distance, be mistaken for some red-
capped Russula.
The species is easily distinguished by its bright red cap and the prom-
inently radiating lamellae.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 121
14 STROBILOMYCES Berk.
Hymenophore smooth ; Tubules separable with difficulty, large, equal,
pileus and stipe strongly squarrose-scaly, flesh tough.
Strobilomyces strobilaceus Berk, (Plate XXV, fig. 85).
Pileus hemispherical or convex, dry, covered with thick floccose pro-
jecting blackish or blackish-brown scales, the margin somewhat appen-
diculate with scales and fragments of the veil, flesh whitish, changing to
reddish then to blackish where wounded ; tubes adnate whitish, becoming
brown or blackish with age, their mouths large, angular, changing color,
like the flesh; stem equal or tapering upward, sulcate at the top, floc-
cose-tomentose, colored like the pileus, ; spores subglobose, rough, black-
ish-brown, 10 to 12.5 microns long.
Pileus 5 to 10 cm. broad ; stem 5 to 8 cm. long, 8 to 21 mm. thick.
Peck (21, 2, 8, p. 159) makes the following observations on this pecu-
liar species: "This species has a peculiar shaggy appearance by rea-
son of its dense coat of blackish-brown floccose tomentum which separ-
ates into more or less prominent and often angular or pyramidal scales,
especially on the disk. When young the hymenium is concealed by the
floccose whitish veil. Boletus coniferus, B. echinatus and B. squarrosus
Pers. are synonyms of this species. In the description of the last one
Persoon says, 'the long whitish tubes adhere quite firmly to the pileus
but are not connate with it as in Polyporus, thus noting the essential
character of this genus. In some specimens the tubes next the stem
are much larger and more irregular than elsewhere."
Common at Horicon, Madison, Blue Mounds, Devil's Lake, Delafield,
and doubtless throughout the state. Largest specimen 18 cm. in diam-
eter ; the stem 18 cm. in length and 2 cm. thick.
The species is easily recognized by the dry dark pileus covered with
the thick blackish shaggy scales ; the grayish-floccose veil and the whit-
ish pores which become blackish with age or where wounded.
According to Fries, S. floccopus, its nearest ally, is larger and firmer,
and according to Peck the tubes are depressed around the stem.
122 THE POLYPORAVEAE OF WISCONSIN.
15. BOLETUS (Dill.) Linn.
Carpophore consisting of pileus with a central stipe, of fleshy con-
sistency, putrescent. Tubules composing a stratum which is easily
separable from the pileus, and the tubes also easily separable from each
other.
SERIES 1. TEPHROLEUCI. TUBES AT FIRST WHITE OR GRAY.
A. Cariosi. Stipe, not reticulated, cavernous or stuffed within
Tubes white sometimes becoming yellowish.
Boletus castaneus Bull. (Plate XXV, fig. 84).
Pileus convex, nearly plane or depressed, firm, even, dry, minutely
velvety-tomentose, cinnamon or reddish-brown, flesh white, unchange-
able ; tubes free, short, small, white becoming yellow, stem equal or tap-
ering upward, even, stuffed or hollow, clothed and colored like the pi-
leus, spores 10 to 12.5 microns long, 6 to 7.6 microns broad. Pileus 3 to
8 cm. broad ; stem 2.5 to 6 cm. long, 6 to 12 mm. thick.
Peck says, (21, 2, 8 p. 156) : "The pileus and stem are often reddish-
brown or chestnut colored, but sometimes they are paler, inclining to
tawny or cinanmon hues. The thin margin sometimes curves upward
and then dried specimens resemble B. Roxanae. The plant has been re-
corded as edible."
Common everywhere about Madison, Blue Mounds and Devil's Lake.
Found also near Ladysmith, and probably widely distributed in the
state. Largest specimen measuring 10 cm. broad, stipe about 10 cm.
long and about 1 cm. thick. Some stems are hollow and some stuffed.
Occasionally the plants are cespitose, making 'groups of two or three or
more.
On drying, the thin margins of most specimens curve upward, espe-
cially in older specimens. The pores in most specimens are scarcely
medium, more or less free, yellowish or reddish-yellow in color. The
tubes are usually short but become longer and larger with age. In old
specimens the color of the tubes becomes almost cinnamon.
The species may be recognized by its color, its cavernous or stuffed
stem and the thin, up curving margin.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 123
Boletus cyanescens Bull.
Pileus convex or nearly plane, opaque, floccose-squamose or covered
with an appressed tomentum, pale-buff, grayish-yellow, alutaceous or
somewhat brown, flesh rigid, white, quickly changing to blue where
wounded; tubes free, white, becoming yellowish, the mouths minute,
round, changing color like the flesh, stem ventricose, villose-pruinose,
stuffed, becoming cavernous, contracted and even at the top, colored
like the pileus; spores subelliptical 10 to 12.5 microns long, 6 to 7.5
microns broad. Woods and open places.
Localities : Hazelhurst, Crandon, Star Lake, Shanagolden, and Blue
Mounds. The largest measured about 9 cm. in diameter ; the stipe was
8 cm. long, and 2 cm. thick. The color was grayish-yellow throughout,
flesh whitish. The flesh, tubes and stipe change color immediately on
being touched. At first the injured spot becomes pale violet, then red-
dish violet, then of a deep prussian blue. This blue finally fades to a
pale greenish-yellow and sometimes disappears entirely.
This species is easily recognized by the color changes and the cavern-
ous stuffed stipe.
B. Hyporhodii. Tubes adnate, whitish, becoming flesh-colored from
the spores.
Boletus felleus Bull. (Plate XXIV, fig. 83; Plate XXV, fig. 83.)
Pileus convex or nearly plane, firm, becoming soft, glabrous, even,
variable in color, pale-yellowish, grayish-brown, yellowish-brown, red-
dish-brown or chestnut, flesh white, often changing to flesh-color where
wounded, taste bitter ; tubes adnate, long, convex, depressed around the
stem, their mouths angular, white becoming tinged with flesh-color;
stem variable, equal or tapering upward, short or long, sometimes bul-
bous or enlarged at the base, subglabrous, generally reticulated above,
colored like or a little paler than the pileus; spores oblong-fusiform,
flesh-colored, 12.6 to 17.6 microns long, 4 to 5 microns broad.
Quite common in summer; the largest and most abundant species
about Madison, usually in openings in the woods. Peck (21, 2, 8, p.
154) says it is easily recognized by its bitter taste. Many of our speci-
mens have a mild taste, while others are quite bitter, but they all agree
well with the description otherwise. When dry, the grayish-brown cut-
icle becomes brittle. The flesh remains whitish and is soft and cottony
when dry. The tubes change to a rust color when wounded; the flesh
is unchangeable.
124 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
The largest measures about 12 cm. in width ; the stem 6 to 10 cm. in
length and 2.5 cm. thick.
Localities: Milwaukee, Madison, Horicon, Blue Mounds, Sparta,
Crandon and Hazelhurst, A few specimens were found growing on de-
cayed wood at Crandon. These were small and had a very bitter taste.
The variety obesus occurs also but is rarer. It is much larger than
the ordinary species. The stem is sometimes over 3 cm. thick and is
reticulated nearly or quite to the base.
Boletus indecisus Peck (Plate XXVI, fig. 82.)
Pileus convex or nearly plane, dry, slightly tomentose, ochraceous-
brown, often wavy or irregular on the margin, flesh white, unchange-
able ; taste mild ; tubes nearly plane or convex, adnate, grayish, becom-
ing tinged with flesh-color when mature, changing to brownish where
wounded, their mouths small, subrotund; stem minutely furfuraceous,
straight or flexuous, reticulated above, pallid without and within;
spores oblong brownish flesh-color, 12.5 to 15 microns long, 4 microns
broad.
Pileus 8 to 10 cm. broad ; stem 5 to 10 cm. long, 8 to 12 mm. thick.
This fungus bears some resemblance to B. felleus but Professor Peck
says that the mild taste and darker colored spores will separate it from
that species, while the stem which is slightly reticulated above distin-
guishes it from B. alutarius.
Localities: Blue Mounds, Wauwatosa. The cap is about 9 cm. in
diameter. The stipe 12 cm. long and 1 cm. thick ; it is only very slightly
reticulated above.
Boletus gracilis Peck.
Pileus convex, glabrous or minutely tomentose, rarely squamulose,
ochraceous-brown, tawny-brown or reddish-brown, flesh white; tubes
plane or convex, depressed around the stem, nearly free, whitish, be-
coming pale flesh-colored, their mouths subrotund ; stem long, slender,
equal or slightly tapering upward, pruinose or minutely furfuraceous,
even or marked by slender elevated anastomosing lines which form long
narrow reticulations ; spores subf erruginous, 12.5 to 17 microns long, 5
to 6 microns broad.
Pileus 2.5 to 5 cm. broad; stem 8 to 12 cm. long, 4 to 8 mm. thick.
Woods.
"The slender habit," says Peck, "separates this species from all the
others here included in this tribe [HyporJiodii]. Its spores are not a
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 125
clear incarnate in color but incline to dull ferruginous and by this
character, this and the preceding species (B. conicus Rav.) connect this
tribe with the Versipelles. In color B. gracilis resembles some forms of
B. felleus, but in size, habit and color of spores it is easily distinct. The
tomentum of the pileus sometimes breaks into tufts or squamules. This
is Boletus vinaceus Frost MS."
Two specimens were found near Stone Lake. They were at first
mistaken for a slender form of B. felleus. It seems that this species
bears the same relation to B. felleus, that B. albellus bears to B. scaber.
The pileus is 5 cm. in diameter ; the stem is 14 cm. long, 8 mm. thick,
The pileus is convex above and below brownish-ochraceous, slightly
tomentose, margin obtuse. The tubes were free, whitish, becoming pale
flesh-colored, their mouths medium, roundish, the spores ferruginous,
the stipe long and slender, with slightly anastomosing ridges and pale-
brownish or fibrous context, forms the most available character for
identifying the species.
Boletus nigrellus Peck.
Pileus broadly convex or nearly plane, dry, subglabrous, blackish,
flesh soft, white, unchangeable; tubes plane or convex, adnate, some-
times slightly depressed around the stem, their mouths small, subrotund,
whitish, becoming flesh-colored, slowly changing to brown or blackish
where wounded ; stem short, even, colored like or a little paler than the
pileus; spores dull flesh-colored, 10 to 12.5 microns long, 5 to 6 microns
broad. Pileus 8 to 16 cm. broad ; stem 3.5 to 6 cm. long, 12 to 24 mm.
thick.
Peck (21, 2, 8, p. 155) says: "The blackish color of the pileus dis-
tinguishes this species. From B. alboater Schw., the adnate, flesh-col-
ored tubes will separate it. The surface of the pileus sometimes becomes
rimose-areolate. ' ' Mcllvaine adds : ' ' Another distinguishing mark from
B alboater Schw., is the velvety pileus of the latter. B. nigrellus is mild
in taste and smell and an excellent species for the table."
Collected at Devil's Lake August 15, 1906. Largest specimen 15 cm.
broad; stipe 8 cm. long, 2 cm. thick. Pileus fuliginous, very finely
tomentose, margin slightly incurved. Pores subadnate, sordid, later
pink flesh-color, changing to dark on wounding. Spores oblique-apicu-
late, twice as long as broad. Stem equal, slightly radicating at the base,
very finely wrinkled, dark fuliginous, solid, fleshy. Flesh spongy, soft,
sordid slowly changing to bluish then blackish. In this respect our
specimens differ from the description, and therefore their reference to
126 THE POLTPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
this species may be doubtful. When preserved in alcohol the whole
plant turns black and the alcohol is also blackened.
C.Versipelles. Pores small, round, free. Spores ferruginous.
Boletus versipellis Fries (Plate XXIII, fig. 81).
