Mycological Bulletin: No. 40

Mycological Society of America

Mycological Bulletin: No. 40Author(s): W. A. KellermanSource: Mycological Bulletin, Vol. 3, No. 40 (Aug. 15, 1905), pp. 157-160Published by: Mycological Society of AmericaStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20521037 .

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MYCOLOGICAL BULLETIN No. 40

W. A. Kcllermitan, Ph. D., Ohio State UTniversity Coluirbus, Ohio, August 15, 1905

THE GENUS PLEU-RO'-TUs.-This interestinig group of Gill-funigi, be longing to the series of wlhite-spored Agarics, is concisely described by Professor Atkinson in his MNushroomns Edible and Poisonous, and we can advantageously transcribe his laniguage, which is as follows: "The genus

FIG. ! 29. Pt EU-Rn'-TUB UL-MA'-RI-us ELM PLEUROTus EDIBLE. The half-tone shows two specimens, natural size, taken from the clump illustrated in Fig. 130, where furthier explanation may he found.

Universit. Bulletin, Series 9, No. 28. Entered as Second Class Matter, Post-office at Columbus. Ohio



1.58 A1vrcological Builletin NVo. 40 [Vol. III

Plcurotus is usually recognized without difficulty among the fleshy, white spored agaries, because of the eccentr-ic (not qtlite in the center of the pileus) or lateral stem, or by the pileus being attached at one side in a more or less shelving position, or in some species where the upper side of the pileus 1ies directly against the wood on which the plant is growing, and is then said to be resupinate. The gills are either decurrent (extend ing downward) oln the stem, or in some species they are rounded or

notched at the juniction with the stem. There is no annulus, though some times a veil, and the genus resembles both Tricholonia and Clitocybe, ex cept for the position of the stein on the pileus. In Tricholorna and Cli tocybe the stem is usually attached at the center, anid the majority of the species grow on the ground, wlhile the species of Pleurotus are especially characterized by growing on wood. Some species, at least, appear to grow from the ground, as in Pleurottus petaloides, which is sometimes found growing on buiried roots or portions of decaying stumps which no longer show above grounld."

PLEU -RC'-TUS UL-MA'-IT-US; EI.M PLEU-RO'-TUs.-This species is de scribed as usually growing on the Elm-whence the name-but also oc curring on other trees. It may be found at wounds where there is decaying

wood--but it may occtir on the ground as stated in the paragraph below. The miark that distiniguiislhes this large species from tlle Oyster ftungus and other related species is its long stem, uisually attached near the center of the cap, and by the gills bein-ig rounlded or iiotched at their inner extremity. rhe pileuis is convex, the margin incLurved, then nearly expanided. It is

smooth and white or whitish; it may be yellowish or brownish in the center.

WHAT THE AUTHORS SAY OF THIS SPECIEs.-It may add to the in-terest of this subject if some qucotations as to the Elm Pleu-ro'-tus are added.

Atkinsoni savs: "The elm pleurotus has been long known as an edible fungus, and is regarded as an excellent one for food on accounlt of its flavor and because of its large size. It occurs abundantly during the late atlumn, and at this season of the year is usually well protected from the attacks of insects. It occurs in the woods, or fields, more frequenitly on dead trees. On shade trees which have been severely pruned, and are nearlv or qulite dead, it sometimes appears at the wounds, where limbs lhave becn removed, in great abuciidanice. Tn some plants the stems are strongvly curve1l because the weight of the cap bore the plant dowlnward. Sometinmes whel the plant is growing directly on the upper side of a braiich or log, the stem mllav be central."

AIMclvai ne says: "'The historic elms of Boston Common have borre

copiouIs crops of this well-kinown and easily distinguished species from time immemorial. Every fall, about the first of September, if the season is

favorabie, later if inot, copiouiS crops appear decorating the trunks, and branches, sometimes at a height of thirty or forty feet. Growth takes place where brancihes have broken off or the trees have been wounded from other cauises. They occur very generally on elms in the outlying dis tricts of the city, but rare in the country, seeming to be distinctly urban in their tastes. Nio damiage is apparent from their growth."

OUR IL.TUSTRATION OF THTE ELM PLEU-RO'-TUs.-The remarkable speci men showni in Fig. 120l differs muich from the common type--but they may be representativcs of I'leu-ro'-tus ul-ma'-ri-us, as kindly determined for me by Professor M\organ. He remarked concerning them: "Something n.ear Pleuirotiis ul1niaritis--the spores of this species, but tlle form is not typical."

Excellent figures of the Pleurotus ulmarius are given in Atkinson's AMushrooms Edible and Poisonous (on pp. 102-3). He shows two speci

mens with long, strongly curved stems, as seen from above, from below, and in section. T'he other species which he illustrates by half-tones are

Pleut-ro'-ttus os-tre-a'-tfis, Pletu-ro'-tuis sap'-i-dtus, Pletu-ro'-tus dry-i'-nus Pleu-ro'-tuis sul-fu-roi'--des and Pleu-ro'-tuis pet-a-loi'-des.



1.5 Aug. 1905] Mycological Bulletin No. 40 159

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160 Mylcological Bullcfini No. 40 [Vol. III

F'IG. 131. fl0-LE'-TUS FEI.'-LE-Us. BIITTER BIOLETUS. A conspicuous Species, some

whiat reseribling the edible li'oletus edulis, whichi is also common. Collected in the woods of the State Farn, Lancaster, Ohio.

The~ Mycological Bulletin is issued on the 1st and 15th of each Month, Price 25c. Copies of Volt. 11 (1904) may be had for 50 cents each, or cloth bound copies for 75 cents. No copies remain of Vol. 1 (1903). Address, W. A. Kellerman Columbus Ohio.



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Mycological Bulletin: No. 40