Beilschmiedia tarairi (A.Cunn.) Benth. & Hook.f. Auckland. Awhitu Peninsula, 350 feet, April 1946, G.H.C., type collection; Near Karekare, Waitakere Ranges, Sept. 1946, Joan Dingley. Dacrydium cupressinum Sol. Auckland. Waipoua Kauri Forest, 1946, G.B.Rawlings. Larix europaeus L. Otago. Dunedin, Feb. 1939, J.R.J.Moore. Podocarpus dacrydioides A.Rich. Auckland. Flat hush, Papatoetoe, Aug. 1947, Joan Dingley.

Hymenophore perennial, dimidiate, imbricate, soft but firm, light. Pileus narrowly applanate, effused-reflexed, often resupinate, with occasional orbicular outlying islands, 6-20 cm. x 2-5 cm. x 0.5-2 cm.; surface even or obscurely concentrically zoned, dull, finely pubescent or as often glabrous, bay-brown, umber, sometimes violaceous, almost black in old specimens, cuticle wanting; margin bluntly rounded, even, entire, concolorous; hymenial surface slightly glancing, even, fawn, bay-brown, rose-pink or violaceous when fresh, becoming tobacco-brown, sterile border 1-5 mm. wide, lighter in colour, dissepiments not toothed. Context fawn, bay-brown or chestnut-brown, 1-3 mm. thick, of loosely woven hyphae; skeletal hyphae 4-4.5 µ thick. lumen 2 µ, light fuscous, tapering, branched and undulate near ends, aseptate, staining; generative hyphae hyaline, thick, delicate walled, septate, branched. Pores stratose, round, 1-5 mm. deep in each layer, bay-brown, chestnut-brown or violaceous in section, 100-150 µ diameter, commonly 50µ, or 7-9 per mm.; dissepiments 50-100 µ thick, commonly 50 µ, equal or tapering slightly, apex finely velutinate. solitary or imbricate on hark or decorticated wood of fallen trunks, associated with a white rot. Basidia clavate, 8-10 x 3.5-4 µ, soon collapsing. Spores oblong with rounded ends, 3.5-5 x 2-3 µ, smooth, yellow-brown, abundant.

DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.

HABITAT: Growing solitary or imbricate on bark or decorticated wood of fallen trunks, associated with a white rot.

Hymenophorum solum vel imbricatutn, dimidiatum, molle, firmum, leve. Pileus anguste applanatus, effuso-reflexus, saepe resupinatus, 6-20 cm. x 2-5 cm. x 0.5-2 cm., superficies aequa vel obscure zonata, obscura, subtiliter pubescens vel saepe glabra, badia, umbrina, interdum violacea, cuticula absens; superficies hymemalis aequa, hinnulea, badia, rosea, vel violacea, siccitate tabacina. Contexttls hinnuleus, badius, vel castaneus, 1-3 mm. crassus; hyphae skeletales 4-4.5 µ crassae, fuscidulae, apicibus versus brachiatae, aseptatae; hyphae generativae 2-2.5 µ crassae, septatae, brachiatae. Pori rotundati, corioquisque 1-5 mm. altitudineum, badii, sectione castanei vel violacei, 7-9 per mm.; dissepimenta 50-100 µ crassa. Setae deficientes. Sporae oblongae, terminationibus rotundatis, 3.5-5 x 2-3 µ, leves, flavo-brunneae.

Specimens are variable in size, shape, and colour. Most are effused-reflexed, a few resupinate. In fresh specimens the hymenial layer may be coloured rose-pink, some shade of brown, or violaceous. The species may be recognised readily by the light weight of the hymenophore, oblong coloured spores, minute pores, thin dissepiments, and fuscous skeletal hyphae which, though coloured, stain blue readily.

Beilschmiedia tarairi (A.Cunn.) Benth. & Hook.f. Auckland. Awhitu Peninsula, 350 feet, April 1946, G.H.C., type collection