Pileus convex, dry, at first compact and minutely tomentose, then
squamose or smooth, reddish or orange-red, the margin appendiculate
with the inflexed remains of the membranous veil, flesh white or grayish ;
tubes at first concave or nearly plane, almost or quite free, minute, sor-
did-white, their mouths gray; stem equal, or tapering upward, solid,
rugose-squamose, whitish or pallid ; spores oblong-fusiform, 13.8 to 17.6
microns long, 4 to 7 microns broad.
Pileus 5 to 15 cm. broad ; stem 8 to 12.5 cm. long, 8 to 21 mm. thick.
Woods and open places, especially in sandy soil.
Peck (21, 2, 8, p. 147,) says: "The fragments of the membranous veil,
which adhere to the margin of the pileus afford the most available char-
acter by which to separate this species from Boletus scaber. The pre-
vailing reddish or orange hue of the pileus scarcely differs from that
of var. aurantiacus of that species. In American specimens the stem is
precisely alike in both species. Fries says that the two appear to be
distinct but are defined with difficulty on account of analogy in color
and variation in stature. It is recorded as edible, but Gillet says it is
scarcely to be recommended."
Specimens were collected near Milwaukee, Hazelhurst, Star Lake and
Crandon. At the latter place it was the commonest type growing on the
sandy banks around Sand Lake, just at the margin of the mixed forest.
In the largest specimen measured, which was, however, too badly in-
fected to be collected, the pileus was 18 cm. in diameter and 3 cm. thick ;
the stipe was 16 cm. long and 3.5 cm. thick. This was an exceptionally
large one. The usual measurements are 5 to 8 cm. broad; stipe 8 cm-
long and 2 cm. thick.
The pileus is usually of a dull reddish-orange, tomentose; the mar-
gin appendiculate ; the tubes depressed around the stipe, sordid- white,
small, changing first to dark-blue then inky black when bruised, how-
ever, this change is not always marked. It is more noticeable in young
specimens. The stipe is very thick, white, black-punctate, scabrous
like B. scaber. The flesh of the stipe changes color like the pores.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 127
Boletus scaber Fries
Pileus convex, glabrous, viscid when moist, at length rugulose or riv-
ulose ; tubes free, convex, white, then sordid, their mouths minute, ro-
tund ; stem solid, attenuated above, roughened with fibrous scales ; spores
oblong-fusiform, snuff-brown, 13.8 to 17.6 microns long, 4 to 5 microns
broad.
"Pileus 2.5 to 12.5 cm. broad; stem 8 to 12.5 cm. long, 6 to 16.8 mm.
thick. Woods, swamps and open places."
This seems to be the most common Boletust it having been found at
every place in the state where fungi have been collected. It is also the
most variable in size. Pilei have been found measuring from 3 to 20
cm. in diameter ; the stipes varying from 7 to 17 cm. in length and from
1 to 2.5 cm. in thickness. They are usually smooth and dry, but in
rainy or moist weather they may be quite viscid.
The varieties aurantiacus, fuscus and mutabilis are also represented.
In the first the pileus is "orange or orange red." In the second the
pileus is ' ' brown or dark-brown, ' ' and in the third, ' ' the flesh changes
slightly to brown or pinkish where wounded."
Boletus albellus Peck.
Pileus convex or gibbous, soft, glabrous, whitish, flesh white, un-
changeable ; tubes convex, free or nearly so, small, subrotund, whitish,
unchangeable ; stem glabrous or minutely f urf uraceous, substriate, bul-
bous or thickened at the base, whitish ; spores brownish-ochraceous, 13.8
to 16.3 microns long, 5 to 6.3 microns broad.
"Pileus 2.5 to 5 cm. broad; stem 2.5 to 5 cm. long, 6 to 12 mm. thick.
Woods."
This is closely related to B. scaber, of which it may possibly prove
to be a dwarf form ; but it is easily distinguished by its smpoth or only
slightly scurfy and sub-bulbous stem. It shows no sign of the colored
dot-like squamules which are a constant and characteristic feature of
that species (21, 2, 8, p. 149).
Collected in the Stone Lake region near Crandon. Largest specimen
was 5 cm. in diameter ; the stipe 7 cm. long and 1 cm. thick. Another
specimen had a stipe that was nearly 14 cm. long; this specimen grew
among tall grass in the woods. The pileus was whitish to grayish tan,
slightly tomentose. The pores were free, small, roundish, white. The
stipe tapers upwards, is whitish, appressed-scabrous. The flesh is whit-
ish, unchangeable. The species looks like a small, pale form of Boletus
scaber.
128 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Boletus chromapes Frost.
Pileus convex or nearly plane, slightly and sometimes fasciculately
tomentose, pale-red, flesh white, unchangeable; tubes subadnate, more
or less depressed around the stem, white or whitish, becoming brown;
stem equal or slightly tapering upward, scabrous-punctate, whitish or
pallid, chrome-yellow at the base both without and within, sometimes
reddish above; spores oblong, 11 to 14 microns long, 4 to 5 microns
broad.
Pileus 5 to 10 cm. broad ; stem 5 to 10 cm. long, 8 to 12 mm. thick.
Woods.
A number of specimens of this species were found near Carr Lake in
an old tote- way, and Mr. Dodge finds it also near Algoma. The largest
specimen was about 5 cm. in diameter, 1 to 1.4 cm. thick; the stipe was
4 cm. long and nearly 1 cm. thick. The pileus was rose-color on top and
slightly viscid when moist. The flesh was white and unchangeable ; the
tubes white, subfree, small, changing to pinkish then sordid when
bruised. The stipe is even, slightly scabrous, whitish, chrome-yellow at
the base. This color at the base seems to be constant in the old as well
as the very young specimens and hence is one of the best characters by
which the species may be identified.
D. Favosi. Pores large, angular, unequal, adnate, depressed.
Boletus viscidus Linn. (Plate XVI, fig. 57).
Pileus pulvinate, soft, glabrous, viscid, dirty-yellow, veil subannu-
late, lacerate, white, subappendiculate ; stipe viscous, white, becoming
yellow, base thickened, reticulated above; tubules adnate, pores large,
unequal, greenish.
In deciduous forests. Pileus 5 to 10 cm. broad; spores black to fus-
cous.
"Linnaeus' name is appropriate, for not only is the pileus viscid but
the stipe and veil become dissolved in viscous gluten. B. larfcinus is a
related form. The pores are radially elongated and smaller than in
B. laricinus." (9, p. 78).
Specimens of this Boletus are every summer abundantly found on the
University grounds at Madison. The largest is about 8 cm. in diameter ;
the stipe about 6 cm. long. The chief peculiarities of this species are the
radially elongated pores, the thick gluten of the pileus and stipe and
the dirty-yellow color. Sometimes there is a livid or greenish tinge to
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 129
the whole plant which is quite persistent even in drying. More often
parts of the pileus and stipe are stained quite a bright green. The fig-
ure in Fries' Icones agrees very well with our specimens.
Boletus Elbensis Peck.
Pileus convex, glabrous, viscid when moist, dingy-gray or pinkish-
gray inclining to brownish, obscurely spotted or streaked as if with
patches of innate fibrils, flesh white; tubes at first whitish, becoming
dingy or brownish-ochraceous, nearly plane, adnate or slightly decur-
rent, rather large, angular ; stem nearly equal, annulate, whitish above
the annulus, colored like the pileus below, sometimes slightly reticulated
at the top ; spores ferruginous-brown, 10 to 12.6 microns long, 4 to 5
microns broad.
Pileus 5 to 10 cm. broad ; stem 8 to 12.5 cm. long, 8 to 12.6 mm. thick.
Thin woods of tamarack, spruce and balsam.
I have not seen fresh specimens of this species. The only specimens
found were collected near Algoma and identified by Mr. B. 0. Dodge.
The largest specimen measures in its dry state about 9 cm. in diameter ;
the stipe is about 8 cm. long. The pileus is quite thin, and of a clear
coffee-brown, slightly streaked above. The pores are large, angular and
adnate.
The distinctive characteristics seem to be the grayish pileus and the
annulate stipe which is whitish above the annulus.
Boletus sordidus Frost.
Pileus convex, subtomentose, dirty dark-brown, flesh white, slightly
tinged with green; tubes long, nearly free, at first white, changing to
bluish-green; stem smaller at the top, brownish, marked with darker
streaks, generally greenish above ; spores 10 to 12.5 microns long, 5 mic-
rons broad.
Pileus about 5 cm. broad. Recent excavations in woods.
Morgan (18, VII, p. 7) gives the following notes on the Ohio plant:
"Damp woods, summer and autumn. Pileus 5 to 7.5 cm. broad, stipe
6 to 8 cm. long, 6 mm. thick. Flesh white, tinged with red and green ;
tubes change to bluish green. ' '
A number of specimens were found near Hazelhurst and Star Lake
in excavations made in building logging railroads. The largest was 12
cm. in diameter; the stipe 10 cm. long and 1.2 cm. in thickness. The
9
130 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
color was a dark smoky-brown with an olive tinge, subtomentose near
the margin ; flesh thick, whitish with grayish-green colored spots. The
tubes were whitish when young but dark-gray or smoky in the older
specimens; they turn a dull greenish or bluish-green when bruised.
The specimens were nearly always much infected with larvae and often
exhaled a strong disagreeable odor. The species is closely related to
B. scdber.
Series 2. EUCHROI. TUBES BRIGHT COLORED/ MOSTLY YELLOW.
E. Luridi. Tubes depressed and free, stuffed at first, yellowish,
mouths red.
Boletus venniculosus Peck (Plate XXIII, fig. 80).
Pileus broadly convex, thick, firm, dry, glabrous or very minutely
tomentose, brown, yellowish-brown or grayish-brown, sometimes tinged
with red, flesh white or whitish, quickly changing to blue where
wounded; tubes 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; stem subequal,
firm, even, paler than the pileus; spores ochraceous brown, 10 to 12.5
microns long, 4 to 5 microns broad.
Pileus 8 to 12.5 cm. broad ; stem 5 to 10 cm. long, 8 to 21 mm. thick.
Woods.
•'This species," says Peck (21, 2, 8, p. 141), '4s separated from B. lu-
ridus by its dry pileus, white flesh, even stem, which is neither reticu-
lated nor dotted, and by its smaller spores. I cannot distinguish speci-
mens of B. spraguei received from Mr. Frost, from this species. The
name is scarcely appropriate, for specimens are not always badly in-
fested by larvae. ' '
Localities: Crandon and Ladysmith. None of the specimens was
infected with larvae. The largest measured 7 cm. in diameter ; the stipe
11 cm. long, and 1.5 cm. thick. The pileus was reddish-brown, convex,
covered with yellowish-brown tomentum. The margin was acute with
a sterile yellow band underneath, about 2 mm. broad. The tubes were
nearly free, greenish-yellow with dark red almost maroon small round-
ish mouths.
The stipe tapered upward, was yellowish above and reddish below,
somewhat paler than the pileus, solid. The flesh was whitish to yellow-
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 131
ish. The flesh and tubes change instantly to a dark dull blue, almost
black where bruised. One of the specimens was minutely grayish-
tomentose toward the base of the stem, suggesting kinship to B. snivel-
utipes Peck, which however, has larger spores and is velvety hairy
toward the base.
F. Edules. Tubes depressed, nearly free. Pores at first white-stuffed.
Boletus edulis Bull. (Plate XXII, fig. 78) .
Pileus convex or nearly plane, glabrous, moist, at first compact, then
soft, variable in color, grayish-red, brownish-red, or tawny-brown, often
paler on the margin, flesh white or yellowish, reddish beneath the cuti-
cle ; tubes convex, nearly free, long, minute, round, white, then yellow
and greenish ; stems short or long, straight or flexuous, subequal or bul-
bous, stout, more or less reticulate, especially above, whitish, pallid or
brownish; spores oblong-fusiform, 12.5 to 15 microns long, 4 to 5 mic-
rons broad.
Var. clavipes. Stem tapering upward from an enlarged base, every-
where reticulated. Pileus 10 to 15 cm. broad ; stem 5 to 15 cm. long, 2
to 5 cm. thick at base.
