Polyporus is from two Greek words meaning many and pores. In this genus the stratum of the pores is not easily separated from the cap. Most of the species under this genus are tough and corky. Many grow on decayed wood, a few on the ground, but even these are inclined to be tough. Very few of those growing on wood have a central stem and many have apparently no stem at all.
Polyporus picipes. Fr.
The Black-Footed Polyporus.
Figure 319.—Polyporus picipes. Two-thirds natural size. Note the black stem, which gives name to the species.
Picipes is from pix, pitch or black, and pes, foot.
The pileus is fleshy, rigid, coriaceous, tough, even, smooth, depressed either behind or in the center; livid with a chestnut-colored disk.
The pores are decurrent, rounded, small, tender, white, finally reddish-gray.