They are usually found in pine woods. The caps are often deformed and are easily broken. The pores resemble those of a Boletus. The plant is quite widely distributed. The one in Figure 322 was found in Massachusetts by Mrs. Blackford, and I photographed it after it was partially dry. It is probably the same as P. griseus, P.
Polyporus Berkeleyi. Fr.
Berkeley's Polyporus. Edible.
The pileoli are fleshy, tough, becoming hard and corky, many times imbricated, sometimes growing very large, with many in a head; subzonate, finally tomentose; the plant very much branched, alutaceous.
The stem is short or entirely wanting, arising from a long and thick caudex.
The pore surface is very large, the pores are large and irregular, angular, pale-yellowish.
I have seen some very large specimens of this species. The natural size of the specimen in Figure 323 is two and one-fourth feet across. When young it is edible, but not equal to P. sulphureus. It is found growing on the ground near trees and stumps, and is a widely distributed plant.
Figure 323.—Polyporus Berkeleyi. One-fifth natural size.