Both the species and the variety are common here. Localities: Devil's
Lake, Crystal Lake, The Dells and Blue Mounds. The species grows
luxuriantly reaching a diameter of 25 to 30 cm. Deeply cracked forms
resemble B. frustulosus Peck.
Boletus exiinius Pk. (Plate XXIII, fig. 79.)
Pileus at first compact, subglobose or hemispherical, subpruinose,
purplish-brown or chocolate color, sometimes with a faint tinge of li-
lac, then convex, soft, paler, becoming smoky red or a pale chestnut
color, flesh reddish- white or grayish; tubes at first concave or nearly
plain, stuffed, colored nearly like the pileus, at length paler, de-
pressed around the stem, minute, round; stem stout, generally short,
equal or tapering slightly upward, abruptly narrowed at the base, mi-
nutely furfuraceous, colored like or a little paler than pileus, purplish-
gray within; spores subferruginous. Pileus 7.5-25 cm. broad, 5-10
cm. long, 12-25 mm. thick. Woods. July to September.
Boletus separans Peck (Plate XXII, fig. 77).
Pileus convex, thick, glabrous, sub-shining, often pitted, lacunose or
corrugated, brownish-red or dull-lilac, sometimes fading to yellowish on
the margin, flesh white, unchangeable; tubes at first nearly plane, ad-
132 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
nate, white and stuffed, then convex, depressed around the stem, ochra-
eeous-yellow or brownish-yellow and sometimes separating from the
stem by the expansion of the pileus ; stem equal or slightly tapering up-
ward, reticulated either wholly or in the upper part only, colored like
the pileus or a little paler, sometimes slightly f urf uraceous ; spores
subfusiform, brownish-ochraceous, 12.6 to 18 microns long, 5 to 6 mic-
rons broad.
Pileus 8 to 16 cm. broad ; stem 5 to 10 cm. long, 12.5 to 25 mm. thick.
Thin grassy woods.
Hare. Collected in the margin of the woods around Hemlock Lake
near Crandon.
The largest specimen measured about 10 cm. in diameter; the stipe
was 9 cm. long and 1.2 cm. thick. The pileus was brownish-red, slightly
tomentose, convex, thick ; the flesh white. The tubes convex, depressed
around the stem, in one specimen they were separating from it. The
stem is firm, large, paler than the pileus, especially near the top, reticu-
lated near the top.
The distinguishing characters of this species are the whitish pores,
separating from the stipe and the reticulated stem.
Boletus variipes Peck.
Pileus convex or nearly plane, soft, dry, squamulose, punctate-squa-
mulose or minutely tomentose, grayish or pale grayish-brown, some-
times tinged with yellow or ochraceous, flesh white, unchangeable ; tubes
convex or nearly plane, slightly depressed around the stem, at first
white, then greenish-yellow, their mouths small, subrotund, ochraceous,
stuffed when young; stem firm, reticulated, whitish or pallid; spores
oblong-fusiform, ochraceous-brown tinged with green, 12.6 to 15 microns
long. 5 microns broad.
Collected near Oakfield. The specimens probably belong to the vari-
ety pallidipes. The largest was 12 cm. in diameter; the stipe 10 cm.
long and 1.2 cm. thick.
The pileus was plane, grayish-brown minutely tomentose. The stipe
short and bulbous at the base, pale brownish, firm somewhat fibrous in
texture, not at all reticulated near the base.
G. Calopodes. Stipe thick, "bulbose, typically reticulated; tubes ad-
nate, not red.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 133
Boletus pachypus Fries.
Pileus convex, subtomentose, brownish or pale tan color, flesh thick,
whitish, changing slightly to blue; tubes rather long, somewhat de-
pressed around the stem, their mouths round, pale yellow, at length
tinged with green; stem thick, firm, reticulated, at first ovate-bulbous,
then elongated, equal, variegated with red and pale-yellow ; spores large,
ovate ; pale yellowish-ochraceous, 12.5 to 14 microns long, 5 to 5.5 mic-
rons broad.
Pileus 10 to 25 cm. broad ; stem 6 to 12 mm. thick. Woods, either pine
or beech.
"This species is noted for its thick, stout stem, which sometimes at-
tains a diameter of more than five cm. It approaches the Edules in
habit, but according to Gillet it is poisonous or at least to be suspected,
has a penetrating unpleasant odor and a somewhat nauseous flavor.
The pores are at first whitish. The stem is sometimes intensely blood-
red' ' (Peck, 21, 2, 8, p. 126).
Found once at Blue Mounds. The most peculiar feature of this speci-
men is the thick stipe which is constricted above to less than one centi-
meter and is covered with thick reticulations.
Boletus ornatipes Peck.
Pileus convex, firm, dry, glabrous or very minutely tomentose, gray-
ish-brown or yellowish-brown, flesh yellow or pale-yellow ; tubes adnate,
plane or concave, rarely convex, the mouths small or medium sized, clear
yellow ; stem firm, subequal, distinctly and beautifully reticulated, yel-
low without and within ; spores oblong, ochraceous-brown, 11.4 to 13.8
microns long, 4 to 5 microns broad.
"Pileus 5 to 12.5 cm. broad ; stem 5 to 10 cm. long, 6 to 12.5 mm. thick,
Thin woods and open places" (Peck 21, 2, 8, p. 125).
Only one small immature specimen was found near Mud Lake, near
Crandon in August. Because the specimen was immature, the reference
may be somewhat doubtful, but I believe there were enough features
developed to identify it.
The chief characteristics are the yellowish-brown pileus, yellow flesh,
yellow tubes and the yellow stem with the large reticulations.
H. Laceripedes. Stem elongated, coarsely pited or deeply and lacu-
nosely reticulated.
134 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Boletus Eussellii Frost (Plate XXII, fig. 76).
Pileus thick, hemispherical or convex, dry, tomentose-squamulose or
fasciculately red-pilose, yellowish beneath the tomentum, often rimose-
areolate, flesh yellowish, unchangeable ; tubes subadnate, often depressed
around the stem, rather large, dingy-yellow or yellowish-green; stem
very long, equal or tapering upwards, roughened by the lacerated mar-
gins of the reticulated depressions, red or brownish-red; spores olive-
brown, 18 to 23 microns long, 7.5 to 10 microns broad.
Pileus 3.5 to 10 cm. broad ; stem 8 to 17 cm. long, 6 to 12 mm. broad.
Distinguished from the other species of this tribe by the dry squamu-
lose pileus and the color of the stem.
Common. Localities : Madison, Blue Mounds, Devil 's Lake and Crys-
tal Lake.
The largest measures 6 cm. in diameter and has a stem 16 cm. long
and 1.5 cm. thick. It is somewhat curved at the base and tapers up-
wards. The pileus is of a light leather tan, rough areolate tomentose
with a shaggy margin. Color of the hymenium is greenish yellow, pores
adnate, fairly large, unchangeable. The long stem with its lacerated
ridges is a constant and easily recognized feature.
I. Subpruinosi. Tubes adnate, yellow, stipe equal. Pileus glabrous or
pruinose.
Boletus miniato-olivaceus Frost.
Pileus at first convex firm, then nearly plane, soft and spongy, glab-
rous, vermilion, becoming olivaceous, flesh pale yellow, changing to blue
where wounded; tubes bright lemon-yellow, adnate or subdecurrent ;
stem glabrous, enlarged at the top, pale-yellow, brighter within, some-
times lurid at the base, spores 12.5 microns long, 6 microns broad.
Pileus 5 to 15 cm. broad; stem 8 to 10 cm. long, 6 to & mm. thick.
Woods and their borders.
Localities: Madison (Denniston) and Ladysmith. The largest speci-
men was 8 cm. in diameter ; the stipe 8 cm. long and 8 mm. thick. The
color of the pileus was brick-red to olivaceous-red, convex, a little tom-
entose at least when mature ; the pores adnate to subdecurrent, large,
irregular yellow. The stipe spreads out into the pileus and tapers down-
ward. It is smooth, yellowish-red, tough. The flesh is whitish to yel-
lowish. The pores change color only slightly. Most of the specimens
are glabrous, and the stem is slightly red-streaked.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 135
The red pileus and the stipe spreading out into the pileus are dis-
tinctive features. Murrill makes this the same as B. glabellus Peck.
Boletus bicolor Peck (Plate XX, fig. 69).
Pileus convex, glabrous or merely pruinose-tomentose, dark red, firm,
becoming soft, paler and sometimes spotted or stained with yellow when
old, flesh yellow, not at all or but slightly and slowly changing to blue
where wounded; tubes nearly plane, adnate, bright yellow, becoming
ochraceous, slowly changing to blue where wounded, their mouths small,
angular or subrotund ; stem subequal, firm, solid, red, but generally yel-
low at the top ; spores pale, ochraceous-brown, 10 to 12.5 microns long,
4 to 5 microns broad.
"Pileus 5 to 10 cm. broad; stem 2.5 to 8 cm. long, 8 to 12 mm. thick.
Woods and open places." Peck (21, 2, 8, p. 108) says further: "The
color of this plant is variable. In the typical form the pileus and stem
are dark red, approaching Indian red, but when old the color of the
pileus fades and is often intermingled with yellow. The surface some-
times becomes rimose-areolate. From the European B. Barlae this
species is separated by its solid stem, from B. versicolor by its small
tube mouths and its red stem."
Mcllvaine (16, p. 425) says that it is one of the very best for eating.
Numerous specimens were found at Devil's Lake, Lake Puckaway,
and Madison. Largest specimen 13 cm. in diameter; stipe 8 cm. long
and 2 cm. thick. Pilei red-incarnate to purple, very finely tomentose,
sometimes rimose-areolate, becoming yellowish toward the margin.
Pores adnate, depressed around the stem, small, yellow, turning green-
ish or bluish-green when wounded. Stipe thick, swollen toward the base
especially in joining specimens, sometimes minutely reticulated at the
top, colored like the pileus, yellow like the pores at the top, firm, solid.
Flesh yellow, sometimes with an incarnate tinge. All of the colors per-
sist in drying and the flesh shrinks very little so that it is of the most
easily preserved of the Boleti.
Easily recognized by the beautiful red and yellow colors of the pileus
and stipe.
Boletus alutaceus Morg. (Plate XXI, fig. 70).
Pileus pulvinate, glabrous, alutaceous with a tinge of red, flesh white
inclining to reddish ; tubes semif ree, medium in size, unequal, angular,
greenish-yellow; stem nearly equal, striate, reticulate at the apex, col-
136 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
ored like the pileus ; spores fusiform, brownish-olive, 12.5 microns long,
5 microns broad.
Pileus 7.5 cm. broad.
Common around the Dells ; a few specimens were also found at Dor-
ward's Gorge and at Blue Mounds, September .1910.
Boletus auriporus Peck (Plate XXI, fig. 71).
Pileus convex or nearly plane, glabrous or merely pruinose-tomentose,
grayish-brown, yellowish-brown or reddish-brown, flesh white, un-
changeable; tubes plane or slightly depressed around the stem, adnate
or subdecurrent, bright golden-yellow, retaining their color when dried ;
stem equal or slightly thickened at the base, viscid or glutinous when
moist, especially toward the base, colored like or a little paler than the
pileus ; spores 7.6 to 10 microns long, 4 to 5 microns broad.
Pileus 2.5 to 8 cm. broad ; stem 2.5 to 8 cm. long, 4 to 8 mm. thick. Thin
woods and shaded banks.
''This species is remarkable for the rich yellow color of the tubes,
which is retained unchanged in the dried specimens, and for the viscid
stem. This character, however, is not noticeable in dry weather and was
overlooked in the original specimens. Boletus glutinipes, Frost MS., is
not distinct" (Peck, 21, 2, 8, p. 110).
Found only once near Ladysmith, August 29, 1905. The pileus mea-
sured 7 cm. in diameter; the stipe 12 cm. long and 1 cm. thick. The
pileus was convex, red to red-olivaceous, glabrous. The tubes were ad-
nate, small roundish, brilliantly golden-yellow. The stipe equal, flexu-
ous, smoothish yellow, red-striped, dry. The flesh white.
