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Cunningham, G.H. 1963: The Thelephoraceae of Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Bulletin. 145.

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Cunningham, G.H. 1963: The Thelephoraceae of Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Bulletin. 145.
New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Bulletin.
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Corticium rhabarbarinum Berk. & Broome 1874
Corticium rhabarbarinum Berk & Broome
Stereum rhabarbarinum (Kuntze) Wakef. 1915
Phaeosolenia platensis Speg. 1902
Phaeosolenia platensis Speg. 1902
Phaeosolenia densa (Berk.) W.B. Cooke 1961
Stereum sericeum sensu auct NZ
Stereum sericeum sensu auct NZ
Stereum vellereum Berk. 1855

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Acanthophysium aberrans (G. Cunn.) G. Cunn. 1963
CONIFERAE. Pinus radiata: Nelson, Appleby, 30 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Te Puna, coast. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 250 m. Wellington, Oturere River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,200 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 400 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 15238; Monument, Huia, 70 m. Wellington, Kaimanawa Ranges, 800-1,200 m.
Hymenophore annual, adherent, ceraceous-cretaceous, at first appearing as small linear scattered colonies 2-5 x 1-2 cm, becoming coalesced forming linear effused areas to 5 cm long; hymenial surface white, remaining so or becoming cream, or occasionally sulphur-yellow, at length deeply areolately creviced; margin thinning out, fibrillose, white, adherent. Context white, 120-160 µ thick, basal layer narrow, of mainly parallel hyphae, intermediate layer occupying the greater part of the context, of closely arranged erect hyphae soon cemented by their walls to form a pseudoparenchyma, embedding masses of crystals; generative hyphae forming the bulk of the hymenial layer, clavate or fusiform, to 6 µ, diameter, with the apical region covered with several (5-14) blunt processes 2-3 µ long. Gloeocystidia arising in the base of the context and subhymenium, some projecting slightly, fusiform or flexuous-cylindrical, 45-80 x 8-10 µ, apices rounded. Hymenial layer to 50 µ deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, acanthophyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 16-25 x 5-6 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 6 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, scanty, 12-18 x 4-5 µ. Spores elliptic-oblong with rounded ends, apiculate, 7-9 x 4-5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick, amyloid, often adhering in fours.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead stems and branches.
Separated from other species bearing clavate acanthophyses by the small basidia, smooth elliptic oblong spores, and absence of clamp connections. The species resembles `Aleurodiscus' cerussatus (Bres.) H. & L. in surface features, presence of gloeocystidia, apically spined acanthophyses and smooth elliptical spores. It differs in that basidia are smaller, clamp connections absent, and spores are smaller and of different shape. In most collections the hymenial surface is white and remains so or changes to cream on drying; the collection from Coriaria arborea is rich cream with sulphur yellow areas where growing in bark crevices.
TYPE LOCALITY: Mt. Te Aroha, Auckland, New Zealand.
Acanthophysium acerinum (Pers.) G. Cunn. 1963
COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m. MYRSINACEAE. Myrsine salicina: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. ROSACEAE. Rubus australis: Wellington, Ruahine Ranges, 950 m; Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Carpodetus serratus: Auckland, Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. South Australia, Belair, Blackfellows Creek.
Hymenophore annual, membranous-cretaceous, adherent, effused forming small scattered irregular colonies 2-15 x 2-7 mm, linear to lobed; hymenial surface at first white, becoming dingy grey, at length deeply areolately creviced; margin abrupt, white, often coarsely lobed, adherent. Context white, to 95 µm thick, basal layer of mainly parallel hyphae, intermediate layer wanting; generative hyphae 2-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, without clamp connections. Dendrophyses forming the bulk of the hymenial layer, of erect stems freely branched at apices, 2.5-3 µm diameter, encrusted with fine crystals which may be confined to branches. Gloeocystidia absent. Hymenial layer to 75 µm deep, an irregular palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and dendrophyses. Basidia subclavate, 50-75 x 10-12 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses commonly clavate, some cylindrical, 18-40 x 6-8 µm. Spores elliptical or obovate, a few suballantoid, apiculate, 10-14 x 6-9 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick, nonamyloid; often adhering in fours.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Scattered on bark of living trunks and branches.
