=P. torulo´sus= Fr.—a tuft of hair. (Plate LIV, p. 232.) =Pileus= 2–3 in. broad, somewhat flesh-color, but varying reddish-livid and becoming violet, _entire_, but very excentric, fleshy, somewhat compact when young, _plano-infundibuliform, even_, smooth. =Flesh= pallid. =Stem= short, commonly 1 in., solid, oblique, tough, firm, commonly with gray, but often violaceous _down_. =Gills= decurrent, somewhat distant, simple, separate behind, reddish then tan-color. Very changeable in form, at first fleshy-pliant, at length coriaceous. In the covering of the stem it approaches Paxillus atro-tomentosus, but there is no affinity between them. _Fries._ On old stumps. =Spores= 6×3µ _W.G.S._ North Carolina, _Curtis_; Massachusetts, _Frost_; Minnesota, _Johnson_; Kansas, _Cragin_; New York, _Peck_, Rep. 30. Much esteemed in France, _W.D.H._ Edible, but tough. _M.C.C._ =P. lævis= B. and C.—light. =Pileus= 3 in. broad, orbicular, slightly depressed, white, clothed in the center with long, intricate, rather delicate hairs, which are shorter and more matted toward the inflected margin; substance rather thin. =Stem= 3 in. high, ½ in. thick, attenuated upward, generally excentric, sometimes lateral, not rooting, solid, hairy below like the margin of the pileus. =Gills= rather broad, entire, decurrent, but not to a great degree, the interstices even above, behind clothed with the same coat as the top of the stem. =Spores= white. On oak and hickory trunks. A most distinct species, remarkable for its great lightness when dry and the long villous but not compressed or compound flocci of the pileus. Sometimes the center of the pileus becomes quite smooth when old. One of the prettiest of fungi. The markings upon the white margin are more precise than those of the finest bee comb. One does not tire looking at the work of Nature’s geometrician. It is not plentiful, but is of useful size. It has good flavor and cooks quite tender. (Plate LV_a_.) [Illustration: PANUS STRIGOSUS. One-third natural size. ] =P. strigo´sus= B. and C.—covered with stiff hairs. =Pileus= white, excentric, clothed with coarse strigose pubescence, margin thin. =Stem= strigose like the pileus. =Gills= broad, distant, decurrent. Allied to P. lævis. =Pileus= 8 in. broad. =Stem= 2–3 in. long, 1 in. or more thick. On oak stumps. Decaying wood of deciduous trees. September. It is remarkable for its large size and the dense hairy covering of the pileus and stem. _Peck_, 26th Rep. N.Y. State Bot. A remarkably handsome fungus. A specimen taken from a cluster growing upon an apple tree measured 10 in. across. Its creamy whiteness, and short hairy stem make it unmistakable among other tree-fungi. When very young it is edible, but soon becomes woody. Even when aged it yields a well flavored gravy. ** _Stem lateral._