The most prominent feature of this species is the golden-yellow of the
pores. As the specimen was collected in dry weather, the stipe was not
viscid.
Boletus pallidus Frost (Plate XXI, fig. 72).
Pileus convex, becoming plane or centrally depressed, soft, glabrous,
pallid or brownish-white, sometimes tinged with red, flesh white ; tubes
plane or slightly depressed around the stem, nearly adnate, very pale
or whitish-yellow, becoming darker with age, changing to blue where
wounded, the mouths small; stem equal or slightly thickened toward
the base, rather long, glabrous, often flexuous, whitish within ; spores
pale ochraceous-brown, 10 to 12.5 microns long, 5 to 6 microns broad.
Pileus 5 to 10 cm. broad ; stem 8 to 12 cm. long, 8 to 16 mm. thick.
"Woods.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 137
Locality : Ladysmith. The largest specimen was 11 cm. in diameter ;
the etipe was 14 cm. long and 1.5 cm. thick. In color the pileus was
pale drab, smooth to subtomentose. The margin was thin, explanate.
The tubes adnate-depressed, medium, roundish, at first pale, then brown-
ish gray. The stipe was smooth, grayish-brown, solid, tapering upward
The flesh was dull-whitish. The tubes change to faint-bluish when
bruised and later become brownish. The color change was not as marked
as one might expect from the description.
The species is recognized by its dull, pale color, rather long stem and
tubes changing to blue when wounded.
J. Subtomentosi. Dry, tomentosc when young, sometimes becoming
glabrate. Tubes adnate.
Boletus subtomentosus Linn. (Plate XXII, fig. 74).
Pileus convex or nearly plane, soft, dry, villose-tomentose, suboliva-
ceous, concolorous beneath the cuticle, often rimose-areolate, flesh white
or pallid ; tubes adnate or somewhat depressed around the stem, yellow,
their mouths large, angular; stem stout, somewhat ribbed-sulcate, sca-
brous or scurfy with minute dots ; spores 10 to 12.5 microns in length,
4 to 5 microns broad.
Pileus 2.5 to 10 cm. broad ; stem 2.5 to 7 cm. long, 4 to 9 mm. thick.
Peck (21, 2, 8, p. 117) also adds the following observations: "The
pileus is usually olivaceous or yellowish-brown, but it may be reddish-
brown, or tawny-red. When it cracks, the chinks become yellow. The
stem is often attenuated downwards, but it is not always ribbed or sul-
cate. In one form it is marked with slight anastomosing lines which
form broad reticulations as in B. lanatus Host. In another form which
grows on very rotten wood or stumps, the pileus is dark-brown. These
may be distinct species. According to Johnson, wounds of the flesh
sometimes become reddish and according to Palmer, 'the flesh tubes and
stem change to blue wherever bruised or cut,' but I have not been able
to verify these statements. ' '
This species is quite common in some regions. Localities : Algoma,
Milwaukee, Madison, Afton, Crandon, Horicon, Hazelhurst and Star
Lake. Near Crandon several specimens were found on a very rotten log.
These were dark-brown and the pores were of a brighter yellow than
those of the other specimens. The specimens found at Horicon were
thick-pulvinate and the tubes distinctly change to bluish-green when
bruised; this color change was also noticed in the Crandon specimens.
In the other specimens no color change was noticed. The largest speci-
138 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
men measured 10 cm. in diameter ; 2 cm. in thickness ; the stem 10 cm.
long, 1.2 cm. thick. They grow in recent excavations in the northern
part of the state or in rich soil in mixed woods.
Boletus chrysenteron Fries (Plate XXI, fig. 73).
Pileus convex or plane, soft, floccose-squamulose, often rimose areo-
late, brown or brick-red, flesh yellow, red beneath the cuticle, often
slightly changing to blue where wounded; tubes subadnate, greenish-
yellow, changing to blue where wounded; their mouths rather large,
angular, unequal ; stem subequal, rigid, fibrous-striate, red or pale yel-
low; spores fusiform, pale brown, 11 to 12.5 microns long, 4 to 5 mic-
rons broad.
Pileus 2.5 to 8 cm. broad ; stipe 2.5 to 8 cm. long, 6 to 12 mm. thick,
"Woods and mossy banks.
Localities: Madison, Crandon, Ladysmith and Blue Mounds. The
largest measured about 8 cm. in diameter; the stipe about 7 cm. in
length and 8 mm. in thickness. The color is usually brown or grayish-
brown, the pilei are dry, somewhat tomentose; the flesh pale yellow,
red beneath the cuticle. The tubes are long, the mouths large, greenish-
yellow, changing to bluish where wounded. The stem is rigid tough,
reddish.
This species is easily recognized by the red flesh in the cracks of the
pileus. Otherwise, it is very much like B. sub-tomentosus, though not
so large and stout.
Boletus radicans Pers. (Plate XXII, fig. 75).
Pileus convex, dry, subtomentose, olivaceous-cinereus, becoming pale-
yellowish, the margin thin, involute, flesh pale-yellow, instantly chang-
ing to dark blue, taste bitterish ; tubes adnate ; their mouths large, un-
equal, lemon-yellow; stem even, tapering downwards and radicating,
flocculose with a reddish bloom, pale-yellow, becoming naked and dark
with a touch.
Pileus 5 to 7.5 cm. broad ; stem 5 cm. long, 1.25 cm. thick.
A few specimens were found at Dorward's Gorge and Devil's Lake,
August, '06.
Boletus Roxanae Frost.
Pileus broadly convex, at first subtomentose, then fasiculately red-
pilose, yellowish-brown, flesh yellowish- white ; tubes at first whitish,
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 139
then light-yellow arcuate-adnate or slightly depressed around the stem,
the mouths small; stem enlarged toward the base, striate at the apex,
yellowish or pale cinnamon ; spores 10 microns long, 4 microns broad.
Pileus 6 to 12 cm. broad; stem 2.5 to 5 cm. long, 6 to 11 mm. thick.
Borders of the woods.
"In drying, the margin of the pileus has a tendency to curve up-
wards. The hairy tufts or squamules are very 'minute, and sometimes
appear almost granular. The species seems intermediate between B.
variegatus and B. sulphur eus; with the latter the variety (auricolor)
connects it (Peck, 21, 2, 8, p. 115).
Not common. One specimen was collected near Parfrey's Glen. Its
pileus is 4 cm. in diameter; its stipe about 6 cm. long and 4 mm. thick.
The pileus in the dry state was of a brick-red color, rough tomentose.
The pileus thin with the acute margin curved up. The pores are pale
yellowish, small, adnate.
K. Pulverulenti. Pileus clotlied with a yellow dust or a yellow put-
verulent tomentum. Stem more or less purverv-
lent, neither bulbous nor reticulated.
Boletus hemichrysus B. & C.
Pileus convex, at length plane or irregularly depressed, floccose-
squamulose, covered with a yellow powder, sometimes rimose, bright
golden-yellow, flesh thick, yellow; tubes adnate or decurrent, yellow,
becoming reddish-brown, the mouths large, angular; stem short, irreg-
ular, narrowed below, sprinkled with a yellow dust, yellowish tinged
with red ; mycelium yellow ; spores oblong, minute, dingy-ochraceous.
Var. mutabilis. Flesh slightly changing to blue where wounded ; stem
reddish, yellow within, sometimes excentric ; spores oblong elliptical 7.5
to 9 microns long, 3.5 to 4 microns broad.
"Pileus 3.5 to 7 cm. broad; stem about 6.5 cm. long, 6 to 12 mm.
thick. The species is remarkable for its habit which is lignicolous"
(Peck, 21,2, 8, p. 103).
Several specimens of this species were collected at Shanagolden on an
uprooted white pine stump, and several were found on the root of a
living white pine at Bangor. The Shanagolden specimens were clearly
of the variety mutabilis.
The largest specimen measured 10 cm. in diameter; the stipe 7 cm.
long and 1.2 cm. thick. The pilei are irregular, eccentrically stiped,
dry, covered with an "Indian-yellow" powder. The cuticle is velvety
and separable, the margin appendiculate in some of them.
140 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
The tubes are adnate-decurrent, pores greenish-yellow, irregular, and
turn greenish-black where bruised. The stem is hard and flexuous,
yellow within, ferruginous to reddish without.
The species may be recognized by its yellow, dry, pulverulence, ec-
centric stem, and its lignicolous habit.
Boletus Ravenelii B. & C. (Plate XIX, fig. 67).
Pileus convex or nearly plane, slightly viscid when young or moist,
covered with a sulphur-yellow pulverulent tomentum, becoming naked
and dull red on the disk, flesh whitish; tubes at first plane, adnate,
pale-yellow, becoming yellowish-brown or umber, dingy-greenish where
bruised, the mouths large or medium size, subrotund; stem nearly
equal, clothed and colored like the pileus, yellow within, with a slight
evanescent webby or tomentose annulus; spores ochraceous-brown, 10
to 12.5 microns long, 5 to 6 microns broad.
Pileus 2.5 to 8 cm. broad; stem 3.5 to 10 cm. long, 6 to 12 mm. thick.
Localities : Ladysmith, Devil 's Lake. Largest pileus 7 cm. in diameter ;
the stem 12 cm. long and 1 cm. thick. The pileus was scarcely viscid,
strongly pulverulent, yellow. The tubes free in some specimens, de-
pressed-free in others, small, roundish, compound, yellow. The stem
flexuous, floccose-pulverulent, yellow, tough. Flesh pale yellow or
whitish. The tubes change slightly to greenish-blue. When young the
tubes are concealed by a veil composed of " webby powdered filaments "
which at first cover the whole plant but which soon disappears from the
disk. The pilei are often spotted with bright red, which disappears at
maturity.
The species may be known by the bright yellow color, due to its cov-
ering of bright yellow flocculent powder, and the long stem and webby
veil.
L. Viscipelles. Viscid or glutinous. Pores adnate.
Boletus piperatus Bull.
Pileus convex or nearly plane, glabrous, slightly viscid when moist,
yellowish, cinnamon or subferruginous, flesh white or yellowish, taste
acid, peppery; tubes rather long and large, angular; often unequal,
plane or convex, adnate or subdecurrent, reddish-ferruginous; stem
slender, subequal, tawny-yellow, bright yellow at the base ; spores sub-
fusiform, ferruginous-brown, 8.75 to 11.25 microns long; 4 microns
broad.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Pileus 2.5 to 7.5 cm. broad ; stem 3.75 to 7.5 cm. long, 4 to 8 mm. thick.
This species was quite common along paths in light mixed woods near
Hazelhurst in August 1904. A few specimens were also found near
Crandon, Shanagolden and Madison.
The largest was about 5 cm. in diameter; the stipe about 4 cm. long
and 5 mm. thick. The pileus was of a red-ferruginous color, more yel-
lowish below ; the cuticle was slightly viscid and more or less separable,
the flesh was yellowish beneath the cuticle, but otherwise white. The
pores are large and long so that older pilei seem to have an obtuse
margin. The tubes are adnate, the mouths pale orange-brown. The
stem is slender tapering downward, smooth, yellow within, tawny-
yellow without, sometimes red above. The taste is sharp-peppery
like cayenne pepper. This is the most available character by which
it may be recognized.
Boletus badius Fries.
Pileus convex, even, soft, viscose or glutinous, shining when dry,
tawny chestnut, flesh whitish tinged with yellow, bluish next the tubes ;
tubes large, angular, long adnate or sinuate depressed, whitish yellow,
becoming tinged with green; stem subequal, even, solid, paler, brown-
pruinate; spores fusoid-oblong.
Pileus 5 to 7.5 cm. broad; stem 5 to 10 cm. long, 6 to 12 mm. thick.
Spores 10 to 12.5 microns long, and 4 to 5.6 microns wide.
Our specimens come from Madison and Blue Mounds, collected in
August, 1903. The largest measures about 20 cm. broad. The stem
measures 1.5 by 7 cm. to 12 cm.
