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Cunningham, G.H. 1948: New Zealand Polyporaceae. 3. The genus Polyporus. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Plant Diseases Division, Bulletin. 74.

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Cunningham, G.H. 1948: New Zealand Polyporaceae. 3. The genus Polyporus. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Plant Diseases Division, Bulletin. 74.
New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Plant Diseases Division, Bulletin.
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Cyphella hebe G. Cunn. 1953
Pilei annual, scattered, membranous, tough, cupulate, 1-2.5 mm. diameter, attached by a narrow base; exterior bay-brown, tan, or ferruginous, concolorous, finely radiate-striate, often splitting on the posterior side, not tomentose though sometimes with a few scattered hairs; margin acute, slightly inturned, entire or with one or two deep incisions; hymenial surface concave, even, pallid cream. Context white, save at the periphery, where a few hyphae are tinted, to 80 µ thick, base to 350 µ, of radiately arranged densely packed sclerotioid hyphae; generative hyphae to 5 µ diameter, wall to 2 µ thick, branched, septate, hyaline. Hymenial layer to 40 µ deep, paraphyses subclavate. Basidia subclavate, 35-42 x 10-12 µ, 4-spored. Spores elliptic-fusiform, a few suballantoid, bluntly acaminate at ends, 12-13 x 4-5 µ, smooth, hyaline.
DISTRIBUTION. New Zealand.
HABITAT. Solitary on bark of dead twigs.
Pilei sparsi, membranacei, cupulati, 1-2.5 mm. diam.; exteriore parte brunneo-badia, alutacea vel ferrnginea, in radiis tenuiter striata, nuda; margine acuto paulo inflecto, toto aut uno vel duobus profundis incisis. Contextus albus ad 80 µ crassus, hyphis sclerotioidibus ad 5 µ diam. in radiis ordinatis, pariete 2 µ crasso. Paraphyses subclavati. Sporae elliptice, fusiformes aliquot suballantoides, terminis obtuse acuminatis, apiculatae, 12-13 x 4-5 µ, leves, hyalinae.
C. hebe and C. totara show a general resemblance to one another in shape and colour of the naked pilei. In microfeatures they differ in context structure, and shape of the spores. C. densa also possesses pilei with similar colour; but they are of different shape, much smaller, often caespitose at the base, tomentose, and the spores are brown.
Hebe salicifolia (Forst. f.) Ckn. & Allan. Taranaki. Mt. Egmont, 4,000 feet; April, 1946; J.M. Dingley; type collection.
Cyphella pseudopanax G. Cunn. 1953
Pilei annual, scattered, waxy, fragile, 0.2-0.5 mm. diameter, attached by a narrow base, cupulate or as often pendent; exterior white, drying cream, tomentum of long, unbranched aseptate hyphae, tortuous, 3 µ diameter, finely crystal coated, tapering gradually to long-acuminate apices; margin inturned, lacerate when old; hymenial surface concave, even, pallid buff or cream. Context white, to 40 µ thick, base to 250 µ, of parallel hyphae radiately arranged; generative hyphae to 2.5 µ diameter, wall 0.25 µ thick, sparsely branched, septate. Hymenial layer to 35 µ deep, paraphyses subclavate. Basidia subclavate, 12-16 x 7-8 µ, 4-spored. Spores broadly fusiform or lemon-shaped, apiculate, 6-9 x 4.5-5.5 µ, smooth, hyaline.
DISTRIBUTION. New Zealand.
HABITAT. Scattered on bark of dead stems.
Pilei sparsi, cerosi, cupulati vel penduli, 0.2-0.5 mm. diam.; exteriore parte alba, tomento hyphis longis, sine ramis, aseptatis, tortuosis ad 3 µ diam., apicibus longo-acuminatis gradatim fastigatis, crystallis illinatis; margine inflecto, lacerato in maturitate. Contextus albus, ad 40 µ crassus, hyphis ad 2.5 µ diam., in radiis ordinatis. Paraphyses subclavati. Sporae late fusiformes vel citriformes, apiculatae, 6-9 x 4.5-5.5 µ, leves, hyalinae.
Tomentum hairs are long, unbranched, thin-walled and taper gradually to acuminate finely crystal-coated apices, the main stem being covered with coarse crystals.
Pseudopanax crassifolium (Sol.) Koch. Taranaki. Mt. Egmont, 2,700 feet; February, 1952. G.H.C.; type collection.
Cyphella pyriformis G. Cunn. 1953
Pilei annual, scattered, membranous, brittle, 0.2-1 mm. diameter, attached by a brief narrow base, at first subglobose becoming pezizoid; exterior white, covered with dense tomentum of fine hairs curved over the hymenium, 5-6 µ diameter, wall 1 µ thick, finely crystal coated with occasional inflated areas at or near the apex; margin inturned, fimbriate; hymenial surface concave, white becoming cream. Context white, to 100 µ thick, to 250 µ at the base, of radiately arranged compact parallel hyphae, outer few layers tinted; generative hyphae to 4 µ diameter, wall 0.25 µ thick, branched, septate. Hymenial layer to 60 µ deep, paraphyses filiform, numerous, apically acuminate. Basidia subclavate, 40-50 x 10-12 µ, 2-4-spored. Spores pyriform, flask-shaped, or tear-shaped, base rounded, apex long-acuminate, 15-20 x 9-11 µ, smooth, hyaline.
DISTRIBUTION. New Zealand.
HABITAT. Scattered on bark of dead twigs.
Pilei sparsi, membranacei, primo subglobosi, deinde pezizoides, 0.2-1 mm. diam.; exteriore parte alba, tomento denso pilorum brevium in hymenium curvatorum, subtiliter crystallis illinatorum, tecta, 5-6 µ diam., pariete 1 µ crasso; margine inflecto, fimbriato. Contextus albus ad 100 µ crassus, hyphis ad 4 µ diam. in radiis ordinatis, pariete 0.25 µ crasso. Paraphyses filiformes et apice acuminato. Sporae pyriformes, ampullaceae vel lacrimiformes, basi rotunda, apice longo-acuminato, apiculatae, 15-20 x 9-11 µ, leves, hyalinae.
Pilei resemble those of C. villosa and C. alboviolascens; but the species differs appreciably in the peculiar spores, which either resemble flasks with long necks or are tear-shaped with the broad base attached to the sterigmata. Both C. pyriforma and C. turbinata possess filiform paraphyses, whereas in the others described they are subclavate. In the sectional drawing (Text-fig. C, fig. 10) tufts of hairs are shown growing from the hymenial surface, a condition seen also in pilei of C. villosa and C. alboviolascens.
Hebe salicifolia (Forst. f.) Ckn. & Allan. Taranaki. Mt. Egmont, 3,500 feet; April, 1946; J.M. Dingley; type collection.
Cyphella tongariro G. Cunn. 1953
Pilei annual; scattered, waxy, brittle, copulate, 0.5-0.75 mm. diameter, attached by a narrow base; exterior white, tomentum composed of tortuous aseptate thick-walled branched hyphae, 5 µ diameter, with lumen almost obliterated, coated with coarse deciduous crystals, terminating in long, gradually tapering spirally coiled naked apices; margins inturned, lacerate when old; hymenial surface concave, buff or honey-coloured. Context white, to 50 µ thick, to 300 µ at the base, of parallel radiately arranged hyphae; generative hyphae to 3.5 µ diameter, wall 0.25 µ thick, sparsely branched, septate. Hymenial layer to 40 µ deep, paraphyses subclavate. Basidia subclavate, 16-20 x 5-6 µ, 4-spored. Spores fusiform-elliptical, apex rounded, base pointed and apiculate, 7-8 x 3-3.5 µ, smooth, hyaline.