Agathis australis Salisb. Auckland. Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakere Ranges, 1,000 feet, Oct. 1945, Joan Dingley. Beilschmiedia tarairi (A.Cunn.) Benth. & Hook.f. Auckland. Awhitu Peninsula, 350 feet, .April 1946, G.H.C.; Little Barrier Island, Nov. 1947, Joan Dingley. Beilschmiedia tawa (A.Cunn.) Hook.f. & Benth. Auckland. Kohokohonui Ridge, Hunua Range, Oct. 1946, Joan Dingley; Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Range, July 1946, Joan Dingley; Cuttygrass Road, Waitakere Ranges, Oct. 1947, Joan Dingley; Waitomo, 350 feet, Aug. 1946, G.H.C.; Whakarewarewa, Dec. 1923, G.H.C. Wellington. Weraroa, July 1919, G.H.C.; Near Wanganui, April 1946, Joan Dingley. Coprosma arborea Kirk. Auckland. Little Barrier island, 500 feet, Nov. 1947, Joan Dingley. Dacrydium cupressinum Sol. Auckland, Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakere Ranges, 1,000 feet, Oct. 1947, Joan Dingley; Off Anawhata Road, June 1946, Joan Dingley; Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Range, July 1946, Joan Dingley. Wellington, Weraroa, July 1919, G.H.C.; May 1923, J.C.Neill. Dysoxylum spectabile (Forst.f.) Hook.f. Auckland. Little Barrier Island, 100 feet, Nov. 1947, Joan Dingley. Knightia excelsa R. Br. Auckland. Titirangi, Waitakere Ranges, March, May 1946, Myra Carter. Leptospermum ericoides A.Rich. Auckland. Little Barrier Island, Nov. 1947, Joan Dingley. Metrosideros robusta A. Cunn. Wellington. Day's Bay, Nov. 1926, D.W.McKenzie; Near Wanganui, April 1946, Joan Dingley. Nothofagus fusca (Hook.f.) Oerst. Auckland. Mamaku Forest, 2,500 feet, Nov. 1947, G.B.Rawlings. Nothofagus menziesii (Hook.f.) Oerst. Auckland. Mamaku Forest, 2,500 feet, Nov. 1947, G.H.C. Podocarpus dacrydioides A.Rich. Taranaki. New Plymouth, Nov. 1920, W.W.Smith. Canterbury Riccarton Bush, Feb. 1927, D.W.McKenzie. Podocarpus spicatus R.Br. Wellington. Lake Papaetonga, 50 feet, Oct. 1930, G.H.C. Weinmannia racemosa L.f. Auckland. Mamaku Forest, 2,500 feet, Nov. 1947, G.H.C. Taranaki. Mt. Egmont, 2,300 feet, Dec. 1947, G.H.C. Westland. Copland Track, 1,500 feet, Feb. 1947, G.H.C.

With the characters of the species, save that the hymenium is irregularly pitted with shallow depressions 1-2 mm. deep, often labrynthiform towards the centre; pores are present in both depressions and ridges.

Probably the most abundant species of Fomes present in the Dominion. In a former paper (1927, p. 218), following identifications made by the late C.G.Lloyd, I referred the species and form to F. subtornatus (Murr.) Lloyd. Following examination of the type of this last, and of specimens from New Zealand, C.J.Humphrey in correspondence advised that our plant did not resemble F. subtornatus, but agreed with Philippine specimens of F. mastoporus. The hymenial configuration is striking. Pores are minute owing to partial blockage of orifices, and are often set in rows with part of the wall suppressed; in the form the condition is carried further. Pores may appear in small depressions or the intervening ridges, both being so arranged that the surface is labrynthiform, save the periphery which may be plane. As even in the smallest and youngest specimens the condition is present, it is evidently a constant feature. In size, plants range from small buttons 2 mm. wide, to applanate or occasionally ungulate forms 10-20 cm. in length. One specimen reached the large size of 50 x 30 cm., but this is unusual. Spathulate or digitate forms, with lateral stem-like extensions of the pileus, are not uncommon.

Dysoxylum spectabile (Forst.f.) Hook.f. Auckland. Riverhead, June 1947, G.B.Rawlings, type collection. Metrosideros robusta A.Cunn. Auckland. Sprague's Hill, Henderson, 500 feet, Aug. 1947, Joan Dingley. Metrosideros tomentosa A.Rich. Auckland. Kawau Tsland, 50 feet, Dec. 1947, J.D.Atkinson. Nothofagus menziesii (Hook.f.) Oerst. Southland. Woodlaw State Forest, Nov. 1946, G.B.Rawlings.

Hymenophore perennial, solitary, dimidiate, firm and woody. Pileus ungulate, to 23 cm. x 12 cm. x 8 cm.; surface concentrically sulcate and ridged, at first fawn or ferruginous, becoming umber or black near the base, cuticle to 0.5 mm. thick, black, hard, brittle, of woven hyphae cemented into a layer which tends to crack and flake away save peripherally; margin obtuse, even, tomentose; hymenial surface plane or slightly convex, ferruginous, sterile border 1-3 mm. wide, tomentose, fulvous, dissepiments not toothed. Context 1-5 mm. thick, chestnut-brown or fulvous, hyphae mostly radiately arranged; skeletal hyphae 3-3.5 µ thick, lumen 1 µ, chestnut-brown, sparsely branched, aseptate; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µ thick, delicate walled, branched, septate, hyaline. Pores round, obscurely stratose, each layer 2-5 mm. deep, ferruginous in section, 100-150 µ diameter, or 5-7 per mm.; dissepiments 75-150 µ thick, equal, apex finely velutinate. Sets mostly uncinate, a few subulate. chestnut-brown, 16-36 x 6-8 µ, wall to 2 µ. Basidia clavate, 8-12 x 4-6 µ. Spores globose, subglobose, or broadly obovate, 3.5-5 x :3.5-4 µ, smooth, hyaline.

DISTRIBUTION : New Zealand.

HABITAT : Growing solitary upon bark of standing dead trees, associated with a brown pocket-rot.

