One can never mistake this fungus. Its surface looks as if covered with
varnish, rather wrinkled, a bright dark-red color, and its shape is
varied and singular. We have seen it sometimes shaped like a fan, and
like a lady's high comb, or in some fantastic form. Stevenson says it is
a light yellow color and then becomes blood red chestnut. It is first
corky, then woody. +Stem+ lateral, equal, varnished, shining, of the
same color as cap. +Pores+ are long, very small, white and then cinnamon
color. It grows on and about stumps during the summer. +Cap+ is from 2
to 6 inches broad, and the stem 6 to 10 inches long, and 1 or more
thick.

+POLYPORUS VERSICOLOR = changeable.+
+The Changeable Polyporus.+

This species is also common. It is found on dead wood, in all forms and
colors. +Cap+ variegated with different-colored zones; leathery, thin,
rigid, depressed behind, becoming velvety. +Pores+ minute, round, acute
and torn, white, turning pale or yellow.

+POLYPORUS ELEGANS = elegant.+
+The Elegant Polyporus.+

+Cap+ 2 to 4 inches broad, of one color, pallid, ochraceous or orange,
shining, equally fleshy, and then hardened, becoming woody, flattened,
even, smooth. Flesh white. +Stem+ eccentric or lateral, even, smooth,
pallid at first, abruptly black and rooting at the base. +Pores+ plane,
minute, somewhat round, yellowish-white, pallid. The cap differs in
shape from others that have been described; it is not funnel-shaped nor
streaked, and is scarcely depressed, and the flesh is thick to the
margin. It grows on trunks of trees from July to November.

CLAVARIEI, OR CLUB-SHAPED FUNGI.

We now come to another order, Clavariei, of which the first genus is
Clavaria, from a word meaning a club. They are fleshy fungi, not
coriaceous. They have no distinct stem and generally grow on the ground.
We will mention a few of those we often see. They somewhat resemble
coral in growth but not in color.

+CLAVARIA STRICTA = to draw tight.+
+The Constricted Clavaria.+

This Clavaria grows on trunks of trees. It is of a pale yellowish color,
becoming a dusky brown (fuscous) when bruised. The base is about 3 lines
long, thick and much branched. The branches and branchlets are tense and
straight, crowded, adpressed and acute. Stevenson says that this species
is uncommon in Great Britain.

+CLAVARIA FLAVA = yellow.+
+The Pale Yellow Clavaria.+

Stevenson does not mention this species, so it may be peculiar to th