DISTRIBUTION. New Zealand.
HABITAT. Scattered on bark of dead twigs.
Pilei sparsi, cerosi, cupul ati, 0.5-0.75 mm. diam.; exteriore parte alba, tomento hyphis tortuosis, aseptatis, ralnosis, ad 5 µ diam., parietibus crassis, crystallis crassus deciduis illinatis, lumine paente obliterato, apicibus nudis in spiris longis fastigatis; margine inflecto, lacerato in maturitate. Contextus albus, ad 50 µ crassus, hyphis ad 3.5 µ diam., in radiis ordinatis, pariete 0.25 µ crasso. Paraphyses subclavati. Sporae fusiformes, ellipticae, apice rotundo, basi acuta et apiculata, 7-8 x 3-3.5 µ, leves, hyalinae.
In general appearance C. tongariro and C. pseudopanax resemble one another, but may be separated by the different spores and tomentum. Hairs of C. tongariro are branched, thick-walled, long-acuminate and terminate in whip-like coiled tendrils. The basal part is coated with coarse crystals, the apical naked. Both also show a general resemblance to C. villosa, differing mainly in the markedly distinct tomentum and different spores.
Phyllocladus trichomanoides Don. Auckland. Mt. Tongariro, 2,500 feet; March, 1952; G.H.C.; type collection.
Cyphella totara G. Cunn. 1953
Podocarpus hallii Kirk. Auckland. Mt. Tongariro, 2,500 feet; March, 1952; G.H.C. Titirangi; February, 1951; J. M. Dingley. Wellington. Mt. Hector; Tararua Ranges, 2,700 feet; January, 1931; E.E. Chamberlain. Podocarpus totara Don. Auckland. Oratia, Waitakere Ranges, 600 feet; January, 1932; M. Hodgkins. Swanson; November, 1945; J.M. Dingley. Titirangi; February, 1951; J.M. Dingley. Canterbury. Peel Forest, 1,800 feet; January, 1928; G.H.C.; type collection. Otago. Lower Pike River, Hollyford Valley; January, 1950; J.M. Dingley.
Pilei annual, scattered, membranous, tough, 2-3 mm. long, 1-3 mm. broad, pendulous when attached by a narrow vertex, or conical-cupulate when seated upon a somewhat broad base; exterior surface fawn or tan, darker peripherally, finely radiate-striate, or wrinkled, naked; margin acute, inturned or plane, entire or slightly lacerate; hymenial surface even, concave, bay-brown. Context white (brown in some old specimens), 150-250 µ thick, to 500 µ at the base, of radiately arranged sclerotioid compact hyphae; generative hyphae to 5 µ diameter, wall 1 µ thick, hyaline, branched, septate, tortuous. Hymenial layer to 70 µ deep, paraphyses subclavate. Basidia clavate, 40-56 x 7-9 µ, 2-4-spored. Spores obovate or elliptical, apiculate, 8-9.5 x 5-6 µ, smooth, hyaline.
DISTRIBUTION. New Zealand.
HABITAT. Scattered on bark of living and dead branches.
Pilei sparsi, membranacei, penduli et vertice angusto adjuncti vel conice cupulati ubi in basi lata sedent, 2-3 mm, longi, 1-3 mm, lati; exteriore parte hinnulea vel alutacea, in radiis tenuiter striata, nuda; margine acuto, inflecto vel plano, toto vel paulo lacerato. Contextus albus, 150-250 µ, crassus, hyphis sclerotioidibus ad 5 µ diam. in radiis ordinatis, pariete 1 µ crasso. Paraphyses sub-clavati. Sporae obovatae vel ellipticae, apiculatae, 8-9.5 x 5-6 µ, leves, hyalinae.
The species is common on two endemic species of Podocarpus, called totara by the Maori, hence its specific name. It is often present on bark of living trunks or branches, though as frequent on dead branches. Close to C. hebe, it may be separated by the usually much larger size of pilei, thicker context with different hyphae, and differently shaped shorter spores. In Kew herbarium is filed one collection, ex totara bark, Buller Valley, Westland, T. Kirk, No. 236. It was placed by Cooke under the cover of C. cupulaeformis Berk. & Rav., a species which differs in possessing markedly angular, distorted, and irregular spores.
Cyphella turbinata G. Cunn. 1953
Pilei annual, scattered, membranous, waxy, fragile, 0.1-0.5 mm. diameter, attached by a brief stem-like base, at first subglobose becoming urceolate or discoid; exterior dingy white, covered with a scanty tomentum, hairs 4-6 µ diameter, wall 0-5 µ thick, hyaline, finely crystal coated; margin inturned, fimbriate; hymenial surface slightly concave, white or cream. Context white, to 80 µ thick, to 250 µ at the base, of radiately arranged mainly parallel hyphae; generative hyphae 5-6 µ diameter, wall 0.25 µ thick, branched, septate, hyaline. Hymenial layer to 80 µ deep, paraphyses filiform, somewhat scanty, apices acuminate. Basidia clavate, some almost capitate, 60-80 x 16-20 µ, 4-spored. Spores turbinate, 14-16 x 10-12 µ, smooth, hyaline.
DISTRIBUTION. New Zealand.
HABITAT. Scattered on bark of dead twigs.
Pilei sparsi, cerosi, primo subglobosi, deinde urceolati vel discoides, 0.1-0.5 mm. diam.; exteriore parte sordide alba, tomento tenui tecta, pilis 4-6 µ diam., subtiliter crystallis illinatis, pariete 0.5 µ crasso; margine inflecto, fimbriato. Contextus albus ad 80 µ crassus, hyphis ad 6 µ diam., in radiis ordinatis, pariete 0.25 µ crasso. Paraphyses filiformes, apicibus acuminatis. Sporae turbinatae, apiculatae, 14-16 x 10-12 µ, leves, hyalinae.
Separated from C. villosa by the small size of the pilei, rather scanty tomentum, large. almost capitate basidia and turbinate spores. The latter show a general resemblance to those of C. pyriforma, differing in shape and smaller size.
Olearia paniculata (Forst. f.) Cheesm. Otago. Invercargill; October, 1950; Faithful; type collection.
Polyporus atrostrigosus Cooke 1890
Unknown Hosts. Wellington. Track to Ohakune Hut, Mt. Ruapehu, 3,500 feet, April 1935, E.E.Chamberlain; Mangahao Dam, Tararua Ranges, 2,000 feet, June 1935; E.E.Chamberlain. Westland. Mt, Rangitaipo, 4,000 feet, Feb. 1928, G.H.C.
Hymenophore annual, solitary, laterally attached by a broad base, hard and woody, sometimes dimidiate and imbricate. Pileus triquetous or fan-shaped, to 4 cm. x 1.5-2.5 cm. x 5-8 mm.; surface black, densely coated with coarse imbricate strigose tufts of hyphae radiately arranged, vaguely sulcate, cuticle wanting, replaced by imbricate hyphae with rounded ends and fuscous walls; margin bluntly acuminate, lacerate, inturned; hymenial surface wood colour to smoky brown, irregular, dissepiments strongly toothed. Context white or cream, 2-5 mm. thick, of parallel hyphae radiately arranged, firm and woody; generative hyphae 5-7 µ thick, wall 1 µ, sparsely branched, septate, clamp connections abundant and large. Pores irregular, angular, to 5 mm. deep, wood colour in section, waxy, 100-200 µ diameter, or 4-6 per mm.; dissepiments 50-150 µ thick, of parallel hyphae cemented together, tapering to the apex where even. Basidial type clavate, basidia clavate, 10-12 x 3-4.5 µ. Spores allantoid, 5-5.5 x 1.5-2 µ, smooth, hyaline.

