Lloyd Mycological Writings V4.pdf - MykoWeb

SPORES HYALINE.
reminds one of Polyporus immaculatus, but the discolored pores,
tissue, and the spores differ strongly. There are four of these large
species with soft, friable, white context in Australasia, cretaceus and
immaculatus without crust, and portentosus and Eucalyptorum with
distinct crusts.
Compare caesio-flavus.
POLYPORUS DESTRUCTOR. Pileus effuso-reflexed, watery,
fleshy, drying soft and brittle. Pores small, round, fragile, white,
drying discolored brownish. Spores elliptical, 3-3>^ x 4-5.
Although according to reputation and name this is a characteristic
disease of house timber, said to soften and destroy the wood in
the manner of Merulius lacrymans, I think it is the victim of a bad
name and reputation. Schraeder started the story in 1794, and the
reputation has been current in our books to this day. It is so rare
that it can do little harm even if it is true. Hartig, who wrote the
principal work on fungi that destroy wood, does not mention it.
Mez recently has given a good account of this rare species, which he
states he found but twice. The only collection I have is from Erik
Haglund, Sweden. The main difference, by which the plant can be
told from similar species, is the discoloring of the dried pores.
ILLUSTRATIONS. Krombholz t. 5, fig. 8, cited by Fries, is the color of the dried pores, not
the pileus or flesh, which are white. I think, also, the pores are probably white when fresh. Mez'
fig. 42 is a photograph showing habits of the plant. Sturm fasc. 10, t. 27, is doubtful to me.
SPECIMENS. Only one collection from Erik Haglund, Sweden, and that broken in pieces.
POLYPORUS MINUSCULUS. Boudier gives an excellent description and
figure of this little species found in a hot house in France, and no doubt exotic. It
is very small, only 1-3 mm. in diameter, pendant, affixed by a small attachment.
The little specimens each consist of a few long, rather large, tubes. Spores are
globose, 4-6 mic., apiculate, guttulate. The little plant is hardly analagous to any
other known species. (Cfr. Bull, Soc. Myc. France, 1902, p. 141, pi. 6, fig. 3.) It
has never been refound.
POLYPORUS KMETII is a rare plant in Europe, known to none but the author.
It has white flesh, hyaline spores, 2>^x4 mic., orange surface, covered with dentate
processes, and would be most easily recognized if ever met again. It grew on oak in
Hungary. We have seen no specimens.
SECTION 82. CONTEXT AND PORES WHITE OR PALE. FLESH
DRYING HARD, FIRM.
A. Surface anoderm, or pubescent with projecting hyphae.
POLYPORUS ALBIDUS. Pileus white, dry, hard, with a dull
but smooth surface, no distinct crust. Flesh white, hard, unchangeable.
Pores round at first, at length sinuate, and splitting. Spores
3x5, hyaline, smooth.
This seems a frequent species in Europe, on Abies usually. The
pilei are often 3-4 inches in diameter, 1-2 inches thick, and sometimes
subapplanate. The flesh is said to be dry from the beginning, not soft
303