Spongiosipes means a sponge-like foot. Pileus convex, soft, spongy-tomentose, but tough in texture, rusty-brown, the lower stratum firmer and more fibrous, but concolorous.
The spines are slender, one to two lines long, rusty-brown, becoming darker with age.
The stem is hard and corky within, externally spongy-tomentose; colored like the pileus, the central substance often transversely zoned, especially near the top. Spores globose, nodulose, purplish-brown, 4–6 broad. Pileus one and a half to four inches broad. Stem one and a half to three inches long, and four to eight lines thick. Peck, 50th Rep.
It is found in the woods, quite plentifully, about Chillicothe. I referred it to H. ferrugineum for a long time, but not being satisfied, sent some specimens to Dr. Peck, who classified it as H. spongiosipes. It is edible but very tough. Found from July to October.
Hydnum zonatum. Batsch.
The Zoned Hydnum.
Figure 370.—Hydnum zonatum.
Zonatum, zoned. Ferruginous; pileus equally coriaceous, thin, expanded, subinfundibuliform, zoned, becoming smooth; tough, almost leathery in texture, having a surface of beautiful brown, silky lustre, and with radiating striæ; margin paler; sterile.