The pileus is convex, smoky brown, smooth. The somewhat large
pores are adnate, and sooty in color. The stem is equal furfuraceous,
tawny above and darker below. The flesh white to rosy. Flesh and
tubes change to blue where wounded.
Boletus granulatus Linn. (Plate XIX, fig. 65; PI. XX, fig. 65).
Pileus convex or nearly plane, very viscid or glutinous and ferrugi-
nous-brown when moist, yellowish when dry, flesh pale-yellowish ; tubes
short, adnate, yellowish, their mouths simple, granulated; stem dotted
with glandules above, pale yellowish; spores "spindle shaped, yellow-
ish orange, 7.6 to 10 microns long, 2 to 3 microns broad."
"Pileus 3 to 10 cm. broad ; stem 2.5 to 5 cm. long, 8 to 12.6 mm. thick.
"Woods, especially of pine and in open places under or near pine
trees. "
142 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Not very common. A few specimens were found near Hazelhurst
in August, 1904). The largest was 11 cm. in diameter, the stipe 8
cm. long and 1 cm. thick. When young and vigorously growing
the pileus is yellowish brown, but when dry and the glutinous pel-
licle has disappeared they are pale-yellow. The substance is softer
than! in most of the Boleti, and when dried the pileus becomes very
thin.
Peck (21, 2, 8, p. 96) says that the plant is gregarious and occasion-
ally cespitose. He gives the measurements of the spores as 7.6 to 8.9
microns long and 4 microns broad.
The brown gluten of the pileus and the granules on the pores and
stipe are the chief distinguishing marks of this species.
Boletus brevipes Peck (Plate XIX, fig. 66).
Pileus thick, convex, covered with a thick tough gluten when young
or moist, dark chestnut color, sometimes fading to dingy-tawny, the
margin inflexed, flesh white or tinged with yellow ; tubes short, nearly
plane, adnate or slightly depressed around the stem, small, subrotund,
at first whitish, becoming dingy-ochraceous ; stem whitish, not dotted,
or rarely with a few very minute inconspicuous dots at the apex, very
short ; spores subf usif orm, 7.5 microns long, 3 microns broad.
Pileus 3.75 to 6.25 cm. broad ; stem 1.25 to 2.5 cm. long, 6 to 10mm.
thick.
Common near Standing Rock, Kilbourn. September, 1910.
Boletus hirtellus Peck (Plate XIX, fig. 63).
Pileus broadly convex, soft, viscose, golden-yellow, adorned with
small tufts of hairs or fibrils, flesh pale-yellow; tubes adnate, medium
size, angular, becoming dingy-ochraceous; stem subcespitose, equal,
stout, glandular-dotted, yellow; spores pale ochraceous-brown, 8.75
to 10 microns long, 4 microns broad.
Pileus 5 to 10 cm broad ; stem 5 to 7.5 cm. long, 8 to 12 mm. thick.
A few specimens of rather doubtful identity were found near Stand-
ing Rock, Kilbourn, September, 1910.
Boletus subaureus Peck (Plate XVIII, fig. 61).
Pileus convex or nearly plane, viscose, pale-yellow, sometimes adorned
with darker spots, the young margin slightly grayish tomentose, flesh
pale-yellow; tubes small or medium, somewhat angular, adnate or sub-
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 143
decurrent, pale-yellow becoming dingy ochraceous; stem equal, stout,
glandular-dotted, yellow without and within ; spores oblong or subfusi-
form, ochraceo-ferruginous. 7.6 to 10 microns long, 4 microns broad.
Pileus 5 to 10 cm. broad ; stem 3.5 to 6 cm. long, 8 to 12.5 mm. thick.
Thin woods and open places.
Peck (21, 2, 8, p. 94) says f urther :— ' ' This plant might almost be
considered a stout variety of the preceding [B. americanus], but in-
addition to its thicker pileus and stouter stem, it has smaller tubes of a
clearer yellow color and the exuding drops are yellow, not whitish as
in that species. In habit it appears more like B. granulatus, from which
it is distinct in color."
Localities: Sparta, on the side of a sandy bluff; Crandon, in mixed
woods. The largest one was 6 cm. in diameter; the stipe 5 cm. long
and 1 cm. thick. The pileus was yellow, viscid, with a few red fibrils ;
the pores were adnate to subdecurrent, small, angular compound, yel-
low. The stem was straight, punctate, yellow. The flesh yellowish.
The tubes slowly change to brownish when bruised. The drops of fluid
exuded are pale dirty-yellow.
In my opinion this species is closely related not only to B. americanus
but also to B. punctipes. The brownish stem and paler color of the pi-
leus of the latter distinguish it from the species.
Boletus Americanus Peck (Plate XVII, fig. 60).
Pileus thin, convex or nearly plane, sometimes umbonate, soft, very
viscid or glutinous when moist, slightly tomentose on the margin when
young, soon glabrous or the margin, sometimes remaining squamose,
rarely squamose-spotted from the drying gluten, yellow, becoming
dingy or less bright red, flesh pale-yellow, less clear or pinkish-gray on
exposure to the air; tubes plane or convex, adnate, rather large,
angular, pale-yellow, becoming sordid ochraceous; stem slender,
equal or slightly tapering upwards; firm not at all annulate,
yellow, often pallid or brownish toward the base, marked with numer-
ous brown or reddish-brown persistent glandular dots, yellow within;
spores oblong or subfusiform, ochraceo-ferruginous, 7.6 to 11.4 microns
long, 4 to 5 microns broad.
Pileus 2.5 to 8 cm. broad; stem 3 to 6.5 cm. long, 4 mm. thick.
Woods, swamps and open places, especially under or near pine trees.
Quite common in northern woods — sometimes under hemlock, some-
times in open sandy places. Very abundant on the east and west
shore of Sandy Lake near Crandon, growing with B. subluteus, B. Clin-
144 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
tonianus, B. collinitus and B. versipellis. A few were also collected at
Sparta, and one specimen by McKenna near Blanchardville.
The largest specimen of this most showy and beautiful little Boletus
was 7 cm. in diameter ; stipe 7 cm. in length and 7 mm. thick. The pi-
leus is bright golden yellow more or less streaked with crimson. If the
plants grow unsheltered in the sun, the color is somewhat darker, and
the streaks of red are more numerous and prominent. The pileus is
very viscid and sticky. The stem is slender, usually more or less bent,
firm, dotted with dark-brownish or blackish glandules from top to bot-
tom. Peck says in his description that the stipe is "not at all annu-
late," but I find frequently that they are quite distinctly annu-
lated at first, but this annulus soon disappears. The glandules are per-
sistent even in drying. This distinguishes it from B. flavidus Fr., B.
luteus and B. subluteus differ in their paler color and the more per-
sistent annulus. Reported edible by Mcllvaine (16, p. 413).
Boletus punctipes Peck (Plate XIX, fig. 64).
Pileus convex or nearly plane, glutinous when moist, yellow, the thin
margin at first minutely grayish-pulverulent, becoming recurved with
age ; tubes short, nearly plane, adnate, small, subrotund, at first brown-
ish, then sordid ochraceous ; stem rather long, tapering upward, gland-
ular-dotted, rhubarb-yellow; spores 7.6 to 10 microns long, 4 to 5 mi-
crons broad.
Pileus 5 to 8 cm. broad ; stem 5 to 8 cm. long, 6 to 10.5 mm. thick.
A few specimens of this species were collected near Hazelhurst and
Star Lake in August, 1904. The largest was 6 cm. in diameter, the
stipe 6 cm. long and 8 mm. thick. The pileus was very viscid, pale yel-
low, thick; the stipe pale yellowish brown with darker dots all over;
stout, tapering upwards. Pores in the young specimens pale brownish
yellow like the stipe. Drops of a cloudy liquid are exuded from the
pores of young specimens.
Boletus collinitus Fries (Plate XX, fig. 68).
Pileus convex, even, becoming pale when the brown gluten separates
from it, flesh white ; tubes adnate, elongated, naked, the mouths two-
parted, pallid, becoming yellow ; stem firm, often tapering downwards,
somewhat reticulate with appressed squamules, white, becoming brown.
Woods of pine or fir.
Several specimens were found near Crandon. They were plainly
different from B. subluteus Peck, which grew abundantly at the same
place, by their yellow pores and dotless stems.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 145
The largest was 10 cm. in diameter, with a stipe 5 cm. long, and 1 cm.
thick. The pileus is broadly convex, brownish-yellow, viscid, margin
thin. Pores adnate to subdecurrent, small bi-compound, at first pale
yellow then bright sulphur yellow. Stipe soft, brittle, flexuous,
smooth; whitish, yellow above. Flesh pale yellow.
Boletus subluteus Peck.
Pileus convex or nearly plane, viscid or glutinous when moist, often
obscurely virgate-spotted, dingy yellowish, inclining to ferruginous-
brown, flesh whitish varying to dull yellowish ; tubes plane or convex,
adnate, small, subrotund, yellow becoming ochraceous ; stem equal, slen-
der pallid or yellowish, dotted both above and below the annulus with
reddish or brownish glandules, annulus submembranous, glutinous, at
first concealing the tubes, then generally collapsing and forming a nar-
row whitish or brownish band around the stem; spores subfusiform,
ochraceo-ferruginous, 7.6 to 11 microns long, 4 to 5 microns broad.
Pileus 3 to 8 cm. broad ; stem 3 to 6 cm. long, 4 to 8 mm. thick. Sandy
soil in pine woods.
This is the commonest Boletus near Sand and Star Lakes in Forest
County during the month of August. A few specimens were also col-
lected near Ladysmith. They grew abundantly in sandy soil at the
edge of mixed woods. The largest specimen measured 11 cm. in diam-
eter ; the stipe was 8 cm. long and 1 cm. thick.
Peck's (21, 2, 8, p. 91) description characterizes our Wisconsin spe-
cimens exactly. It only remains to be noted that the glandules of the
stem become blackish with age and persist even in drying. The whole
plant becomes a dingy dark-brown in drying and shrinks to less than
one-half its size.
Closely related to B. lutcus and B. punctipes. It is smaller and more
slender than B. luteus, and its stem is dotted from top to bottom. B.
punctipes lacks the annulus.
Boletus spectabilis Peck. (Plate XVI, fig. 58).
Pileus broadly convex, at first covered with a red tomentum, then
squamose, viscid when moist, red, the tomentose scales becoming grayish-
red, brownish or yellowish, flesh whitish or pale-yellow; tubes at first
yellow and concealed by a reddish glutinous membrane, then ochraceous,
convex, large, angular, adnate; stem nearly equal, annulate, yellow
10
146 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
above the annulus, red, or red with yellow stains below; spores pur-
plish-brown, 12.6 to 15 microns long, 6.3 to 8.2 microns wide.
Pileus 5 to 12.5 cm. broad; stem 8 to 12.5 cm. long, 8 to 12.5 mm
thick. Thin woods in swamps. Specimens of this species were col-
lected near Algoma in tamarack swamps by Mr. B. 0. Dodge, near
Crandon in a tamarack and spruce swamp by myself in August, 1905,
and at Elkhart Lake. About a dozen specimens were growing out of
two tussocks having an area of about 4 square feet. A few days after
they had been gathered another crop was growing at the same
place. The largest specimen was 7 cm. in diameter; the stipe 7 cm.
in height and 7 mm. in thickness.
The pileus was very viscid, substance soft, red with yellow cracks, be-
coming tomentose, grayish-red, scaly or squamose; flesh yellowish,
slowly becoming duller when bruised.
The distinctive feature of the species is the reddish-gelatinous mem-
branous, translucent veil which soon breaks down leaving a small gela-
tinous annulus and sometimes leaving the margin fringed or appendicu-
late. When mature, the specimens look very much like old specimens
of Boletinus pictus in color, from which, however, the species is quite
distinct.
Boletus albus Peck.