Dendrophyses are freely branched near apices and arranged at different levels in the hymenium; most are encrusted with fine crystals, either completely or with apices of a few branches and pedicels naked. Some of the context hyphae also are encrusted. Spores are mostly elliptical or obovate, apiculate, some obliquely so, thin-walled, smooth and nonamyloid. Walls soon collapse, and frequently spores adhere in fours. Corticium ampullosporum resembles A. acerinum in macrofeatures, thin context and elliptical smooth spores often adhering in fours; it differs in the absence of dendrophyses, smaller basidia, larger spores, and presence of clamp connections.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Acanthophysium australiense (Wakef.) G. Cunn. 1963
MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus sp.: New South Wales, near Sydney.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, appearing first as numerous small irregularly disciform colonies 2-5 mm across, which merge to form irregular areas to 8 x 2 cm; margin free, lacerate, concolorous; hymenial surface alutaceous or tan, velutinate, not creviced. Context isabelline, to 0.5 mm thick, basal layer a narrow partly cemented zone of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of erect hyphae partly cemented and compacted, embedding masses of crystals; generative hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, walls 0.25-0.5 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Acanthophyses subclavate when 28-32 x 6-8 µm, clavate and 50-60 x 14-16 µm, or cylindrical when 4-6 µm diameter, bearing upon the upper half crowded digitate processes which may attain a length of 4 µm. Gloeocystidia crowded in the hymenial layer and in irregular rows through the context, pyriform, fusiform, flexuous-cylindrical, or clavate, 35-86 x 6-22 µm, walls commonly smooth, sometimes bearing a few spines on the apical region. Hymenial layer to 80 µm deep, a compact palisade of basidia, paraphyses, acanthophyses, gloeocystidia, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia cylindrical, 55-70 x 12-16 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, stout, to 10 µm long. Paraphyses clavate, 30-40 x 7-9 µm. Paraphysate hyphae cylindrical, moniliform, sometimes branched, not or slightly projecting, to 6 µm diameter. Spores obovate, elliptical, some compressed on one side, strongly apiculate, 20-26 x 14-18 µm, walls closely aculeate, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick, amyloid, spines to 4 µm long.
DISTRIBUTION: Australia.
HABITAT: Scattered on bark of dead branches.
Specimens from which the description has been drawn match the type ex "Queensland, Buderim Mt., 1912, C. T. White, No. 4" examined in Kew herbarium. The species may be recognised by the acanthophyses of various shapes and irregular gloeocystidia which together occupy the greater part of the context and hymenium, large spores with aculeate spines, and cylindrical, sometimes branched paraphysate hyphae. Basidia collapse when spores are about two-thirds developed so that it is difficult to ascertain their size or length of the sterigmata. Gloeocystidia when fresh are conspicuous, as contents stain deeply. Acanthophyses are present both in the hymenial layer and scattered through the context.
TYPE LOCALITY: Buderim Mountains, Queensland.
Acanthophysium berggrenii (Cooke) G. Cunn. 1963
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Pangarara River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,200 m; Oturere River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,100 m; Kaimanawa Ranges, 900-1,100 m; Mt. Holdsworth, 1,000 m; Featherston Reserve, 35 m. Nelson, Maitai Valley, 120 m; Lake Rotoiti, 700 m; Murchison, 170 m. Nothofagus fusca: Auckland, Little Barrier Island; Lake Waikaremoana, 500 m. Hawke's Bay, Upper. Mohaka River, 700 m; Turangakumu Saddle, 850 m. Wellington, Tongariro River, 600 m; Mt. Reeves, Tararua Ranges, 700 m; York Bay, 120 m; Days Bay, 120 m. Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m; Murchison, 170 m; Orwell Creek, Ahaura; Totara Flat. Otago, Kinloch, 420 m. Nothofagus menziesii: Hawke's Bay, Upper Mohaka River, 700 m. Otago, Lake Manapouri, 120 m. Nothofagus truncata: Auckland, Thumb Track, Little Barrier Island; Waiorongomai Valley, Te Aroha, 170 m; Orere, Hunua Ranges, 300 m.
