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EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS OF CANADA<br />
POLYPORUS SQUAMOSUS Micheli ex Fr. Edible when young<br />
Figures 356, 357, page 253<br />
piLEUS 2y2-\2 in. broad, or sometimes larger, nearly circular to elongated<br />
or reniform, convex to plane and centrally depressed, whitish to yellowish or<br />
brownish, dry, scaly, tough-fleshy, tubes decurrent, large, angular, white or<br />
yellowish, stipe lateral or excentric, %-2 in. long, y^-l |^ in. thick, sometimes<br />
nearly lacking, reticulate above, black below, spores elongate-cylindric,<br />
smooth, 10-15 (18) X 4-6 m-<br />
Singly or in clusters, usually from wounds on deciduous trees, occasionally<br />
on stumps or logs. May-July.<br />
The large pores and scaly pileus are the chief distinguishing characters of<br />
this species. It is said to be edible when young but mostly is too tough to be of<br />
any value as food.<br />
POLYPORUS SULPHUREUS (Bull.) Fr. Edible<br />
Figure 355, page 253<br />
FRUITING BODY consisting of a massive cluster of overlapping, more or less<br />
horizontal shelves, up to 12 in. or more across, variable in form, bright sulphur-<br />
yellow to yellow-orange or pink, sessile or on a stipe-like base, upper surface<br />
glabrous, uneven, lower surface bearing short yellow pores, margin at first<br />
thick and blunt, becoming narrower with age, at first soft and fleshy, becoming<br />
tougher with age, taste mild or sometimes unpleasant in age. spores smooth,<br />
one-celled, ovoid to subglobose 5-7 X 4-5 m-<br />
In clusters on dead or living trees or around stumps. Aug. -Oct.<br />
The large, brilliantly colored fruiting bodies are very distinctive and un-<br />
likely to be confused with anything else. This species is edible and has been<br />
highly recommended when young specimens are used. Older specimens are<br />
likely to be tough and of poor flavor.<br />
HYDNACEAE<br />
The family Hydnaceae includes a large group of fungi in which the spores<br />
are borne over the surface of teeth or spines developing from the underside of<br />
the fruiting body. The fruiting body may vary considerably in structure from a<br />
simple layer of fungus tissue on a piece of wood to a large shelf-like or bracket-<br />
like form, to an intricately branched structure, or to a mushroom-like fruiting<br />
body with pileus and stipe. Many Hydnaceae grow on wood but some are<br />
found on the ground. Most of the species are tough and fibrous to woody and<br />
not edible but a few are quite good and none are known to be poisonous.<br />
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