Pileus convex, viscid when moist, white, flesh white or yellowish;
tubes plane, small or medium, subrotund, adnate, whitish, becoming
yellow or ochraceous; stem equal or slightly tapering downward, both
it and the tube glandular-dotted, white, sometimes tinged with pink
toward the base; spores ochraceous, subfusiform 7.6 to 8.9 microns
long, 4 microns broad, stem 4 to 7.5 cm. long, 6 to 12 mm. thick. Woods,
especially pine and hemlock.
A group of this peculiar little Boletus was found near Hazelhurst in
August 1904 growing out of some very rotten hemlock or pine. The
largest pileus was 4 cm. in diameter, 1 cm. thick ; the tubes 3 mm. long ;
the stipe 7 cm. long and 4 mm. thick.
They grew in bunches but not cespitose; the pilei were very viscid
convex, the cuticle separable from the snow-white flesh. The pores were
white, adnate, short, glandulose, excreting a dirty-milky, astringent
fluid which dries on the mouths and stem giving rise to the grayish-
white glandules. The stem is white, tapering upwards. The tubes and
flesh sometimes change to pink very slowly, where bruised. When dry
the specimens have a dull pinkish-brown color.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 147
The pure white color, the viscid pileus, and the astringent excretion
are good distinguishing marks.
Boletus Clintonianus Peck (Plate XVI, fig. 59; PL XVII, fig. 59).
Pileus convex, very viscid or glutinous, glabrous, soft, shining, golden
yellow, reddish-yellow or chestnut color, the margin thin, flesh pale-
yellow, becoming less bright or dingy on exposure to the air; tubes
nearly plane, adnate or subdecurrent, small, angular or subrotund, pale
yellow, becoming dingy-ochraceous with age, changing to brown or pur-
plish brown where bruised ; stem equal or slightly thickened toward the
base, straight or flexuous, yellow at the top, reddish or reddish-brown
below the annulus, sometimes varied with yellow stains, the annulus
white or yellow, persistent, forming a thick band about the stem ; spores
brownish-ochraceous, 10 to 11.4 microns long, 4 to 5 microns broad.
Pileus 5 to 10 cm. broad ; stem 5 to 12.5 cm. long, 8 to 19 mm. thick.
Mossy or grassy ground in woods or open places, especially under
tamarack trees.
This elegant Boletus has been collected at Madison, Beloit, Algoma
and Crandon, usually near or under tamarack trees. The largest speci-
men found at Crandon was 15 cm. in diameter, the stipe 12 cm. long
and 2 cm. thick. The pileus was first convex then concave above, yel-
low to chestnut, shining viscid; the margin thin becoming recurved.
Pores adnate, equal, angular, medium, yellow. Annulus whitish, thick
persistent. The stipe was yellow above, brownish beneath, brown-
spotted, but not always. The flesh yellowish, hyaline near the tubes;
the flesh as well as the pores changing to brown when bruised; how-
ever, the flesh changed only slightly.
This species appears to be so much like B. elegans Schum., that it
might be called a variety. The chief difference is in the persistent an-
nulus.
Boletus sphaerosporus Peck (Plate XVIII, fig. 62.)
Pileus at first hemispherical then convex, glabrous, viscid, creamy-
yellow, becoming reddish-brown or chestnut color with age, flesh pale
yellowish-brown; tubes adnate or slightly decurrent, large, angular,
pale-yellow, becoming brown sometimes tinged with green ; stem stout,
equal, even or slightly reticulated at the top, the membranous annulus
persists, sometimes partly adhering to the margin of the pileus ; spores
globose or broadly elliptical 7.6 to 8.9 microns long.
148 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Pileus 8 to 20 cm. broad ; stem 2.5 to 7.5 cm. long, 12.6 to 25.2 mm.
thick. Low ravines and sandy places.
The first description that Professor Peck gave of the species was
founded upon a single dried specimen sent to him by Professor William
Trelease. It was found by a student of the University of Wisconsin.
Peck adds also the following : ' l This species has two chief character-
istics . First, the volva-like annulus at the base of the stem. It
appears in the dried specimen like a volva making a cup-like annulus.
Still it may be a thick, peronate sheathing veil, but it is different than
that of other species of Boleti known to me. Second, the spores are al-
most globular, while in other Boleti they are fusiform or spindle-
shaped/'
In all the specimens that I have seen the veil partly adheres to the
margin. The spores have a pale greenish-yellow color by transmitted
light, and a rich yellow or dark-yellow by reflected light. When cut
the flesh changes only slightly to a sort of purple. "Cream-yellow"
when young and "reddish-brown" when old or dry give a good idea of
the color.
The stem varies in length from 3 to 6 cm. and may be 2 cm. or more
thick, but it shrinks to less than one-half in drying. Both stem and
pileus may be said to be fleshy-tough. When dry the specimens have a
very agreeable sweet odor.
Specimens are collected every year at Madison, and they have also
been found at Lake Wingra, Horicon and Blue Mounds. One specimen
was found at Horicon, growing in rich soil on the banks of the Rock
river, in July 1899, and another was found by F. E. McKenna near
Blanchardville. The species is apparently common in the state.
The description given by Saccardo is about the same as that first
given by Peck and is necessarily incomplete. The species seems to have
no close allies in the genus. The thick glutinous veil enclosing the en-
tire plant like a volva is a most striking characteristic, and the globose
spores are also very distinctive.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 149
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
1. Atkinson : Studies of American Fungi.
2. Barla : Les champignons du province de Nice.
3. Bolton : Fungusses, vol. 2.
4. Bresadola : I funghi mangerecci e venenosi dell Europa Media,
5. Bresadola : Fungi tridentini novi vel nondum delineati, vols. 1 and
2.
6. Bresadola : Fungi polonici. Annales Mycologici, vol. 1.
7. Bulliard : Histoire des Champignons, vols. 1 and 2.
8. Fries: Hymenomycetes europaei.
9. Fries: Icones selectae hymenomycetum, vol. 2.
10. Fries: Monographia hymenomycetum Sueciae, vols. 1 and 2.
11. Cooke: Notes on British fungi. Grevillea.
12. Lloyd : Mycological writings.
13. Karsten: Enumeratio Boletinearum et Polyporearum Fennicamm.
Revue Mycologique, t. 3 — 1881.
14. Krombholz: Schadliche, essbare und verdachtige Schwamme.
15. Macbride : Saprophytic fungi of Eastern Iowa. Natural Hist. Bull.,
State Univ. of Iowa, vol. 3, no. 3.
16. Mcllvaine : One thousand American fungi.
17. Massee : British fungus flora, vol. 1.
18. Morgan : Miami Valley fungi, Cinn. Soc. Nat. Hist. Bull.
19. Murrill : The Polyporaceae of North America. Bull. Torrey Botan-
ical Club, vols. 29-32.
20. Patouillard : Tabulae analyticae f ungorum, vols. 1 and 2.
21. Peck: Boleti of the United States. Bull. N. Y. State Museum, vol.
2, no. 8-1889. Bulls. 5 (1901), 6 (1902), 7 (1903), 8 (1904).
22. Peck : New York State Museum reports.
23. Persoon : Mycologia Europaea.
24. Schweinitz: Synopsis of North American fungi, in Philosophical
Transactions, vol. 4.
25. Stevenson : British fungi, vol. 2.
26. Saccardo : Sylloge fungorum, vol. 6. and supplements.
27. Schaeffer : Icones.
28. Winter: Rabenhorst's ' ' Kryptogamen-Flora, ' ' Fungi, part 1.
150
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
GLOSSARY.
Adnate — gills attached squarely to
stem.
Adpressed — growing close to.
Alutaceous — grayish yellow.
Alveolate — honeycombed.
Annulate — with a ring or annulus.
Apiculate — with a short pointed tip.
Appendiculate — appendaged.
Applanate — flattened.
Appressed — lying close to.
Arcuate — bow-shape.
Areolate — marked by spaces.
Attenuate — tapering to a point.
Auriculate — eared.
Avellaneous — drab.
Basidium (pi. basidia) — club shaped
body which bears the spores.
Bullose— blistered.
Byssoid — cottony.
€ambium — a layer of formative tissue.
Canescent — covered with hoary pub-
escence.
Carpophore — stalk of sporocarp.
Cespitose — growing in tufts.
Cinereous — ashy.
Conchiform — shell shaped.
Concolorous — of uniform color.
Concrescent — growing together.
Confluent — blended or running to-
gether.
Connate — joined.
Coriaceous — leathery.
Cornecus — horny.
Cristate — crested.
Crustaceous — hard and brittle.
Cuticulate — having a cuticle.
Cystidia — large single cells among
basidia.
Daedalioid — labyrinthine.
Deciduous — not persistent.
Decurrent — running down the stem.
Dentate — toothed.
Denticulate— with little teeth.
Determinate — ending definitely.
Dimidiate — sessile pileus semicircular
in form.
Dissepiment — a partition.
Echinulate — beset with short bristles.
Effused — spread over.
Emarginate — notched at the end.
Evanescent — vanishing.
Explanate — flattened.
Favoloid — like a honeycomb.
Ferruginous — rust colored.
Fibrillose — covered with minute fibers.
Fimbriate — In the form of delicate
fringe.
Flabelliform — fan shaped.
Flaccid — soft and limber.
Flavescent — yellowish.
Flexuous — wavy, winding.
Floccose — covered with cottony threads.
Flocculose — minutely floccose.
Friable — easily broken.
Frondose — leafy.
Fuliginous — dark smoke color.
Fulvous— tawny, reddish yellow.
Furfuraceous — scurfy, scaly.
Fuscous — grayish brown.
Fusiform — spindle shaped.
Fusoid — like a spindle.
Gibbous — with a one-sided hump.
Gills — lamellae or hymenial plates.
Glabrate — somewhat smooth.
Glabrous — smooth, without pubescence.
Glandules — sticky dots.
Glaucous — with a whitish bloom.
Gluten — glue.
Gyrose — circular folds.
Helicoid — spiral.
Hirsute — stiff hairy.
Hispid — bristly with strong hairs.
Hyaline — clear, transparent.
Hygrophanous — with a watery appear-
ance.
Hymenium — fruiting surface.
Hymenophore — the hymenium bearing
portion.
Hypha — a single mycelium thread.
Imbricate — overlapping like shingles.
Immarginate — without a margin.
Incarnate — pink.
Indurated — hardened.
Infundibuliform — funnel shaped.
Innate — borne at the apex.
Isabelline — dirty, tawny color.
Labyrinthine — with winding passages.
Laccate — milky.
Lacerate — torn.
Lacunose with holes.
Lamellae — gills of mushroom.
Lenzitoid — like Lenzites.
Lignatile — woody.
Lignicolous — on wood.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
151
Lignin — substance impregnating wall
of wood cells.
Lignose — woody.
Lurid — dingy brown.
Marginate — with a margin.
Mucedineus — cottony.
Multiplex — many of the same.
Mycelium — vegetative portion of fun-
gus.
Nodose — with joints.
Nodular — knobby.
Obsolete — lacking.
Ochraceous — yellow with a tinge of
red.
Orbicular — round.
Osseous — like bone.
Pallescent— turning pale.
Pallid— pale.
Papillae — nipple shaped projections.
Papyraceous — papery.
Pellucid — clear.
Peronate — rough.
Pileoli — small pilei.
Pileus — cap.
Pilose — hairy.
Plicate— folded.
Polycephalous — with many heads.
Polyporoid — like a polypore.
Porose — with pores.
Porus — a pore.
Pruinate — somewhat powdery.
Pruinose — powdery.
Pubescence — hairs.
Pulverulent — minutely powdered.
Pulvinate — cushioned.
Punctate — dotted.
Punctiform — dot-like.
Putrescent — decaying.
Pyriform — pear form.
Radicate — somewhat rooted.
Reniform — kidney-shaped.
Resupinate — spread over the substra-
tum.
Rhizomorph — root-like branch of my-
celia.
Rimose — cracked.
Rivulose — channeled.
Rufescent — becoming reddish.