New Zealand.

Growing solitary, sometimes imbricate, on decorticated rotting logs lying on the forest floor.

Characterized by the coarse, imbricate, strigose black hairs which clothe the surface of the pileus. The pigmented walls of these separate the species from P. setiger, which otherwise it resembles.

Lloyd (1922, p. 1147) recorded the species from Tasmania. He described the spores as being elliptical, 6 x 5 µ, so had obviously confused the species with some other, probably P. pelles Lloyd, which has the pileus covered with dark coloured erect fibrils.

LOCALITY: New Zealand.

Polyporus catervatus Berk. 1855

Beilschmiedia tawa (A.Cunn.) Hook.f. & Benth.

Auckland. Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Range, July 1949, Joan Dingley. Dacrydium cupressinum Sol. Wellington. Weraroa, Sept. 1919, G.H.C.; Same Locality, May 1923, J.C.Neill; Wilton's Bush, G.B.Rawlings. Hedycarya arborea Forst. Auckland. Oratia Stream, 500 feet, March 1931, M.Hodgkins. Leptospermum ericoides A.Rich. Auckland. Hunua Falls, 400 feet, Oct. 1946, G.H.C.

Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, pendulous, obconic or discoid, attached by a short expansion of the vertex, to 4 mm x 1-3 mm. Pileus when solitary orbicular, discoid, 5-15 mm. diameter, 1-1.5 mm. thick, usually merging at the margins then forming caespitose groups which are patellate, to 5 cm. x 2 cm. and attached by numerous stem-like projections; surface smooth, polished, often radiately striate, grey, bay-brown or umber, cuticle wanting, replaced by imbricate partly cemented hyphae; margin usually revolute, entire or finely toothed, acute, when pilei are caespitose only peripheral margins are apparent; hymenial surface cream or ochraceous, concave, dissepiments strongly toothed, often tearing into segments. Context 0.2-0.5 mm. thick, grey or bay-brown, of parallel radiately arranged hyphae firmly compacted; generative hyphae 4-8 µ thick, wall 1.5-2 µ, sparsely septate, branched, clamp connections scanty, staining. Pores round or irregular, to 1 mm. deep, straw- or wood-colour in section, 50-100 µ diameter, mostly 75 µ, or 9-10 per mm.; dissepiments 25-50 µ thick, equal, of parallel densely compacted hyphae, apices even, brittle. Basidial type clavate, basidia clavate, to 12 x 4 µ, persistent. Spores globose, 4-4.5 µ diameter, smooth, hyaline, abundant.

