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of clirysoqianic acid, wliieli, on th e application of a solution of potash,
develope tlie usual b rig h t red colouring ma tter. T h e shape and appearance
of these crystals are, however, to tally different to those obtained from th e
Polyporus, tliough they are qirobably analogous in th e ir nature. The colour
jiroduced by th e alkali is quite different to th a t obtained from tlie fungus.
Wiiat tlie special acid in th e fungus is remains to be d e te rm in e d ; and,
unfortunately, I have not as yet succeeded in obtaining another specimen.
A small qiortion of the p lan t was submitted to D r. Fliglit, of the
B ritisli Museum, for examination, and he confirmed Mr. Muller’s observations.
F rom the small quantity of the crystals obtainable it was found
impossible to make an a n a ly s is ; b u t from a measurement of th e ir angles,
made by Professor Maskelyne, it was certainly determined th a t they were
n ot ammonium chloride, whicli had been at first supposed. I n connexion
with th e crystals obtained from species of Polyporus, reference may be made
to an account by Dr. Scott, in th e Transactions of tlie Linn. Soc., viii. 808,
of a deposit of crystals of oxalic acid on th e surface of a dried specimen of
P. sulphnreus.
T h is fungus is common in the neighbourhood of London.
P late 43.— Fig. 1, Polyponis rutilans, Fr., upper surface. Fig. 2, ditto, lower
surface. Fig. 8, section. Fig. 4, spores X 700 dia. -0 0 0 0 6 " X ’0 0 0 0 9 " . Figs. 5 & 6,
ci’3’stals obtained by solution of potasli (the lower figure of No. 5 by sublimation),
enlarged 70 dia. Fig. 7, crystals obtained by a solution of silicate of soda, enlarged 70
dia.—IF. a . S.
Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
PoLYPOEUS S t e p h e n s i i , B. & Br.
Ann. N. H . No. 336. Berk. Ontl. p. 252. Cooke, Handbook, p. 284.
PoLYPOKOs pileo orbiculari, albo, demum confluente, margine tomentoso; poris
latis, subiequalibus, aiigulosis.
Pileus orbicular, white, at length co n flu en t; margin sometimes slightly
reflexed, tom en to se ; pores broad, nearly equal, angular, dissepiments ra th e r
tliick, edge villous. On privet-twigs.
Forming sc attered orbicular white or a t len g th confluent resupinate
patches, about h a lf an in ch in diameter, which are sometimes slightly
reflexed, with th e free surface tomentose. Pores ra th e r large, one-twentieth
of an inch broad, n early equal, angular sometimes su b h ex ag o n a l; edge
even, tomentose.
T h is species h as the h ab it of a resupinate Hexagonia, and is very well
marked. Tliere is none with which it can be confounded. P . lia d u la
appears to be th e most nearly allied species.—B . d B r .
Spores very large, white ’00055 x ’00085". T h e plan ts figured were
k indly furnished by C. E dmu n d Broome, E sq ., from L eig h Woods, Bristol,
F eb . 27th, 1869.
P late 45. — Figs. 8, 9, 10, Polyporus Stephensii, B. & Br.
ditto. Fig. 12, spores x TOO dia.— IF. G. S.
Fig. 11, section of
Polyporiis riitilaiis.rr.
Polyporus Stephensii. B.ABr.
11