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POLYPORUS BETÜLINÜS.
Birch-tree Polyporus.
C l a s s a n d O r d e r CRYPTOGAMIA FUNGI, iirm.—N a t . O h d . FUNGI, Link.
G EN ER IC CHARACTER.
Hymenium cum pilei substantia hmnogeneum et concretum, poris dissepimentis te-
iiuibus simplicibus instructum.—Pileus subcarnosus vel suberosus, plerumque
subsessilis, substantia fibrosa^ sicca.
Hymenium of the same substance as the pileus, not separating from it, and
furnished with pores connected by simple dissepiments.—Pileus sub-
carnose or corky, mostly subsessile ; substance fibrous and dry.
S P E C IF IC CHARAC TpR .
P o lyporus h e tu lin u s ; pileo carnoso, glabro, subreniformi, pallide fusco-rufescente,
vertice obliquo brevissime stipitato, poris ìncequalibus albis.
P. pileus carnose, glabrous, somewhat reniform, pale reddish-brown, furnished
with a very short obliquely vertical stipes ; the pores unequal,
white.
P o lyporus h e tu lin u s . Fries, Syst. Mycol. v . i. p . 3 5 8 .—Grev. FI. Fdin. p . 4 0 0 .
B o l e tu s betubnus. Bull. Champ, p. 3 4 8 . t. 3V2,.—B d t. Fung. t. 159.—
Sow. Fung. t. 2 1 2 .—FI. Dan. t. 1 2 5 4 .—Pers. Syn. Fung. p. 5 3 5 .—Alh. et
Schwein. p. 2 5 1— De Cand. FI. Franç. ed. 3. v. 2. p. 123,—Fjusd. Syn.
p. 2 5 .—Schum. Sæll. p. 3 3 8 Schmein. Fang. Carol. No. g07-
B o l e tu s suberosus, fVuf, in Jacq. Coll. v. 1. p. 344. Jid. Fries..
H ab. On the trunks of Birch trees, in Summer and Autumn. Rosslyn
Woods, rare.—In England, B ol ton records it as growing in Shackleton
Wood, near Darlington; and S ow e r b y received it from Hevingham,
near Norfolk, where it was found by the Rev. Mr A ld e r so n for several
years on the same tree.
Pileus 4-6 inches broad, smooth, pale reddish-brown when mature, roundish,
or somewhat renifqrm, the upper surface convex, with a thickish
rounded margin, not quite sessile, but furnished with an extremely
short, thick stipes, arising above the margin in an obliquely vertical
manner. The surface of the pileus is often mottled with small pale
spots, and the. epidermis is easily injured. Substance fleshy when recent,
b u t in the dry state remarkably light and friable. Flesh white,
very thick. Pores white, or tinged with brown, irregular in length,
narrow, the orifices toothed. Sporidia white, subglohose. In the young
state, the whole plant is white, and sometimes attains the size of a hen’s
egg before any pores are developed. I t is remarkable that, when fresh.
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