Hymenophorum solum, dimidiatum; pileus ungulatus, ad 23 cm. x 12 cm. x 8 cm.; superficies concentricaliter sulcata, hinnulea vel ferruginea, demum umbrina vel nigra, cuticula ad 0.5 mm. crassa, nigra, inveterata, fragilis; superficies hymenialis plana vel leviter convexa, ferruginea. Contextus 1-5 mm. crassus, castaneus vel fulvus; hyphae skeletales 3-3.5 µ crassae, castaneae, sparse brachiatae, aseptatae; hyphae generativae 2-2.5 µ crassa brachiatae, septatae, hyalinae. Pori rotundati, coriomquisque 2-5 mm., in altitudinem, ferrugineo, 5-7 per mm.; dissepimenta 75-150 µ crassa. Seta plerumque uncinatae, castaneae, 16-36 x 6-8 µ. Sporae globosae, subglolbosae, vel late obovataae, 3.5-5 x 3.5-4 µ, leves, hyalinae.

Separated from F. hamatus, which the species resembles in several features, including hooked setae, by the ungulate pileus and presence of a definite cuticle. Most setae are hooked, with apices turned towards the hymenium, or at least at right-angles; a few are subulate.

Dysoxylum spectabile (Forst.f.) Hook.f. Auckland. Riverhead, June 1947, G.B.Rawlings, type collection.

Beilschmiedia tarairi (A.Cunn.) Benth. & Hook.f. Auckland. Awhitu Peninsula, 350 feet, April 1946, G.H.C. Carrodetus serratus Forst. Auckland. Trounson Kauri Park, 450 feet, July 1941, G.H.C. Dacrydium cupressinum Sol. Westland. Waiho, Dec. 1946, Joan Dingley; Weheka, Nov. 1946, Joan Dingley. Metrosideros robusta A.Cunn. Auckland. Cuttygrass Road, Waitakere Ranges, Oct. 1947, Joan Dingley; Riverhead, May 1947, G.B.Rawlings; Upper Piha, Aug. 1947, Joan Dingley; Mangatawhiri Valley, Hunua Range, July 1946, Joan Dingley; Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Range, July 1946, Joan Dingley; Mt. Te Aroha, 1,750 feet, Nov. 1946, G.H.C. Taranaki. Egmont 2,300 feet, Dec. 1947, G.H.C. Wellington. Weraroa, 150 Feet, July 1919, G.H.C.; Lake Papaetonga, 50 feet, Dec. 1947 G.H.C. Podocarpus spicatus R.Br. Wellington. Lake Papaetonga, 50 feet, Oct. 1930, G.H.C.

Hymenophore perennial, dimidiate, often imbricate, firm and woody. Pileus applanate, effused-reflexed, sometimes resupinate, 3-25 cm. x 2-16 cm. x 0.5-4 cm.; surface bay-brown, chestnut-brown, or umber towards the base, strongly concentrically sulcate and ridged, at first tomentose, becoming glabrous, cuticle absent; margin bluntly rounded, fulvous or chestnut-brown, even; hymemal surface chestnut-brown, sometimes darker when old, even, slightly glancing, sterile border 1-3 mm. wide, dissepiments not toothed. Context to 5 mm. thick, chestnut-brown, of radiately arranged mainly parallel hyphae; skeletal hyphae to 4 µ thick, wall 1 µ, yellow-brown or chestnut-brown, sparsely branched, pseudoseptate; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µ thick, wall 0.5 µ, hyaline or tinted, branched, septate. Pores round, stratose, 2-4 mm. deep in each layer, ferruginous in section, 100-150 µ diameter, or 5-6 per mm.; dissepiments 30-150 µ thick, equal, apex finely velutinate. Setae subulate, frequently dilated at the base, apex acuminate, chestnut-brown, 24-32 x 6-8 µ. Basidia clavate, 8-12 x 4-5 µ. Spores obovate, subglobose, or globose, 4.5-5.5 x 3-3.5 µ, smooth, hyaline, a few tinted yellow.

DISTRIBUTION : New Zealand.

HABITAT: Growing solitary or imbricate upon bark or decorticated wood of dead standing or fallen trunks associated with a white pocket-rot.

Characters of the species are the thin applanate pileus with strongly concentrically sulcate surface, absence of a definite cuticle, chestnut-brown colour of context and hymenium, small pores, subulate acuminate setae not exceeding 32 µ in length, and obovate small hyaline spores. Collections forwarded to the late C.G.Lloyd and J.R.Weir were identified as Fomes senex (Nees & Mont.) Cke. According to Lloyd (1915, p. 259) spores of the latter are deeply coloured. Specimens so named (ex Mardai Road; Pahang; and Reservoir Jungle, Singapore), forwarded by E.J.Corner, were found to possess hyaline spores of exactly the same size, shape and colour as those of F. zelandicus. These and other similar features led Corner (1932, p. 16) to suggest that both are co-specific. Singapore collections of F.senex differ, however; for pores are 50-75 µ diameter, or 9-10 per mm., and dissepiments are 50-75 µ thick, characters by which the species may be separated from ours.