Hymenophore annual, sometimes reviving a second season, coriaceous, fructifications at first scattered or crowded, discrete, pulvinate, orbicular, attached by a broad base, 0.5-2 mm diameter, becoming confluent in disciform areas 1-1.5 cm across, finally deeply creviced into irregular polygonal or irregular segments; exterior at first even and rounded, naked, becoming crenulate; hymenial surface at first convex, pruinose and even, cream or ochre, at length rugulose or irregular, radiately crenate, finally deeply creviced and discoloured dingy brown. Context white or isabelline, to 1 mm thick, composed of densely intertwined, cemented, partly gelatinised hyphae, almost sclerotioid near the base, embedding massive gloeocystidia and masses of crystals; generative hyphae to 10 µ diameter at the base, 4-5 µ in the subhymenium, walls 1-1.5 µ thick, lumena capillary in context hyphae, with clamp connections. Acanthophyses subclavate, 4-6 µ diameter, covered on the upper third with closely arranged, blunt pointed spines, naked below, confined to the hymenial layer. Gloeocystidia abundant, arising in all parts of the context and hymenium, some penetrating to the surface, 80-160 x 14-18 µ, in the hymenial layer, in the context 30-56 µ diameter with walls 4-8 µ thick, variable in shape, convoluted and distorted, in the subhymenium fusiform, clavate, or flexuous-cylindrical. Hymenial layer to 60 µ, thick, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, acanthophyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, some cylindrical, 20-30 x 5-6 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 16-22 x 4-5 µ. Spores allantoid with rounded or acuminate ends, apiculate, 9-12 x 4-4.5 µ walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick, amyloid.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Crowded on bark of attached dead branches and dead standing saplings.
On examination the type of Hypocrea berggreni in Kew herbarium, ex "Maungatua, S. Berggren, No. 241" proved to be an Acanthophysium, identical with that later described as Aleurodiscus peziculoides. The species is endemic to New Zealand and found on four endemic species of Nothofagus, where it develops upon attached dead branches or dead standing saplings. At first, fructifications are small, pulvinate, scattered or crowded, and coloured cream or ochre. Later, between them develop others which become confluent, forming disciform fructifications with roughened surfaces, scalloped margins, and discoloured edges. Finally these larger plants become creviced so deeply that segments separate and persist as individual colonies, in this stage resembling mature fructifications of Stereum frustulatum, for which species they have been mistaken by several overseas workers. The older form is often biennial, reviving a second season. Fructifications then exhibit on the margins discoloured or black often zoned areas indicating stages of growth. In appearance these two stages are so diverse that each would be regarded as a different species if collected alone; but intermediate stages are present in collections listed showing transition from the pulvinate to the disciform condition. Both are identical in microfeatures.
Context hyphae and acanthophyses are similar to those of certain other species of Acanthophysium. Hyphae are thick-walled, and densely compacted so that basal tissues of the context appear sclerotioid, lumena often being capillary. Acanthophyses are abundant, subclavate, and bear upon the upper third crowded blunt spines. Basidia are much smaller than those of typical species of the genus, and bear delicate sterigmata. Gloeocystidia are large, abundant, with unusually thick walls in those present in the context. Spores are abundant, amyloid, and may be seen embedded in the hymenial layer as well as lying upon the surface when sections are treated with Melzer's reagent. When fresh, specimens are scented not unlike sandalwood.
Acanthophysium aberrans, A. apricans, A. australiensis, and A. berggreni form a small section linked by the clavate acanthophyses.
TYPE LOCALITY: Mt. Maungatua, Otago, New Zealand.