New Zealand.

Growing usually caespitose on bark or decorticated wood on the under surface of fallen branches and logs.

Pilei grow pendulous upon the under side of fallen logs, attached by a brief extension of the vertex. When solitary they assume a discoid shape with the hymenium downward; when caespitose, the common condition, the pilei merge to form large dish-shaped bodies attached by numerous short apical extensions. Occasionally plants assume a flabelliform shape, and are then attached by. a lateral extension of the pileus. Such forms resemble pilei of P. exiguis from which they may be separated by the minute pores, prominently toothed dissepiments, lighter colour of the hymenophore, and globose spores. Dissepiments are very thin and delicate. In old specimens the hymenium may become much creviced and torn, when it is difficult to detect the pores.

In Fries' herbarium at Upsala I saw specimens named P. catervatus by M.C.Cooke. They had been collected in July 1874, at Wellington by S.Berggren and are identical with specimens described above and the illustration given by Berkeley (l.c., Pl. CV., Fig. 1.)

TYPE LOCALITY: Waimate, Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

Polyporus colensoi Berk. 1855
Nothofagus fusca (Hook.f.) Oerst.Wellington. York Bay, 500 feet, Nov. 1921, E.H.Atkinson; Same Locality, 300 feet, June 1927, E.H.Atkinson.
Hymenophore annual, compound, composed of numerous pilei (5-46) arising from a common central or lateral freely branched stem, compact, coriaceous, to 20 cm. broad. Pilei coriaceous, 2-5 cm. x 1-3 cm. x 1-4 mm., fan-shaped, cuneiform, or spathulate; surface bay brown or tobacco brown, radiately striate and irregularly nodose, cuticle absent, replaced by imbricate hyphae with inflated rounded ends; margin acuminate, fringed, often undulate; hymenial surface decurrent, dingy bay brown to tobacco brown, dissepiments toothed, and deeply lacerate in old specimens. Context to 1 mm. thick, bay brown when fresh, drying fuscous, dense and gelatinized, of radiately arranged densely compacted parallel hyphae; skeletal hyphae 5-8 µ thick, wall 2-3.5 µ, freely branched, aseptate, contents staining; generative hyphae 3-6 µ thick, wall 1 µ, sparsely branched, septate, with large somewhat sparse clamp connections; associated with numerous lactiferous ducts which are 6-8 µ thick, linear or slightly irregular, staining deeply. Pores decurrent, bay brown or fuscous in section, 0.2-1 mm. deep, variable in size and shape, angular, 1-3 mm. long, to 1 mm. broad; dissepiments 125-400 µ thick, of densely compacted woven hyphae, tapering to the apex where even. Basidial type clavate, basidia linear-oblong or subclavate, to 24 x 6 µ. Spores globose or less often subglobose, 4-5 µ diameter, smooth, hyaline, abundant.

Australia; New Zealand.

Growing on rotting wood and humus between large roots of living trees.
A feature of the species aiding diagnosis is the large compound hymenophore, which consists of numerous fan-shaped or spathulate pilei attached by irregular, freely branched, lateral stems. Plants grow to a large size, a specimen from Mt. Lofty, South Australia, kindly communicated by J.B.Cleland, weighing 7 lb. when fresh and measuring 13 in. x 11 in. x 10 in. The only other species in New Zealand with a similar growth habit is P. berkeleyi, which may be recognised readily by the large globose echinulate spores.
LOCALITY: Tarawera, New Zealand.
Polyporus exiguus Colenso 1885 [1884]
Agathis australis Salisb. Auckland. Karekare, Waitakere Ranges, Sept. 1946, Joan Dingley; Sprague's Hill, Henderson, 200 feet, May 1947, Joan Dingley; Anawhata Road, Waitakere Ranges, 1,000 feet, Aug. 1947, Joan Dingley. Unknown Hosts. Auckland. Whatipu, Manakau Harbour, 600 feet, Nov. 1930, M.Hodgkins. Wellington. Track to Ohakune Hut, Mt. Ruapehu, 3,000 feet, April 1935, E.E.Chamberlain; Pohangina Valley, Ruahine Ranges, Dec. 1932, E.E.Chamberlain; Lake Papaetonga, 30 feet, Aug. 1919, G.H.C.; Butterfly Gully, Aug. 1946, G.B.Rawlings. Otago. Puerua, Sept.1934, Helen Dalrymple.
Hymenophore annual, solitary or in crowded groups, laterally attached by a small stem-like base. Pileus simple or compound, 2-15 mm. x 5-15 mm. x 0.5-1 mm., white, ochre, fawn or umber; surface concolorous, markedly radiate-striate, even, polished or delicately tomentose in depressions, cuticle wanting, replaced by imbricate parallel hyphe of which a few possess pigmented contents; margin acuminate, revolute, crenate and toothed; hymenial surface grey or cinnamon, even, sterile margin 1 mm. wide, dissepiments not toothed. Context 0.2-0.6 mm. thick, clay colour or isabelline, of radiately arranged parallel hyphae ; generative hyphae 5-6 µ thick, wall 2 µ, sparsely branched, septate, with abundant conspicuous clamp connections. Pores decurrent, irregular in shape and size, angular, seldom round, to 1 mm. deep, clay colour in section, 50-150 µ diameter, or 4-6 per mm.; dissepiments 75-150 µ thick, mostly 100 µ, equal, of woven hyphae, apex finely velutinate. Basidial type clavate, basidia clavate, 12-14 x 3-4 µ. Spores oblong, elliptical, or pip-shaped, 3-4.5 x 2-2.5 µ, smooth, hyaline.
New Zealand.
Growing on decorticated rotting logs lying on the forest floor, often amongst moss.

