Lloyd Mycological Writings V4.pdf - MykoWeb

The Genus Hydnochaete.
This, for me, is an artificial genus, and could be classed either as
a tubercular Hymenochaete or a Grandinia with setae, or a "genus,"
if you wish. I think the simplest way to classify it would be to con-
sider it a section of Hymenochaete. Since Cooke exploited the genus
Hymenochaete based on these same colored hairs (setae), it is quite
the fashion, every time some one discovers these hairs on a speci-
men, to make a "new genus" for it. It could be done for Agarics,
but no one ever did it. However, as long as Murrill is working on
the Agaric subject, there is still hope. Ellis discovered these setae
on Polypores, and proposed a new genus, Mucronoporus; and I
know, from conversation with him, that he was much chagrined that
no one followed him. He said, and said truly, if it is a good generic
character in Thelephoraceae, it is just as good in Polyporaceae. The
Thelephoraceae men are quite content, apparently, to break up the
old genus Stereum on the basis of these hairs, and call the split Hymenochaete.
It is not very logical, as originally, the genus Stereum
itself was based on these hairs, and it is contrary to the "sacred laws
of priority"; but the aforesaid "sacred laws" do not have much force
when they come in conflict with somebody's pet theory.
When proposed, the genus Hydnochaete was restricted to re-
supinate species, the original specimen being resupinate; but it is not
logical to so restrict it when the same author includes in the closelyrelated
Hymenochaete both resupinate and pileate species. In this
sense, I believe there are only four species known.
HYDNOCHAETE SETOSA (Fig. 766). Pileus dark, ferruginous,
with coarse, strigose, matted hairs. Hymenium dark, with
dense, permanent warts.
projecting 20-30 mic.
Setae abundant, dense, covering the warts,
This seems a frequent species in the American tropics, and at
Kew are specimens from Cuba, Mexico, and Venezuela. It was
originally collected in Jamaica by Swartz, and his specimens are at
the British Museum and in Persoon's herbarium at Leiden. Persoon
named it in mss. "Thelephora paradoxa," but never published it.
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