Beilschmiedia tawa (A. Cunn.) Hook. f. & Benth. Auckland. Claudelands Reserve, Hamilton, 200ft, November, 1946, G.H.C. Fuchsia excorticata L.f. Westland. Waiho, 600ft, November, 1954, J.M. Dingley. Nothofagus cliffortioides (Hook. f.) Oerst. Auckland. Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu, 3,000ft, October, 1949, J.M. Dingley. Nothopanax colensoi (Hook. f.) Seem. Taranaki. Mt. Egmont, 2,500ft, March, 1951, J.M. Dingley. Schefflera digitata Forst. Taranaki. Dawson Falls, Mt. Egmont, 2,300ft, January, 1953, J. M. Dingley, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 14245. Westland. Waiho, 600ft, November, 1954, J.M. Dingley. Weinmannia racemosa L.f. Westland. Lake Mapouriki, November, 1946. J.M. Dingley.

Hymenophore annual, membranous, adnate, effused forming irregular areas 5-15 x 1-5 cm; surface at first white, becoming pallid ochre, then fulvous, velutinate, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, concolorous, adnate. Context cream, to 250 µ thick (excluding fascicles), basal layer composed of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer well developed, of ascending hyphae somewhat loosely arranged, more freely branched beneath the hymenium; generative hyphae 3-6 µ diameter, walls 0.5 µ thick, hyaline, branched, septate, with clamp connexions. Hymenial layer to 30 µ deep, a loose palisade of basidia and parapbyses interrupted by the fascicles. Basidia cylindrical with bases abruptly narrowed, 25-35 x 6-8 µ, 4-spored; sterigmata arcuate, 6-8 µ long. Paraphyses clavate, of the same diameter but shorter than the basidia. Gloeocystidia, arising from the base of the hymenial layer when projecting, and in the context, cylindrical, rnoniliform, 60-110 x 5-6 µ, scanty, staining blue. Fascicles arising from the basal layer and projecting for the greater part of their length, 5-20 per mm, subulate, 200-500 µ long, 30-100 µ diameter, formed from 10-100 hyphae compactly arranged, each tapering, aseptate, walls 1 µ thick, naked or with occasional crystals. Spores commonly broadly elliptical or obovate, 10-12 x 5-7 µ, or less frequently subglobose or globose, when 7-9 µ diameter, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µ thick, staining deeply, copious.

DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.

HABITAT: Effused usually on decorticated rotting wood, rarely on bark.

Hymenophorum annuum, membranaceum, aduatum, effusum; superficie primo alba deinde fulva, velutina, non rimosa. Contextus cremeus, ad 250 µ, crassus. Hypharum systema monomiticum; hyphae generatoriae 3-6 µ diam., hyalinae, septatae, nodulosae. Basidia cylindricalia, basi attenuata, 25-35 x 6-8 µ. Gloeocystidia cylindricalia, moniliformia, 60-110 x 5-6 µ. Fasciculati hypharum generatoriarum ex strato infimo exorti, subulati, 200-500 x 30-100 µ. Sporae late ellipticae vel obovatae, 10-12 x 5-7 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis.

Fascicles may be scattered or so crowded that the surface appears strigose. They may be slender and composed of a few hyphae, or more often consist of numerous hyphae compacted into dense tufts. Hyphae of which they are constructed are modified generative hyphae. each tapering from base to apex, aseptate save near the base, and with walls thickened to 1 µ.
Gloeocystidia may be scanty or relatively abundant. Commonly moniliform, sometimes strikingly so, they arise from hyphae of the intermediate layer and stain deeply with aniline blue. Tissues of the hymenial layer collapse as soon as spores are shed, consequently its structure can be ascertained only by examination of sections taken from the periphery of actively growing specimens. Spores are copiously produced so that in sections fascicles and the hymenial surface are seen to be coated with them. They vary appreciably in shape and size and walls stain deeply with aniline blue. Basidia are cylindrical with abruptly attenuated bases. The species favours decorticated much decayed branches lying upon the forest floor in moist. localities.

Auckland. Orewa, January, 1949, P.M. Ambler. Glen Esk Valley, Piha, May, 1951, April, 1953, J.M. Dingley. Cascades, Waitakeres, 600ft, April, 1954, S.D. Baker, type collection, P.D.D. Herbarium, No. 14244.Huia,, January, 1955, J.M. Dingley.

Hymenophore annual, membranous, adnate, effused, forming irregular areas to 15 x 5 cm, with numerous irregularly orbicular outlying islands; surface white, becoming cream, velutinate under a lens, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, adnate. Context white, 25-70 µ thick, basal layer of parallel skeletal hyphae, occupying about half the context, intermediate layer scanty, of branched hyphae mainly ascending, and embedding masses of crystals which may be absent; skeletal hyphae 3-3.5 µ diameter, lumen capillary, hyaline, scantily branched, aseptate; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µ diameter, walls 0.25 µ thick, hyaline, branched, septate, with clamp connexions. Hymenial layer to 30 µ deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses interrupted by the erumpent fascicles. Basidia at first cylindrical, becoming somewhat cucurbitiform with inflated bases, 24-30 x 8-10 µ, 4-spored, projecting; sterigmata stout, arcuate, to 12 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate or as often elliptical, to 20 x 10 µ. Fascicles arising from the basal layer, projecting for the greater part of their length, 8-10 per mm, subulate with broad bases and bluntly acuminate or rounded apices, 150-205 x 30-50 µ, composed of 50-110 skeletal hyphae sometimes tapering, where exposed coated with fine crystals and in old specimens often enmeshed in irregular hyphal sheaths. Spores clavate-naviculate, apices bluntly rounded, bases apiculate, 12-16 x 5-6.5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick; often adhering in fours.

DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.

HABITAT: Effused on dead pendent and fallen stipes. Rhopalostylis sapida (Sol.) Wendl. & Drude.

Hymenophorum annuum, membranaceum, adnatum. effusum; superficie alba deinde cremea, velutina, non rimosa. Contextus albus, 25-70 µ crassus. Hypharum systema dimiticum; hyphae skeletales 3-3.5 µ diam.; lumine capillari, aseptatae; hyphae generatoriae 2-2.5 µ diam., nodulosae. Basidia cucurbitaeformiora, 24-30 x 8-10 µ. Fasciculi hypharum skeletalium ex strato infimo exorti, subulati, 150-205 x 30-50 µ. Sporae clavato-naviculares, 12-16 x 5-6.5 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis.

Both the basal layer and fascicles are composed of skeletal hyphae. Fascicles are coated exteriorly with fine crystals, and as the hyphae are firmly compacted, simulate cystidia of the radicate section of Peniophora. The resemblance is enhanced in that fascicles of old specimens become enmeshed in hyphal sheaths. They are fascicles, nevertheless, since when mounted singly, crushed under a coverslip, and crystals removed, they are seen to be composed of numerous thick-walled skeletal hyphae, with many in the interior tapering gradually to their apices. Basidia are at first cylindrical, but as sterigmata elongate, they become somewhat cucurbitiform, with inflated bases. Spores are naviculate or clavate-naviculate. Their bases are attenuated and after spores are shed often collapse near the point of attachment and expand into a small bulb. Spores frequently adhere in pairs or fours following discharge from the basidia. In shape they resemble somewhat those of E. hyphae and E. interrupta. The species appears to be confined to one host, sole representative of the family Palmeae in New Zealand. The specific name is taken from the Maori name of the host, nikau.

Rhopalostylis sapida (Sol.) Wendl. & Drude. Auckland. Sharp's Bush, Henderson Valley, April, 1952, S.D. Baker, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 11491. Huia, March, October, 1953, J.M. Dingley. Atkinson Park, Titirangi, 900ft, June, 1953, J.M. Dingley. Mountain Road, Henderson, 700ft, March, 1954, J.M. Dingley. Cascades, Waitakeres, 700ft, April, 1954, S.D. Baker. Whangapoua Saddle, Coromandel Peninsula, 1,000ft, August, 1954, J.M. Dingley Camel's Back; Coromandel Peninsula, 1,000ft, October. 1954, J.M. Dingley.

Hymenophore disciform or pezizaeform, solitary or in small groups of 3-5, attached by a small central base, annual, membranous, 1-6 mm diameter, orbicular or irregularly so, exterior dark brown, or fuseus, densely tomentose with delicate fuscous hyphae; Hymenial surface cream or pallid sulphur-yellow, velutinate, not creviced; margin slightly raised, or not, tomentose, concolorous. Context 300-800 µ thick, white, becoming dingy when old, basal layer of densely compacted parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of vertical compacted hyphae radiately arranged, pierced by the fascicles, becoming pseudoparenchymatous when old; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, hyaline, branched, septate, with clamp connexions. Hymenial layer to 70 µ deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 40-56 x 7-9 µ, 4-spored; sterigmata slender, slightly arcuate, to 8 µ long. Paraphyses of the same length but narrower than the basidia. Paraphysate hyphae 2 µ diameter, slightly projecting, mostly peripheral, sometimes once or twice branched at apices. Fascicles arising from the basal layer, traversing the context and projecting to 130 µ, 20-30 per mm, aculeate, 150-900 µ long, 16-30 µ diameter, apices long-acuminate, of cemented hyphae embedding masses of crystals often placed obliquely. Spores oblong, obovate or subglobose, apiculate, 7-13 x 6-8 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0-5 µ thick.

DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.

HABITAT: Scattered or gregarious on bark of living trunks.

Hynenophorum disciforme vel pezizaeforme, solitarium vel in 3-5 congregatum, annuum, membranaceum, 1-6 mm diam., extra tomentosum, superficie hymenii cremea vel pallide sulphurea, velutina, non rimosa. Contextus 300-800 µ crassus, albus. Hypharum systema monomiticum; hyphae generatoriae 2-2.5 µ diam., hyalinae, septatae, nodulosae. Basidia subclavata, 40-56 x 7-9 µ. Fasciculi hypharum generatoriarum crystallis congregatis inclusis, ex strato infimo exorti, aculeati, 150-900 x 16-30 µ. Sporae oblongae, obovatae vel subglobosae, 7-13 x 6-8 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis.

Characterized by the small fructifications and peculiar fascicles. Fructifications may be disciform or pezizaeform and range in diameter from one to six mm. The surface is pallid sulphur-yellow and densely velutinate with projecting fascicles, in this feature simulating some delicate Hydnum. Fascicles arise in the basal layer, mostly from the region of the point of attachment, and extend radiately through context and hymenium. They appear as highly refractive bands on account of the masses of embedded crystals which are often arranged obliquely. Generative hyphae of the context are delicate, crowded vertically, and soon collapsed to form a pseudoparenchyma. Spores vary from elliptic-oblong or obovate, the common condition, to subglobose, and are strongly apiculate.