in the center, whitish on the margin, flesh white, taste mild.

The gills are thin, subdistant, adnate or decurrent, white, the
interspaces slightly venose.

The stem is equal, stuffed or hollow, glabrous, whitish. The spores are
white, elliptic, .0003 of an inch long, .0002 broad.

Pileus is 8-15 lines broad; stem about 1 inch long, 1.5-2.5 lines
thick. _Peck._

Some specimens of this species were sent to me from Boston by Mrs.
Blackford, but after a careful study of them I was unable to place them.
She then sent them to Dr. Peck, who gave them their very appropriate
name. Those in Figure 177 were sent me in December, 1907.

They grow a number in the same locality and frequently in close groups
or tufts. They seem to delight in oak and pine woods. Dr. Peck observes
that this species is similar to Hygrophorus queletii, Bres., both in
size and color, but the general characteristics of the plants do not
agree. He also says it is similar in size and color to H. subrufescens,
Pk., but differs materially in the specific description.

_Panus. Fr._

Panus means swelling. The species under this genus are leathery plants,
having the stems lateral and sometimes wanting. They dry up but revive
with moisture. The gills are simple and thinner than the Lentinus, but
with an entire, acute edge. There are a few species which give a
phosphorescent light when growing on decayed logs. The genus closely
resembles Lentinus but can be readily recognized on account of the
smooth edged gills. A number of good authorities do not separate them
but give both under the name Lentinus. This genus abounds wherever there
are stumps and fallen timber.

_Panus stypticus. Fr._

THE STYPTIC PANUS. POISONOUS.

[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Figure 178.--Panus stypticus. Two-thirds natural size. Cinnamon color.]

Stypticus means astringent, styptic. The pileus is coriaceous,
kidney-shaped, cinnamon-color, growing pale, cuticle breaking up into
scales, margin entire or lobed, surface nearly even, sometimes zoned.

The gills are thin, crowded, connected by veins, of same color as cap,
determinate, quite narrow.

The stem is lateral, quite short, swollen above, solid, compressed,
pruinose, paler than the gills.

It is found very plentifully on decayed logs and stumps, and at times it
is quite phosphorescent in its manifestations. It has an extremely
unpleasant astringent taste. One might as well eat an Indian turnip as
this spe