Specimens forwarded to Kew by W.Colenso were named by M.C.Cooke. The name was published by Colenso as Polyporus exiguis sp. nov., but no description was appended. Subsequently Cooke formally described it as Polystictus exiguis Cke.

Specific characters are the small size, laterally attached flabelliform pilei, white (when fresh) surface, irregular moderately sized pores, and small elliptical spores. Pilei of a few specimens resemble those of P. catervatus in that they are peziza-like, caespitose and attached by a prolongation of the vertex. Such may be separated by the larger more deeply coloured pores, entire dissepiments and elliptical spores.

Though superficially not apparent, the species belongs to the same section as P. anthracophilus, possessing a monomitic hyphal system, and similar radiately arranged parallel hyphae.

TYPE LOCALITY: Norswood, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

Polyporus hypomelanus Berk. ex Cooke 1886
Unknown Hosts. Auckland. Domain, Feb. 1931, M.Hodgkins; Mt. Wellington, near sea-level, July 1931, M.Hodgkins. Wellington. Waverley, 400 feet, Dec. 1946, Mrs. E.E.Chamberlain; Field's Hut, Mt. Hector, 2,700 feet, Feb. 1931, E.E.Chamberlain; Day's Bay, 350 feet, May 1946, G.B.Rawlings. Otago. Karitane, Jan. 1935, J.R.J.Moore. Southland. Woodlaw State Forest, Feb. 1946, G.B.Rawlings.
Hymenophore reviving a second season, solitary, hard and woody, attached by a brief lateral stem. Pileus fan-shaped, or conchate, 3-7 cm. x 2.5-5 cm. x 1-3 mm.; surface black, roughened with radiating raised striae which are more prominently developed and transversely rugulose-tomentose near the base, cuticle black, to 200 µ thick, hard, horny, gelatinized, pseudoparenchymatous, of large cells with thick brown walls; margin acute, sometimes slightly inturned, crenate, often toothed, corresponding with the raised striae; hymenial surface greyish-brown or fuscous, even, with a black sterile margin 2-3 mm. wide, dissepiments not toothed; stem lateral, to 10 mm. long, 5-7 mm. thick, black, tomentose, rugulose, solid, with a cuticle. Context usually 300 µ thick, or less, to 1 mm. at the base, isabelline, densely woven; skeletal hyphae 4-5 µ thick, lumen almost obliterated, bovista type, freely branched, aseptate, staining; generative hyphae 3-4 µ thick, thin-walled, branched, septate, with clamp connections, contents staining. Pores wood colour in section, 1-2 mm. deep, sometimes with more deeply coloured fine lateral lines, appearing stratose, 100-150 µ diameter or 5-6 per mm.; dissepiments 50-100 µ thick, equal, thickened apically, even, gelatinized. Basidial type clavate, basidia clavate, 12-16 x 4-5 µ, soon collapsing. Spores elliptic-oblong, .5-6 x 2.5-3 µ, smooth, hyaline.

New Caledonia, New Zealand.

Growing solitary on bark and decorticated wood of fallen branches and logs.
Specific features are the black, prominently striated surface, thick dense cuticle (which in sections appears as a distinct black and shining layer), horny dissepiments and dark coloured hymenium. Two specimens exhibit odd thickened hyphae embedded in the context, some attaining a thickness of 25 µ. Others show a second pore layer partly extending over the first, indicating that plants persist for a second season.

LOCALITY: Grey River, New Zealand.

Polyporus oviformis (G. Cunn.) G. Cunn. 1948
Freycinetia banksii A.Cunn. Auckland. Trounson Kauri Park, 600 feet, July 1947, E.M.Smith; Anawhata Road, Waitakere Ranges, 1,000 feet, Aug. 1947, Joan Dingley. Nothopanax sp. Auckland. Swanson, Waitakere Ranges, Nov. 1945, Joan Dingley. Wellington. Butterfly Gully, Aug. 1946, G.B.Rawlings.
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, effused-reflexed, or resupinate. Pileus applanate, fan-shaped, or conchate, 5-25 mm. x 5-15 mm. x 2-7 mm., when resupinate oviform and to 6 cm. x 3.5 cm.; surface white, drying straw colour, vaguely transversely sulcate, even or slightly nodose, glabrous, cuticle wanting; margin abrupt, inturned, crenate, concolorous; hymenial surface cream or straw colour, even, with a lighter smooth margin 1-2 mm. wide, dissepiments not toothed. Context cream or straw colour, 0.2-1 mm. thick, densely woven; skeletal hyphae 3.5 µ thick, lumen 1 µ, aseptate, branched near ends, staining; generative hyphae to 2 µ thick, delicate walled, branched, septate, with clamp connections, scanty, staining. Pores round or angular, 1-4 mm. deep, in section straw colour, 100-250 µ diameter, or 3-4 per mm.; dissepiments 50-100 µ thick, equal, apex even. Basidial type clavate, basidia clavate, 10-12 x 5-6 µ, soon collapsing. Spores broadly elliptical, oblong, ovate, or angular, 5-6 x 3.5-4 µ, smooth, hyaline, abundant, staining deeply.
New Zealand.
Growing solitary upon bark or decorticated wood of fallen branches.
The irregular, deeply staining, abundant spores and sparsely branched skeletal hypha separate the species from others present in this region. Though first described as a Poria, subsequent collections have shown that the species is a Polyporus with a narrow effused-reflexed pileus. When resupinate the hymenophore assumes an ovate shape, with clearly defined abrupt margin.

LOCALITY: Waitakere Ranges, New Zealand.