Acanthophysium biapiculatum G. Cunn. 1963
ONAGRACEAE. Fuchsia excorticata: Nelson, Murchison, 170 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 17457.
Hymenophore annual, ceraceous, arescent, adherent, effused forming elliptical colonies 10-25 mm long, merging to form linear areas to 5 x 1 cm; hymenial surface at first white, becoming cream or alutaceous, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, white, finely fibrillose, adherent. Context white, 60-90 µ thick, basal layer narrow, of mainly parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of scanty erect hyphae, embedding masses of crystals; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µ diameter, walls 0.1 µ thick, without clamp connections. Dendrophyses scanty, composed of simple stems bearing 2-5 lateral short branches, naked or bearing a few scattered small crystals. Gloeocystidia absent. Hymenial layer to 55 µ deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and dendrophyses. Basidia clavate, 24-32 x 10-14 µ, commonly bearing 2 spores, seldom 1 or 4; sterigmata arcuate, stout, to 14 µ long. Paraphyses clavate, 16-20 x 5-7 µ. Spores globose or D-shaped, 12-16 x 9-11 µ with 1 or 2 large apiculi to 3 µ long, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick, nonamyloid; often adhering in pairs.
TYPE LOCALITY: Murchison, Nelson, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Hymenophorum ceraceum, arescens, adnatum, effusum; superficie alba deinde cremea vel alutacea, aequa, non rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae afibulatae, 2-2.5 µ diam. Dendrophyses nudi. Gloeocystidia absunt. Basidia clavata, 24-32 x 10-14 µ, 1-2 vel 4 spores, plerumque 2. Sporae subglobosae vel deltoides, 12-16 x 9-11 µ, 1 vel 2 magnis apiculatis, parietibus levibus, hyalinis, nonamyloidibus. On dead bark and wood of Fuchsia excorticata, Murchison, Nelson, N.Z.
Spores are subglobose or D-shaped and bear one or two stout apiculi to 3 µ long. They frequently adhere in pairs, when they assume the D-shape. Basidia usually carry two spores, rarely one or four, on long and stout sterigmata. Dendrophyses are composed of simple stems bearing from one to five lateral branches. They rarely exceed 2 µ in diameter, and are commonly naked, a few only bearing scattered fine deciduous crystals.
Acanthophysium botryosum (Burt) G. Cunn. 1963
CONIFERAE. Callitris cupressiformis: Auckland, Huia, 30 m. EPACRIDACEAE. Cyathodes fasciculata: Auckland, Kawakawa Bay. FILICALES. Pteridium esculentum: Auckland, Cornwallis, 20 m; Hatepe, Lake Taupo, 500 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus globulus: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 85 m; Mt. Eden, 120 m. Feijoa sellowiana: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 35 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum tenuifolium: Auckland, Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 300 m; Waitetoki, Lake Taupo, 450 m. PROTEACEAE. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 300 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma arborea: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. Coprosma rhamnoides: Auckland, Huia, 20 m. Coprosma robusta: Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, 250 m. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Carpodetus serratus: Auckland, Oratia, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. Escallonia vulgaris: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 35 m. SCROPHULARIACEAE. Hebe salicifolia: Auckland, Hicks Bay, 100 m; Kawakawa, coast. VERBENACEAE. Vitex lucens: Auckland, Huia, coast.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 10 x 1 cm, or appearing as numerous scattered linear colonies 2-10 mm long; hymenial surface white, even, at length deeply irregularly creviced; margin sharply defined, white, adherent. Context white, 100-300 µm thick, basal layer scanty, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of scanty erect hyphae; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, without clamp connections. Acanthophyses arising in the base of the intermediate layer, forming the bulk of the hymenial layer, stems simple, apices botryose, branchlets often terminating in minute, inflated, rounded, amyloid beads. Gloeocystidia arising in the base of the intermediate layer, some penetrating to the surface, oval, obovate, or clavate, 20-40 x 16-28 µm. Hymenial layer to 60 µm deep, a scanty palisade of basidia, paraphyses, gloeocystidia, and acanthophyses. Basidia cylindrical or with the middle slightly constricted, 50-65 x 16-20 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, subulate, to 16 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 24-32 x 10-12 µm. Spores obovate or oval, 12-15 x 7-10 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick, amyloid.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, France, South Africa, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead attached twigs, branches and fern stipes.
