Lloyd Mycological Writings V4.pdf - MykoWeb

CONTEXT AND PORES COLORED.
POLYPORUS FUSCUS. This is quite close to the preceding
plant, and is best characterized in contrast. Polyporus benzoinus
grows on Abies, has metallic, bluish bands on pileus, is strongly hispid
when young, has firm, well-formed pores. Spores not found in dried
specimens, 2 x 4-6. Polyporus fuscus grows on beech and frondose
wood, rarely has metallic bands, is finely tomentose, has soft, collapsing
pores, and spores 2 x 8-10, abundant in dried specimens. They are so
similar that some hold them to be the same and if our ;
knowledge was
based on a few herbarium specimens, they would be the same species
for us. But we know them both from abundant fresh collections, and
the points of difference are constant.
Polyporus fuscus grows in quantities in the United States, often covering the
sides of logs. 'It develops late in the season; about the first of October we begin to
notice it, and during the month it becomes the most abundant Polyporus in our
woods. It freely exudes drops of water under proper climatic conditions. In Europe
it is known principally from the writings. Every word of Fries' description was
applicable. He records it as frequent, and the figure he cites, Flo. Dan. t. 1138, is
very good. But, like the Dodo, it appears to be extinct in Europe now. At least
we know no one who has collected it recently, and have only seen one specimen in
any European museum, viz., an old collection by Blytt at the British Museum, and
that is not certain.
This is the frondose analogue of Polyporus benzoinus. The legal name for it
is Polyporus resinosus, but there are two serious objections to following the law.
First, it is not resinous, and second, it is evidently not the plant that was so named.
The plant has been known in American mythology 7
generally as Polyporus resinosus,
taken from Berkeley's traditions, and we have heretofore so called it (under protest,
cfr., Myc. Notes, p. 490, Note 19). Polyporus fuscus is the name that Persoon evidently
applied to the preceding plant and this combined, if he knew this, considering
them one species. He referred (in error, evidently) Polyporus resinosus as a synonym
on the vague record of Schrader. Fries took Persoon's synonym and changed
Persoon's name on Persoon's synonym and the sacred law of priority, inaccurately
and inappropriately in this case at least. We like to follow the law and custom as
much as possible, but this is an instance so rank that wre should prefer to be an outlaw.
Polyporus resinosus, we believe, was originally that strongly resinous plant now
called Fomes laccatus, and it was unknown to both Persoon and Fries, in their writings.
Fries had the plant from Quelet. (Cfr. Synopsis Fomes, p. 284).
ILLUSTRATIONS. Flora Dan., t. 1138, very good. Rostk., t. 29, poor if correct.
SPECIMENS. Many, all from United States.
Compare resinosus, rubiginosus, stillativus.
POLYPORUS RUTILANS (Fig. 674). Pileus sessile, applanate
(4x5x1-2 cm.), unicolorous, pinkish cinnamon. Surface dull, concolorous,
smooth. Flesh soft, friable when dry, concolorous. Pores
small, round when young, at length large and irregular, 1-5 mm. long.
Spores subglobose, 3^-4 mic., smooth.
This is a common plant in France, and is perhaps the most
frequent Polyporus we found at Fontainebleau. In England, Sweden,
and America it is less common. Berkeley did not record it in his first
account of English species. Around Cincinnati we make a few collections
every season, but it is rather rare. It is a plant that changes
but little in drying. Persoon gave a good illustration of it, and I think
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