Polyporus phlebophorus Berk. 1855
Weinnmannia racemosa L.f. Wellington. Mt. Arawara, Tararua Ranges, 2,500 feet, July 1933, E.E.Chamberlain. Unknown Hosts. Wellington. Mt. Toko, Ruahine Ranges, 3,000 feet, Sept. 1933, E.E.Chamberlain; Orongorongo, June 1945, Unknown Collector. Canterbury. Lake Sumner, Aug. 1947, G.B.Rawlings. Otago. Mt. Cargill, Dunedin, Sept. 1932, Helen Dalrymple; Leith Valley, Dunedin, April 1933, Helen Dalrymple; Same Locality, April 1937, J.R.J.More.
Hymenophore annual, solitary or growing caespitose from a common base, laterally attached by a short stem 3-4 mm. x 2-4 mm., sometimes growing from a stem-like elongation of the upper surface, occasionally dimidiate and attached by a broad base, firm but brittle, entirely white when fresh, drying cream. Pileus shell-shaped, spathulate, bell-shaped or occasionally applanate, 1-3.5 cm. x 1.5-2 cm. x 1-2 mm.; surface white, becoming cream, smooth, dull, sometimes obscurely sulcate, cuticle 30-40 µ thick, of compacted hyphae with ends upturned and arranged in a close palisade; margin thin, acute, interned, entire or when old crenate or toothed; hymenial surface plane or concave, even, white, drying cream, dissepiments not toothed. Context white, 0.25-1 mm. thick, densely woven, separated from the pores by a delicate wood-coloured woven layer; generative hyphae 6-10 µ thick, lumen 2-3 µ, freely branched, septate, staining, clamp connections present, small. Pores round or angular, 0.2-0.5 mm. deep, white in section, 100-150 µ diameter, or 6-7 per mm.; dissepiments 50-150 µ thick, mostly 100 µ, of woven mainly parallel hyphae, slightly tapering, apex delicately velutinate. Basidial type merulioid, basidia cylindrical, 6-8 x 2-3 µ, arranged in a dense persistent palisade. Spores allantoid, 3-3.5 x 1-1.5 µ, smooth. hyaline.
New Zealand.
Growing on bark and decorticated wood of dead branches, usually solitary, sometimes caespitose, occasionally dimidiate.
The species is not closely related to others in this region possessing a monomitic hyphal system. It may be recognised readily by the merulioid basidial type, allantoid spores, glassy thick-walled intricately woven hyphae, definite though delicate cuticle, and white pileus. The lateral stem may be reduced to an expansion of the base, or lacking when plants are dimidiate and sometimes imbricate.

TYPE LOCALITY: Tarawera, New Zealand.

Polyporus proprius Lloyd 1924
Dacrydium cupressinum Sol. Wellington. Botanical Gardens, March 1927, G.H.C.
Hymenophore annual, sessile, dimidiate, imbricate, hard and woody. Pileus applanate, to 12 cm. x 11 cm. x 6-16 mm.; surface rugulose, veined, and radiately striate, finely tomentose, zoned near the margin, bay brown to fawn, cuticle a somewhat indefinite layer 50-75 µ thick, of densely compacted palisade hyphae with rounded inflated ends; margin abruptly rounded, 4-5 mm. thick, vaguely zoned, entire; hymenial surface even, ochraceous, with a sterile margin 5-10 mm. broad, dissepiments not toothed. Context to 15 mm. thick, straw colour or pallid ochre, hard, firm, caseous, densely woven; skeletal hyphae 3-5 µ thick, lumen almost obliterated, bovista type, freely branched, branches tapering, aseptate, not staining; generative hyphae 3-4 µ thick, thin-walled, branched, septate, with clamp connections, staining; lactiferous ducts to 8 µ thick, thin-walled, contents staining deeply. Pores rounded or oval, 0.5-1 mm. deep, pallid ochre or straw colour, 100-500 µ diameter, or 2-3 per mm.; dissepiments 100-600 µ thick, equal, apex even. Basidial type clavate, basidia subclavate or cylindrical, 12-16 x 3-4 µ, soon collapsing. Spores subglobose, ovate, less commonly globose, 5-7 x 5-6 µ, echinulate, spines 0.5 µ long, hyaline, abundant.

New Zealand.

Growing imbricate upon dead standing stumps, associated with a white rot.

In certain micro-features the species resembles P. berkeleyi. Both possess echinulate globose spores, bovista type skeletal hyphae and lactiferous ducts. P. proprius differs in the sessile growth habit, habitat, thick context, thin pore layer, smaller more finely echinulate spores, rounded pores with thick, firm, non-toothed dissepiments.

But two collections of the species have been made, the type being named from a specimen forwarded to the late C.G.Lloyd by James Mitchell (no locality specified). According to Stevenson & Cash (1936, p. 115) it is no longer in the Lloyd collections at Washington, D.C.; consequently the neotype is that from which the above description has been drawn.

LOCALITY: New Zealand.

Polyporus rosularis G. Cunn. 1948

Nothofagus sp. Nelson. Mt. Arthur Tableland, 3,500 feet, Feb. 1928, G.H.C.

Hawkes Bay. Waikare-iti Track, Lake Waikaraemoana, Jan. 1933, J.G.Gibbs, type collection.

Hymenophore annual, hard and horny though brittle, compound, rosulate, of numerous (5-15) pilei united by a broad stem-like base to a common stroma. Pilei simple or branched, digitate, spathulate, or urceolate, to 3 cm. x 3 cm. x 1-5 mm., attached by a broad base about the width of the pileus; surface cream, becoming pallid ochre, irregular, radiately sulcate, finely tomentose, cuticle to 100 µ thick, composed of densely woven hyphae arranged in a palisade embedded in mucilage; margin reddish-brown, or concolorous, thin and horny, translucent, much lobed or crenate, acute or bluntly rounded; hymenial surface decurrent, cream or pallid ochre, darker peripherally, with or without a narrow sterile margin, dissepiments not toothed. Context straw colour, 1-2 mm. thick, of radiately arranged hyphae, firm but brittle; generative hyphae 6-8 µ thick, wall l µ, ribbon-like, lumen staining, sparsely branched, septate, with large clamp connections. Pores straw colour in section, 1-1.5 mm. deep, 150-200 µ diameter, or 4-5 per mm.; dissepiments 50-200 µ thick, equal, of woven mainly parallel hyphae, apex equal, finely velutinate. Basidial type clavate, basidia clavate, 14-16 x 5-7 µ, persistent. Spores broadly obovate, 4-5 x 3.5-4 µ, smooth, hyaline.
New Zealand.