Rugose — wrinkled.
Rugulose — minutely wrinkled.
Saprophyte — growing on dead organic
matter.
Scabrous — rough to the touch.
Scrupose — rough, jagged.
Scurfy — with small scales.
Scutate — shield-shape.
Scutellate — like a small shield.
Seriate — in a series.
Sericeous — silky.
Sessile — stemless.
Setulose — with bristles.
Sinuous — deeply waved.
Sordid— dirty.
Spadiceous — brownish.
Spatulate — oblong, lower end smaller.
Spinules — little spines.
Sporophore — spore bearing portion.
Squamose — cc a'y.
Squamulose — with minute scales.
Squarrose — with prominent reflexed
scales.
Stipe— stalk.
Stipitate— stalked.
Stratose — in layers.
Strigose — covered with stiff hairs.
Sub. more or less.
Suberose — corky.
Subiculum — a cottony mycelium.
Sulcate — furrowed.
Tomentum — dense hair or wool.
Tracheid — vasiform wood cell.
Trama — hyphae at base of hymenium.
Tametoid— like Trametes.
Tremelline — jelly-like.
Triquetrous — with three angles.
Tuberculose — roughened.
Tumid — swollen.
Umbilicate — depressed in the center.
Umbonate — bearing a protuberance.
Umbrinous — brownish.
Undulate — wavy.
Ungulate — clawed.
Unguliform— like a claw.
Velutinous — velvety.
Vesicular — composed of vessels.
Villose — somewhat woolly.
Villous — with long soft hairs.
Virgate — wand shaped.
Viscid — glutinous, sticky.
Viscous — clammy.
Vitelline— yellowish.
Volva — an envelope which completely
surrounds young plants.
Zonate — with concentric bands.
INDEX OF GENERA AND SPECIES.
Synonyms and extra limital species marked*.
Page
*Ag-aricus
conf ragosus 35
Armillaria
mellea 6
* Aurantiporus 91
*Bjerkandera 89, 90
Boletinus 1, US
decipiens 110
paluster 120
pictus 118-146
porosus 110
Boletus 1, 122
albellus 125, 127
alboater 125
albus 146
alutaceus 135
alutarius 124
Americanus 143
*annulatus 44
*atro-rufus 63
auriporus 130
badius 141
Barlae 135
bicolor 135
brevipes 142
castaneus 122
chromapes 128
chrysenteron 138
Clintonianus 143, 147
*coccineus 69
collinitus 144
conicus 125
*coniferus 121
cyanescens 123
*echinatus 121
edulis 131
elbensis 129
elegans 147
eximius 131
f elleus 123, 125
flavidus 144
f rustulosus 131
*f ulvus 75
g-labellus 135
glutinipes 136
gracilis 124
Page
granulatus 141, 143
hemichrysus 139
hirtellus 142
hydnoideus 26
indecisus 124
*juglandis 114
*labyrinthiformis 35
lateralis 120
lanatus 137
Maricinus 128
luridus 130
luteus 144,145
miniato-olivaceus 134
nigrellus 125
obliquus 26
ornatipes 133
pachy pus 133
pallidus 136
piperatus 140
punctipes 143, 144, 145
radicans 138
Ravenelii 140
Roxanae 122, 138
Russellii 134
scaber 125,126,127,130
separans 131
sordidus 129
spectabilis 145
sphaerosporus 147
Spraguei 119, 130
*squarrosus 121
subaureus 142
subluteus 143, 144, 145
subtomentosus 137
subvelutipes 131
sulphureus 139
*umbellatus 106
*ung-ulatus 75, 83
*unicolor 34
variegatus 86, 139
varipes 132
vermiculosus 130
versicolor 135
versipellis 126, 144
viscidus 128
vinaceus 125
154
THE POLTPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Page
*Cerena 34
*Coltricia 112
*Coriolellus 37
*Coriolus 63, 66, 67, 68, 92
*Cryptoporus 108
Cyclomyces 1
•Cyphella
fasciculata 24
Daedalea 33
*albida 34,35
confragosa 34
obtusa 35, 97
sepium 37
unicolor 33
*Elfvingia 83, 85
Favolus 31
boucheanus 31
Canadensis 31
Curtisii 32
Europaeus 31, 33, 114
rhipidium 32
Fistulina 117
hepatica 117
Fomes 70
applanatus 6, 19, 83, 86
Bakeri 79
carneus 6, 7, 14, 15, 20, 72
conchatus 45, 77
connatus 5, 71
cytisinus 71
Ellisianus 78
Europaeus 33, 111
Everhartii 78
f omentarius 4, 6, 19, 80, 82, 84, 85
*graveolens 107
igniarius 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 83, 100
juniperinus 5
leucophaeus 84, 85
lucidus 6, 85
marginatus 1, 6, 19, 74, 75
megaloma 85
Neesii 71
nigricans 4, 5, 6, 19, 57, 77, 80, 83
officinalis 85
pectinatus 44
Pilotae 76
pini-canadensis 19, 74, 75
pinicola . . .9, 14, 15, 19, 73, 75, 98, 113
populinus 70
renif ormis 84, 86
ribis 77, 78
rimosus 82, 100
roseus 5, 72, 73
salicinus 76, 78, 80
scutellatus 42
ulmarius 71
ungulatus 4, 5, 6, 19, 20, 22, 43, 73,
74, 75, 76
vegetus 84
Page
*Fomitopsis 72, 75
*Funalia
*Ganoderma 86
*Globifomes 107
Gloeoporus 30
conchoides 29,30
candidus 30
*Grifolia 106
"Hapalopilus 100
*Hexagona 32
Hydnum
septentrionale 5
*Inonotus 101
Irpex
obliquus 58
tulipifera 53
*Laetiporus 105
Lentinus
Lecomptei 5
Lenzites
bicolor 34
Cookei
corrugata 34
crataegi 34
heteromorpha 40, 41
Klotzschii
proxima 34
sepiaria 5, 6, 13, 20, 43, 44
Merulius 25
aurantiacus 27, 28
aureus 27
corium 27, 28
lacrymans 26
rubellus 29
tremellosus 28,30, 50
*Mucronoporus 58, 70, 79
*Myriadoporus 63, 89
Panus
stipticus 32
*Piptoporus 109
*Polypilus 105, 106
*Polyporellus 115
Polyporus 87
abietinus 50
adustus 30, 52, 88, 89, 90
alveolarius 110
anax 105
arcularius 32, 33, 110, 111
aurantiacus 90
applanatus 85
*arculariellus 33
aureonitens 101
benzoinus 96
Berkeley! 105
betulinus 4, 6, 108, 109
bombycinus 47
borealls 95
brumalis 110
caesius 92
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
155
Page
candidus 103
caudicinus 114
chioneus 92,94
circinatus 112
conglobatus 107
cristatus 106, 113
cuticularis 100, 102
delectans 96
dichrous 30
distortus 104
*dualis 112
elegans 116, 117
epileucus 98, 99
flbrillosus 90
flavovirens 113
florif ormis 103
fragilis 94
f ragrans 89
frondosus 105, 106
fumosus 89, 90
gilvus 82, 99, 102
guttulatus 94, 97
graveolens 107
hispidellus 109
*hispidioides 113
hispidus 112
"igniarius 80
imbricatus 105
intermedius 110
intybaceus 105
isabellinus 88
*laccatus 86
lacteus 94
lentus 110, 111
lilacinus 50
*lucidus 86
maculatus 6, 98
molluscus 49
Morgan! 115
nidulans 100
nigropurpurascens 30
"obtusus 36
osseus 99, 103
ovinus 114
pallescens 98
piceinus 44, 45
Picipes 116, 117
Pilotae 90
*pini 45
*pini-canadensis 75
pinicola 76
*polyporus 115
pubescens 91
*purpureus 51
radiatus 101
radicatus^ 115
*radula 48
resinosus . 96
Page
*ribesius 77
rubiginosus 5,96
ruf escens 113
rutilans 100
salignus 102
Schweinitzii 6, 112
sordidus 93
spongia 112
spumeus 97
squamosus 114
*stereoides 41
stipticus 94
sulphureus 97, 98, 104, 105, 106
subradicatus 115
tephroleucus 93, 98
"terrestris 46
tomentosus 110, 111
trachypus 110
umbellatus 106
*unicolor 36
varius 116, 117
"violaceus 50
*viridans 49
volvatus 1,7, 108
Polystictus 5, 59
abietinus . .4, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 50, 65, 66
balsameus 64
biformis 69, 90
cinnabarinus 69
cinnamomeus 60
conchif er , 5, 61, 62
elongatus 68
fibula 66, 67
gossypinus 62
hirsutus 33, 63, 64, 67, 91
laceratus 68
loricatus 77
menandianus 68
molliusculus 67
oblectans 60
perennis 60, 112
pergamenus 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 19, 55, 62,
65, 66, 68
planus 41, 63, 66
plicatus 77
pseudopergamenus 68
Tadiatus 101
*rigens 43
sanguineus 69
scutellatus 66
Schweinitzii 113
splendens 59
*stereoides 41
subsericeus 59, 60, 61
velutinus 63, 64, 65, 91
versicolor 62, 64, 65, 66
virgineus 62
zonatus 63, 64, 65, 67
156
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
Poria
Page
45
*Poronidulus . ...
Page
62
Anderson! . . • .
57
45
.... 40
Porothelium
35
56
finibriatuni . ,
... . 25
54
69
53
*Pyropolyporus ....
77 78 79 80
51
*Romellia
113
54
*Scutig"er
114
57
*Sistotrema
26
47
Solenia
24
laevigata .
57
anomala
24
54
villosa
24
marginella
51
*Spongipellis
95 97
medulla-panis
52, 55
1121
mollusca
47, 48
121
nitida
56
obducens
58
papyracea .
54
abietis
44, 45
populina
54
gibbosa
39
heteromorpha . . .
40
KA
mollis
41
47
odorata
6, 15, 43, 96
rufa
51
42
salicina
55
Peckii
39, 71
sinuosa
53, 54
nini
4 5 15 19 44
stalactites
72
rigida
42
subacida
52
04.
subfusco-flavida ....
59
4.1
terrestris
1, 46
mgf
tulipiferae
55
serialis
37
vaporaria
54
serpens
37
stereoides
41
vitellina
suaveolens
38
vulgaris
4Q KK CO
Trogii
39,40
xantha
Kit
36
xanthospora .
58
*Xylom.yzon .
. 26, 29
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 157
PLATE I
158 THE POL7PORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE I.
Solenia, Porothelium, Merulius, Gloeoporus, Favolus and Trametes.
Fig. 1. — Solenia anomala (Pers.) Fr. On birch, Crandon, August,
Fig. 2. — Porothelium fimbriatum Crandon, August.
Fig. 3. — Merulius corium (Pers.) Fr. Bangor, September.
Fig. 4. — Merulius aurantiacus Klotzsch. Parfrey's Glen.
Fig. 5. — Gloeoporus conchoides Mont. Shanagolden, August.
Fig. 6. — Favolus europaeus Fr. Madison, autumn.
Fig. 7. — Favolus rhipidium Berk. Algoma, autumn.
Fig. 8. — Trametes gibbosa (Pers.) Fr. a, front view; b, section, Horicon, July.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE I,
THE POL7PORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 159
PLATE II
1(30 THE POLYPORACEAd OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE II.
Daedalea, Trametes.
Fig. 9. — Trametes suaveolens (Linn) Wint. Bangor, September.
Fig. 10. — Trametes odorata (Wulff) Fr. a, surface of pileus, &, pores; c, sec-
tion. Bangor, September.
Fig. 11. — Daedalea obtusa (Schw.) a, front view of pilei; 6, pores; c sec-
tion. On Quercus coccinea, Madison.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
i.LETix XXXIII, PLATE II.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 161
PLATE III
11
162 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE III.
Daedalea, Trametes.
Fig. 12. — Daedalea confragosa (Bolt.) Pers. a, surface view of pileus; fc, c, d, e>
f, g, series showing transition from pores to lamellae. On willow,
Bangor, September.
