ish, entire, short, quickly assuming an irregular lacerate and sinuous
form. Sporidia minute, pellucid, white.
In the Flora Londinensis carried on by my friend Professor
H o o k e r , I have made some observations on this plant,
which, as I have found no reason to altei, I shall in part transcribe
from that magnificent work : “ The great change of form
which the pores of this species undergo in the course of a short
period, added to a slight variation in the pileus, has given rise
to much uncertainty respecting its genus ; a striking proof of
this fact is, that P e r s o o n has described it in his Synopsis
Fungorum both as a Boletus and a Sistotrema.
“ Under the specific name of decipiens, it has been alternately
referred to Agaricus, Hydnum, and Boletus, D e
C a n d o l l e , in the 2d volume of the Flore Française; has
given it to the public as a Hydnum ; and in the Supplement,
or 6th volume, describes it a second time as Boletus abietinus,
to which he correctly adds Boletus purpurascens of P e r s o o n
as a synonym. I t is, however, not a little singular, and illustrative
of the Proteus character of the pores of this plant, that,
in the species immediately following, considered new, and named
by him purpurascens, he should describe our speeies a third
time, and so minutely and accurately, that no doubt can he entertained
upon the subject.”
The first commencement of this beautiful species is a minute
plane tuft of radiating silky filaments, which begins to
shew a few central, roundish, entire pores, while scarcely a quarter
of an inch in breadth : in maturity, the pores become torn
and toothed in every direction, and often entirely lose the character
of a Polyporus, except at the extreme margin, where
they commonly preserve their generic character.
In decay, the white of the pileus becomes tinged with green,
the whole plant dries up, and the pores quite lose their violet
colour.
Fig. L Plants q f P. abietinus, both resupinate and beginning to be reflexed.
Fig. 2. A very young plant. Fig. 3. A portion q f a pileus ; natural size.
Fig. 4. A portion q f a mature plant. Fig. 5. A portion vertically divided;
more or less magnified.— B y an oversight, the Sporidia have had no m m ,
her q f reference attached to them.