Growing upon rotting logs or stumps.

Hymenophorium annum, rosulatum, pileorum 5-15 compositum e basi commune emergentium. Pilei digitati, spatulati vel urceolati, ad 3 cm. x 3 cm. x 1-5 mm.; superficies cremea, demum pallide ochrea, subtiliter tomentosa, radiatim sulcata; cuticula 100 µ crassa, ex hyphis pallum densum formantibus compositis, textu gelatinoso cinctis; superficies hymenialis decurens, creamea vel pallide ochrea. Contextus stramineus, hypharum systema monomitica; hyphae genitales longae, sparse brachiatae, libere septatae, hyphis fibulatis; ducti lacticiferi absentes. Pori irregulares, 150-200 µ diam., vel 4-5 per mm.; dissepimenta 50-200 µ. Typus basidialis clavatus. Sporae late obovatae, 4-5 x 3.5-4 µ, leves, hyalinae.

Hab.: Nothofagus sp. Hawkes Bay, Lake Waikaraemoana, Jan. 1933, J.G.Gibbs, specimen typicum.

Separated from P. anthracophilus and P. rosulatus by the palisade cuticle of the pileus, smaller pores and differently shaped spores. The hymenophore is hard and horny, almost cartilaginous, and pilei are firmly cemented together.
Polyporus rosulatus G. Cunn. 1948

Acacia sp. Canterbury. Ashburton, 150 feet, Aug. 1925, J.C.Neill. Nothofagus sp.

Westland. Reefton, June 1946. G.B.Rawlings. Unknown Hosts Auckland. Kaingaroa, 1,500 feet, May 1946, G.B.Rawlings, type collection. Wellington. Pukematawai, Tararua Ranges, 2,000 feet, Feb. 1933, E.E.Chamberlain.

Hymenophore annual, compound, rosulate, caespitose, composed of numerous pilei (7-30) arising from a common mycelial base, or less frequently densely imbricate, to 5 cm. diameter. Pilei coriaceous to woody, fan-shaped, sometimes spathulate, to 3 cm. x 25 mm. x 2-5 mm., often laterally attached to one another, growing upright or laterally; surface fawn or bay-brown with umber zones, radiately striate, cuticle absent, replaced by imbricate parallel hyphae with pigmented walls; margin inturned, crenate, dentate; hymenial surface white or cream, sterile margin 2 mm. wide, even, dissepiments not toothed. Context white, of radiately arranged hyphae, 0.25-1.5 mm. thick; generative hyphae 5-6 µ thick, wall 1 µ, freely septate, sparsely branched, with abundant conspicuous clamp connections; numerous linear lactiferous ducts present. Pores to 1.5 mm. deep, in section white or cream, irregular in shape, round, elongated or angular, 100-250 µ diameter, or 3-4 per mm.; dissepiments 50-100 µ thick, of densely woven hyphae, equal, apex even. Basidial type clavate, basidia clavate, 10-12 x 4-5 µ. Spores broadly elliptical, oblong with rounded ends, or sometimes pip-shaped, 3.5-4 x 2-2.5 µ smooth, hyaline, abundant.
New Zealand.
Growing upon burnt wood, soil in the forest, or upon rotting logs and bases of stumps.

Hymenophorium annum, rosulatum, coespitosum, pileorum 7-30 compositum e basi commune emergentium. Pilei flabelliformi interdum spathulati, ad 3 cm. x 25 mm. x 2-5 mm.; superficies cervina vel badia umbrino-zonata, cuticula absens; superficies hymenialis albus vel cremeus. Contextus albus; hypharum systema monomitica; hyphae genitales longae, sparse brachiatae, libere septatae, hyphis fibulatis; ducti lacticiferi praesentes. Pori irregulares, 100-250 µ diam., vel 3-4 per mm.; dissepimenta 50-100 µ crassa. Typus basidialis clavatus. Sporae late ellipticae, 3.5-4 x 2-2.5 µ, leves, hyalinae.

Hab.: In ligno emortuo. Auckland, Kaingaroa, May 1946, G.B.Rawlings, specimen typicum.

In its typical form the species differs from P. anthracophilus in the smaller, thinner, more flaccid pilei, smaller pores, different colour of pores and pilei, and smaller hyaline spores. Variations occur, however; for the Pukematawai specimens are not rosulate, but densely imbricated, and surfaces of pilei are delicately tomentose; specimens from Reefton, though rosulate. are more woody than the others, and have larger and more roughened pilei. They agree in spores and hyphal features.
Polyporus setiger Cooke 1890
Nothofagus cliffortioides (Hook.f.) Oerst.Auckland. Waihouhounou Hut, Mt. Ruapehu, 3,500 feet, Nov. 1941, R.E.Matthews. Nothofagus fusca (Hook.f.) Oerst. Nelson. Lake Rotoiti, Aug. 1947, G.B.Rawlings. Unknoum Hosts. Auckland. Mt. Wellington, 50 feet, May 1942, Rona Denne. Wellington. Day's Bay, 500 feet, May 1946, G.B.Rawlings.
Hymenophore annual, solitary, dimidiate, firm, somewhat brittle. Pileus applanate, to 7 cm. x 3.5 cm. x 20-25 mm. at the base; surface at first white, becoming pallid ochre, fawn, or dingy grey, covered with loose radiately arranged coarse strigose hairs which are finer towards the margin and of the same colour, in the centre compacted into coarse strigose erect tufts, cuticle wanting; margin bluntly acuminate, slightly inturned, lacerate, or strigose; hymenial surface white when fresh, drying dingy honey colour or pallid ochre, even, slightly concave or as often slightly convex, dissepiments toothed. Context white, to 15 mm. thick, of loosely woven hyphae arranged in parallel somewhat radiate bands; generative hyphae 4-6 µ thick, wall 1-1.5 µ, sparsely branched, septate, clamp connections large and abundant. Pores angular, less often rounded, 3-7 mm. deep, in section white, honey colour near orifices, separated from the context by a more densely woven layer to 0.5 mm. thick, 100-200 µ diameter, or 3-4 per mm.; dissepiments brittle, 50-100 µ thick, equal, apex even or finely velutinate. Basidial type clavate, basidia clavate, to 12 x 5 µ. Spores allantoid, 3.5-4.5 x 1-1.5 µ, smooth, hyaline.

