lystictus biformis. Fr._

[Illustration: Figure 341.--Polystictus biformis. Natural size.
Frequently covered with green lichen.]

Biformis means two shapes or appearances; referring to the condition of
the pores in the young and the old plant.

The pileus is two to three inches wide, projecting from one to three
inches, often imbricated so as to cover a large surface; laterally
confluent, coriaceous, flexible, tough, subzonate, with innate radiating
fibres, the cortex fibrillose, concolorous.

The pores at first very large, simple, compound, or confluent, round,
elongated, flexuous; the dissepiments dentate, then lacerate, the
hymenium finally resolved into teeth.

When I first found this plant the hymenium had resolved into teeth, and
I supposed that I had found an Irpex. It is found in woods on logs and
stumps. Very common with us. Frequently covered with a green lichen.
July to November.

_Polystictus hirsutus. Fr._

THE BRISTLY POLYSTICTUS.

[Illustration: Figure 342.--Polystictus hirsutus. Natural size.]

Hirsutus means hairy or bristly. The pileus is corky, coriaceous,
convex, then plane, hairy with rigid bristles, zoned with concentric
furrows; of one color, whitish, sometimes these zones are quite marked
as in Figure 342.

The pore surface is at first white, or whitish, becoming dark or
brownish in age. The pores are round, the walls rather thick. It is
found on logs and stumps in the woods. It is a very common plant and
widely distributed.

_Polystictus versicolor. Fr._

THE COMMON ZONED POLYSTICTUS.

[Illustration: Figure 343.--Polystictus versicolor. One-half natural
size.]

Versicolor means varying colors. The pileus is coriaceous, thin, rigid,
plane, depressed behind; quite velvety, nearly even and shining,
variegated with colored zones, sometimes entirely white or
grayish-white, not unfrequently the whole surface is villous or woolly,
and the zones mere depressions.

The pores are minute, round, acute, lacerated, white or cream-color.

It is very common, as well as very variable in form and color. It is
frequently found on logs and is then densely imbricated. On our
hillsides it frequently grows on a small bush as in Figure 343. It is
one of the most beautiful plants in the woods.

_Polyporus gilvus. Schw._

Gilvus means pale-yellow or deep-reddish flesh-color.

The pileus is corky, woody, hard, effuso-reflexed, imbricate,
concrescent, subtomentose, then scabrous, uneven, re