t a few times and always on
elm logs or stumps.

_Polyporus betulinus. Fr._

THE BIRCH POLYPORUS. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: Figure 337.--Polyporus betulinus.]

Betulinus is from _betulina_, birch.

The pileus is from four to ten inches across, fleshy, soon corky,
ungulate, obtuse, smooth, pale reddish-brown when mature, often mottled,
roundish, or somewhat reniform, zoneless, the oblique vertex in the
form of an umbo; pellicle thin, separating; flesh white, very thick.

The pores are short, round, minute, unequal, separable from the pileus
when fresh, but really concrete with it; white or tinged with brown,
developing slowly; when mature there are peculiar hair-like scales
attached to the pore-surface, making the plant look like a Hydnum when
viewed from the side. It is found wherever the birch tree grows. When
young and fresh it is edible, but with a strong flavor unpleasant to
many. In this state the deer eat it. The specimen in Figure 337 was
found in Wisconsin, and photographed by Dr. Kellerman. This species is
the Piptoporus suberosus (L.) of Merrill.

_Polyporus cinnabarinus. Schw._

CINNABAR POLYPORUS.

[Illustration: Figure 338.--Polyporus cinnabarinus. One-third natural
size.]

Cinnabarinus like cinnabar (vermilion). The pileus is dry, more or less
spongy, pliant, rather thick, fibrous on top; flesh light or
yellowish-red, shelving.

The pores are carmine, quite small, round, entire.

This species is quite common in the woods about Chillicothe. It is
easily identified by the beautiful carmine color of the pileus and the
pore surface, the latter being a shade darker than the former, as will
be seen in Figure 338.

The specimens photographed were found in December. They grow on dead
logs and branches, commonly on the oak and wild cherry, sometimes on
maple. It is called by some authors Trametes cinnabarina.

_Polyporus vulgaris. Fr._

COMMON EFFUSED POLYPORUS.

Vulgaris, common. Quite broadly effused, very thin, adheres closely to
its host; even, white, dry. Circumference soon smooth and the whole
surface composed of firm, crowded, small, round, nearly equal pores.

Effused on dead wood, fallen branches, and frequently on moist boards.

_Polyporus lacteus. Fr._

The pileus is white, or whitish, fleshy, somewhat fibrous, fragile,
triangular in form, pubescent, azonate, margin somewhat inflexed, acute.

The pores are thin, acute, dentate, finally lacerate and labyrinthiform.

This