New Zealand.

Growing solitary on decorticated decaying wood, usually on the under surfaces of logs.

Separated from P. atrostrigosus, which it resembles in other features, by the coarse, hyaline, usually radiately arranged strigose hairs, larger pores, and waxy brittle dissepiments.

Lloyd (1919, p. 823) recorded the species from Australia. His description shows that he had some other species before him, probably P. pelles Lloyd (syn. P. atrohispidus Lloyd) which has elliptical spores 6-7 x 4 µ, with an epispore tinted yellow. P. pelles in turn resembles P. spumeus Fr., differing mainly in the darker colour of the context. Both possess a monomitic hyphal system.

LOCALITY: New Zealand.

Polyporus xerophyllus Berk. 1855
Nothofagus sp. Auckland. Mt. Te Aroha, 3,146 feet, Nov. 1946, G.H.C. Wellington. Butterfly Gully, May 1947, G.B.Rawlings.
Hymenophore annual, solitary, firm, coriaceous, attached by a brief lateral stem. Pileus reniform or fan-shaped, 1-2.5 cm. x 10-15 mm. x 1-1.5 mm.; surface reddish-brown, with radiating black raised striae which are somewhat scabrid or ridged on the edges, cuticle 75-100 µ thick, of densely compacted pseudoparenchyma, arranged above into a palisade with walls appreciably thickened and tinted brown; margin acute, concolorous, strongly crenate and also toothed; hymenial surface cream when fresh, drying straw colour, even, edged with a conspicuous shining black rounded sterile margin 0.5-1 mm. wide, dissepiments not toothed; stem lateral, varying from a slight disc to a body 10 mm. long, 1-3 mm. thick, solid, rugulose, black, attached to the substratum by a discoid expansion. Context 0.2-1 mm. thick, white, becoming straw colour, firm, woven; skeletal hyphae 5-6 µ thick, lumen almost obliterated, bovista type, freely branched, aseptate, staining; generative hyphae 3-5 µ thick, thin-walled, branched, septate, with clamp connections, contents staining. Pores round or angular, in section cream, to 1 mm. deep, 100-125 µ diameter, or 5-6 per mm.; dissepiments 50-100 µ thick, equal, thickened apically and delicately velutinate. Basidial type clavate, basidia clavate, 12-16 x 5-6 µ, soon collapsing. Spores ovate or elliptic-oblong, 5-7 x 3.5-4 µ, smooth, hyaline.
New Zealand.
Growing solitary on decaying stumps or dead branches, associated with a white rot.
Differentiated by the small size of the fan-shaped pileus, lateral stem, strongly marked radiate striae of the surface, palisade pseudoparenchymatous cuticle, and cream coloured hymenium. In one specimen spores are definitely obovate, but in others they are both obovate and elliptic-oblong.

LOCALITY: Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

Solenia huia G. Cunn. 1953
Subiculum annual, felted, white, loosely attached, effused, forming small, sharply defined orbicular or linear areas 1-15 mm. long, to 160 µ thick. Pilei aggregated in groups of few (4-6) or many (30-80) in scattered areas, depressedglobose, sessile, 250-600 µ diameter, opening tardily by a narrow naked pore, seated within loculi in the substratum, each differentiated by a more densely woven zone and filled with loosely woven hyphae; exterior covered with felted white tomentum of hyaline woven crystal-coated hyphae which, when removed, exposes the almost black glabrous wall; margin naked, even, almost black. Context fuscous, to 70 µ thick, composed of densely woven almost pseudoparenchymatous hyphae; generative hyphae to 3 µ diameter, wall 0.25 µ thick, at first hyaline becoming fuscous near the periphery, branched, septate, finely crystal-coated. Hymenial layer to 40 µ deep, paraphyses subclavate. Basidia subclavate, 24-32 x 6-7 µ, 4-spored. Spores oblong, with rounded ends, apiculate, 7-9 x 5-6.5 µ, smooth, hyaline.
DISTRIBUTION. New Zealand.
HABITAT. Crowded on bark of dead stems.
Subiculum coactum, album, in septa parva linearia acute definita 1-15 mm. longa effusum. Pilei in globis parvis (4-6) aut magnis (30-80) congregati, depresse globosi, sessiles, 250-600 µ diam., angusto nudo foramine in loculis in subiculo tarde hiscens; exteriore parte coacto albo tomento super nigrum glabrum parietem tecta. Contextus fuscus ad 70 µ crassus, hyphis dense textis compositus. Sporae oblongae, extremis rotundis, 7-9 x 5-6.5 µ, leves, hyalinae.
Pilei grow crowded in small groups on loosely attached portions of felted subiculum, and are depressed-globose and black where exposed. Each is embedded in a separate locule in the subiculum, defined by a densely woven wall and filled with loose hyphae. Primitive locules are present also in S. poriaeformis. Pilei open tardily by a narrow pore; their surfaces are long coated with dense white tomentum which, when rubbed away, exposes the glabrous black pileus wall.
Leptospermum scoparium Forst. Auckland. Huia, 100 feet; November, 1945; G.H.C.; type collection.

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3 April 2001
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