somewhat convex, as viewed in profile, and becoming suddenly depressed
towards the margin, which is rounded, and of a lighter colour ; it is covered
with a rough and coarse pile, which becomes almost shaggy in old
age, and changes from a reddish colour to a dingy black. Substance within
fibrous and coriaceous, yet soft and full of water, whicli may be pressed
out as from a sponge; when a section is made in the direction of the
fibres, a series of ferruginous lines, curved towards the margin, are very
remarkable. Bolton well observes, that “ when fresh, it easily tears in
slips from the centre to the margin, b u t cuts not without clifHculty.”
Hymenium consisting of long pores, roundish or subangular, of a yellow
ferruginous colour, with fringed and pale margins. The tubes at their
junction with the substance of the pileus, evidently arise immediately out
of it, and under the microscope are composed o f the same fibrous structure.
Sporules very minute, of a bright yellow colour, and often collected
in little clusters on the surface of the hymenium.
P o l y p o r u s forms a truly natural genus, which is too well
defined by the character I have given, nearly in the words of
F r i e s , to require farther elucidation. The true Boleti, as
they at present stand, have their hymenium formed of a different
substance from the tubes, which are capable of being
separated from it, and mostly from each other ; the stem is always
central, and a veil is frequently present. They are also
evanescent, compared with the Polypori.
Polyponis hispidus possesses a peculiarity in its fibrous
structure, which I have not noticed to belong to other species,
in the fibres of the central substance of the pileus being branched
at right angles, and much thicker than those of the pores or
shaggy surface. The latter is nothing more than a mass of
abortive pores, as may be readily traced at the margin of the
pileus. This species is of annual duration. When dry, it retains
fire like Amadou.
The threads of a spider are almost always found attached
to the under surface, and from receiving some of the falling
sporules, the appearance represented in the plate is produced.
Fig. 1. Plant, nal. size. Fig. 2. Pores magnified. Fig. S.lDissccled fibres o f
the tubes, which resemble those o f the rest o f the plant, with sporules highly
magnified. ^