Polyozellus is a fungal genus in the family Thelephoraceae, a grouping of mushrooms known collectively as the leathery earthfans. A monotypic genus, it contains the single species Polyozellus multiplex, first described in 1899. The distinctive fruit body of this species comprises blue- to purple-colored clusters of vase- or spoon-shaped caps with veiny wrinkles on the undersurface that run down the length of the stem. Polyozellus has had a varied taxonomic history and has been reclassified several times at both the family and genus level. The range of Polyozellus includes North America and eastern Asia, where P. multiplex may be found growing on the ground in coniferous forests, usually under spruce and fir trees. It is an edible species, and has been harvested for commercial purposes. Polyozellus multiplex contains the bioactive compound polyozellin, shown to have various physiological properties, including suppressive effects on stomach cancer.

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1566:

A convenant of nobles in the Habsburg Netherlands presented Governor Margaret of Parma a petition to suspend the Spanish Inquisition in the Netherlands. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compromise_of_Nobles

1722:

Dutch explorer Jakob Roggeveen became the first European to land on Easter Island. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Island

1847:

Britain's first civic public park, Birkenhead Park in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England, opened. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkenhead_Park

1998:

Japan's Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, linking Awaji Island and Kobe, opened to traffic, becoming the longest suspension bridge in the world to date with a main span length of 1,991 metres (6,532 ft). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akashi_Kaiky%C5%8D_Bridge

2009:

The North Korean satellite Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 was launched from the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground and passed over Japan, sparking concerns by other nations that it may have been a trial run of technology that could be used to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwangmy%C5%8Fngs%C5%8Fng-2

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

Paschal Lamb (n): 1. (historical) The lamb eaten at Passover. 2. (figuratively) Jesus Christ, symbolized as a sacrifice. 3. (heraldry) A lamb depicted with nimbus and bearing a flag http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Paschal_Lamb

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible. --Colin Powell http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Colin_Powell