Fig. 13. — Trametes serialis Fr. Bangor, September.
Fig. 14. — Trametes stereoides (Fr.) Bres. a, front view; fc, section. New
growth spreading over that of previous year. Shanagolden, Au-
gust.
WISCONSIN STUVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE III.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 163
PLATE IV
164 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE IV.
Trametes, Poria, Polystictus.
Fig. 15. — Trametes Peckii Kalchbrenner. Pores and section. On Populus del-
toides. Madison, September.
Fig. 16. — Trametes pini (Thore) Fr. a, surface of pileus; &, section. Star
Lake, August.
Fig. 17. — Poria crassa Karst. a, section showing strata. Hazelhurst, August.
Fig. 18. — Poria subacida Peck, a, young; Z>, old. Pores and section showing
decay produced. Hazelhurst, August.
Fig. 19. — Poria attenuata Peck. Pores. Madison.
Fig. 20. — Polystictus conchifer Schw. a, young disks; ft, surface of mature
pileus; c, pores. On elm, Madison.
Fig. 21. — Polystictus velutinus Fr. Surface of pilei and pores. Crandon, Au-
gust.
Fig. 22. — Polystictus aMetinus (Dicks.) Fr. Decay produced in hemlock.
(Tsuga canadensis). Hazelhurst, August.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BL-LLETIX XXXIII, PLATE IV.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 165
PLATE V
166 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE V.
Fomes.
Fig. 23. — Fomes connatus Fr. Horicon, June.
Fig. 24. — Fomes ungulatus (Schaeff.) Sacc. a, surface of pileus; 6, small
form; c, var. pinicola surface of pileus, elongate form; d, var.
pinicola, section.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE V.
*k
^"^ """l 1 1 1
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 167
PLATE VI
168 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE VI.
Fomes.
Fig. 25.— Fomes marginatus (Fr.) a, young pileus; Z>, surface of pileus; c,
section. Hazelhurst, August.
Fig. 26.— Fomes Everhartii Ell & Gall, a, section. On Quercus coccinea. Mad-
ison.
Fig. 27.— Fomes Bakeri Murr. a, young pileus, two years' growth.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE VI.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 169
PLATE VII
170 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE VII.
Fomes.
Fig. 26. — Fomes Everliartii, Ell. & Gall, b, front view of pileus. On Quercus
coccinea, Madison.
Fig. 27. — Fomes Bakcri, Murr. 6, view from in front of pileus several years
old; c, surface of pileus from above; d, section of pileus.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE VII.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 171
PLATE VIII
172 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE VIII.
Fomes.
Fig. 28. — Fomes ungulatus (Sehaeff.) Sacc. Section of resupinate form=F.
pini-canadensis Schw. Hazelhurst, August.
Pig. 29. — Fomes nigricans Fr. a, surface of pileus partly covered with moss;
6, section. On birch, Star Lake, August, c and d, var. pop-
ulinus. On poplar, Madison.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE VIII.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 173
PLATE IX
174 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE IX.
Fomes.
Fig. 30. — Fomes fomentarius (Linn.) Fr. a, surface of pileus: 6, section. On
birch.
Fig. 31. — Fomes applanatus. (Pers.) Wallr. Unusually thick ungulate form.
Section on birch. Bangor, May.
Fig. 32. — Fomes lucidus (Leys.) Fr. a, edge view of short stiped pilei; fc, par-
tially abortive long stiped form; c, pores and malformation of
hymenium. On hemlock. (Tsuga canadensis) . Crandon, August.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE IX.
THE POLTPORAOEAE OF WISCONSIN. 175
PLATE X
176 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE X.
Fomes.
Fig. 33. — Fomes officinalis (Vill.) Photograph of very large specimen much
reduced. Origin of specimen uncertain, probably from Northern
Wisconsin.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE X.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 177
PLATE XI
12
178 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XI.
Polyporus.
Fig. 34. — Polyporus nldulans Fr. Pores. Devil's Lake, August.
Fig. 35. — Polyporus aurantiacus Peck, a, surface of pileus. fc, pores; c, sec-
tion. Crandon, August.
Fig. 36. — Polyporus pubescens (Schum.) Fr. a, surface of pileus; &, section;
c, pores. Star Lake, August.
Fig. 37. — Polyporus resinosus (Schrad.) Fr. Section. Bangor, September.
Fig. 38. — Polyporus guttulatus Peck. Surface of pileus. Crandon, August.
Fig. 39. — Polyporus borealis Fr. Pores and section. On poplar. Madison,
summer.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XI.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 179
PLATE XII
180 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XII.
Polyporus.
Fig. 40. — Polyporus sulphureus (Bull.) Fr. Much reduced. On oak, Madison,
August.
Fig. 41. — Polyporus anax Berk. Much reduced. Madison, August.
Fig. 42. — Polyporus ovinus (Fr.) Berk & Curt. On sandy ground among
scrub pine. The Dells, September.
Fig. 43. — Polyporus frondosus Fr. Crandon, August.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XII.
THE POLTPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 181
PLATE XIII
182 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XIII.
Polyporus.
Fig. 44. — Polyporus graveolens Schw. a, surface of pileoli; 6, section. On
oak. Mauston.
Fig. 45. — Polyporus volvatus Peck, a, surface of pileus and mycelial plug
from hole of bark borer; 6, section; c, lower surface of "volva,"
showing opening; d, pores. Hazelhurst, August.
Fig. 46. — Polyporus ~betulinus Fr. a, pores; fc, section. On birch. Bangor,
August.
Fig. 47. — Polyporus brumalis Fr. a, pilei; &, pores. Bangor, October.
Fig. 48. — Polyporus lentus Berk. Photograph from dried specimen. The stipe
was straight when collected. Dodge. Blue Mounds, June.
Fig. 49. — Polyporus circinatus Fr. a, section; &, pores. Dodge. Algoma.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XIII.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 183
PLATE XIV
184 THE POLTPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XIV.
Polyporus.
Fig. 50. — Polyporus Schweinitzii Fr. Side view and pores. Bangor, Septem-
ber.
Fig. 51. — Polyporus squamosus (Huds.) Fr. Z>, pores. Madison, May.
Fig. 52. — Polyporus picipes Fr. a, pileus; o, side view. Crandon, September.
Fig. 53. — Polyporus subradicatus Murr. Photograph from dried specimen.
Algoma, September. B. O. Dodge.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XIV.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 185
PLATE XV
186 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XV.
Polyporus, Boletinus.
Fig. 51.— Polyporus squamosus (Huds.) Fr. a, pileus. Madison, May.
Fig. 54.— Polyporus radicatus. Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, September.
Much reduced.
Fig. 55. — Boletinus paluster. Dorward's Gorge, August.
Fig. 56. — Boletinus pictus Peck, a, entire, showing veil.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XV.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 187
PLATE XVI
188 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XVI.
Boletinus, Boletus.
Fig. 56. — Boletinus pictus Peck. 6, pileus; c, pores, d and e, young forms.
a, Sand Lake, August. 6, c, d, and e, Parfrey's Glen, August.
Pig. 57. — Boletus viscidus Fr. a, Entire; &, pileus; c, young pores; d, older
pores. Madison.
Fig. 58. — Boletus spectaMlis. a, entire; 6, pileus; c, section.
Fig. 59. — Boletus Clintonianus Peck, a, mature form entire; &, younger form,
veil still attached to edge of pileus.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XVI
THE POL7PORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 189
PLATE XVII
190 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XVII.
Boletus.
Fig. 59.— Boletus Clintonianus Peck, c, narrow form. Madison campus, d,
pores. Crandon, August, e, section, old specimen; /, pores.
The Dells, September.
Fig. 60. — Boletus Americanus Peck, a, mature thinner type; Z>, thicker type,
showing tufts of fibrils at margin of pileus; c, younger speci-
men, showing remnants of veil on margin of pileus and
splotches of gluten on stipe; d, pores of mature specimen. Dorw-
ard's Gorge, September, e, pores of younger specimen. Madi-
son, August.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XVII.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 191
PLATE XVIII
THE POLJPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XVIII.
Boletus.
Pig< QI.— Boletus subaureus Peck, a, pair of specimens; 6, pores. Devil's
Lake, August.
Fig. 62.— Boletus sphaerosporus Peck, a, entire; &, section. Devil's Lake,
August.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XVIII.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN, 193
PLATE XIX
13
194 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XIX.
Boletus.
Fig. 63. — Boletus hirtellus Peck. Cap showing clearly the fine tufts of fibrils.
The Dells, September.
Fig. 64. — Boletus punctipes Peck. The Dells, September.
Fig. 65. — Boletus granulatus Linn, a, entire young; c, entire form showing
ring, e, pores. Dorward's Gorge, September.
Fig. 66. — Boletus brevipes Peck. Typical section showing flesh, pores and
stipe. The Dells, September.
Fig. 67. — Boletus Ravenelii B and C. a, entire; b, section showing veil and
pores. Ladysmith, August.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XIX.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 195.
PLATE XX
196
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XX.
Boletus.
Fig. 65. — Boletus granulatus Linn. 6, entire, mature; d, pileus, showing glutin-
ous scales.
Fig. 68. — Boletus collinitus Fr. Pair of specimens. Stone Lake, August.
Fig. 69. — Boletus bicolor Peck, a, entire, mature; 6, pores; c, group of three
young specimens. Devil's Lake, August.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XX.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 197
PLATE XXI
198 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XXI.
Boletus.
Fig. 70. — Boletus alutaceus Morg. a, section showing flesh and pores. The
Dells, &, pores; c, pileus, younger specimen. Dorward's Gorge,
September.
Fig. 71. — Boletus auriporus Peck. Ladysmith, August.
Fig. 72. — Boletus pallidus Frost, a, entire plant; 6, pores.
Fig. 73. — Boletus chrysenteron. a, pileus; 6, pores. Ladysmith, August.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XXI.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 199
PLATE XXII
200 THE POLYPORAOEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XXII.
Boletus.
Fig. 74.— Boletus subtomentosus Linn, a, stipe and section of pileus; 6, pores.
Fig. 75. — Boletus radicans Pers. a, entire plant; 6, pores. Devil's Lake, Aug-
ust.
Fig. 76. — Boletus Russellii Frost, a, entire plant reduced; 6, pores.
Fig. 77. — Boletus separans, Peck. Crandon, August.
Fig. 78. — Boletus edulls Bull., var. clavipes. Rather small specimen. Devil's
Lake, August.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XXII.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 201
PLATE XXIII
202 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XXIII.
Boletus.
Fig. 79. — Boletus eximius Peck, a, entire plant; o, pores. Devil's Lake, Aug-
ust.
Fig. 80. — Boletus vermiculosus Peck. Entire plant, young. Crandon, August.
Fig. 81. — Boletus versipellis Fr. a, form with narrow cap; &, mature plant,
normal shape. Parfrey's Glen, August.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XXIII.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 203
PLATE XXIV
204 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XXIV.
Boletus.
Fig. 82. — Boletus indecisus Peck, a, entire plant; 6. pores. Devil's Lake, Au-
gust.
Fig. 83. — Boletus felleus Bull, a, entire, and 6, section of half-grown form;
hymenium connected to stipe by cords of hyphae; massive type;
d, mature and far less massive type; surface dry and cuticle
scaling off in spots in characteristic fashion. Parfrey's Glen.
August.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XXIV.
THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN. 205
PLATE XXV
206 THE POLYPORACEAE OF WISCONSIN.
PLATE XXV.
Boletus, StroMlomyces.
Fig. 83.— Boletus felleus Bull, c, pores; e, smaller form growing on rotten
wood. Hazelhurst, August.
Fig. 84. — Boletus castaneus. a, median longitudinal section; 6, pores. Madi-
son, July.
Fig. S5.—StroMlomyces stroWaceus Berk, a, entire. Madison, August.
WISCONSIN SURVEY.
BULLETIN XXXIII, PLATE XXV.
14 DAY USE
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