Readily identified by the botryose acanthophyses, obovate or oval gloeocystidia, and obovate smooth spores. Acanthophyses terminate in branched clusters resembling miniature bunches of grapes. Ends of branchlets stain blue when sections are treated with Melzer's reagent. Gloeocystidia are oval or obovate, a few clavate, abundant and conspicuous in sections. Although the species is relatively abundant in New Zealand, with an extensive host range, it appears to be uncommon in North America, and there confined to stems of Rubus and Vitis.
TYPE LOCALITY: Maryland, U.S.A.
Acanthophysium candidum (Schwein.) G. Cunn. 1963
COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Waiomu Valley, Thames, 35 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 300 m. RANUNCULACEAE. Clematis paniculata: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous-cretaceous, adherent, consisting of numerous pulvinate colonies of irregular shape, 1-4 mm across, which may be scattered or crowded, loosely attached by a broad base, sometimes coalesced to form irregular areas to 3 cm across; hymemal surface chalk white, pruinose, usually slightly convex, even, not creviced; margin definite, free, rounded, white. Context white, 0.5-0.75 µm thick, of several vague layers, basal layer of mainly parallel hyphae densely intertwined, intermediate layer of erect hyphae partly cemented to form a coarsely cellular tissue, lacunae of which are packed with masses of crystals save at the base of each layer; generative hyphae 2.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, without clamp connections. Dendrophyses arising in the base of the intermediate layer, composed of slender hyphae 1.5-2 µm diameter, branched apically and densely encrusted with fine crystals. Gloeocystidia absent. Hymenial layer to 60 µm deep, a scanty palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and dendrophyses. Basidia subclavate, 60-75 x 12-18 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, subulate, to 16 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, fusiform, or obclavate, 22-40 x 6-9 µm. Spores globose or subglobose, apiculate, 14-18 x 13-16 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick, nonamyloid.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, Jamaica, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Scattered or crowded on bark of living trunks.
Collections agree with authentic specimens of 'Aleurodiscus' candidus examined in Kew herbarium. The species may be identified by the pulvinate, chalk white, usually scattered fructifications of irregular shape, vaguely zoned context, delicate crystal-encrusted dendrophyses, and globose, apiculate, smooth, nonamyloid spores. Dendrophyses are composed of slender hyphae, not exceeding 2 µm in diameter, with apices branched, branches being either continuous or again branched, the whole forming irregular clusters at the surface of the hymenial layer. The context is composed of several layers in which hyphae become cemented into a coarsely cellular tissue, lacunae of which are filled with masses of crystals.
TYPE LOCALITY: North Carolina, U.S.A.
Acanthophysium coralloides (G. Cunn.) G. Cunn. 1963
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington; Mt. Tongariro, 1,000 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 4971; Waihohonu River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,200 m; Kaimanawa Ranges, 600-850 m; Ohakune, 700 m; York Bay, 120 m. Nelson, Maitai Valley, 60 m; Murchison, 170 m. Nothofagus fusca: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m. Hawke's Bay, Turangakumu Saddle, 800 m. Wellington, Kaimanawa Ranges, 800 m; Days Bay, 120 m. Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m; Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m; Murchison, 170 m; Orwell Creek, Ahaura. Nothofagus menziesii: Wellington, Whakapapaiti Valley, Mt. Ruapehu, 800 m; Upper Mohaka River, 700 m. Nothofagus truncata: Auckland, Little Barrier Island; Orere, Hunua Ranges, 300 m; Lake Waikaremoana, 800 m.
Hymenophore annual, cretaceous, adherent, at first composed of numerous small orbicular scattered colonies 1-2 mm diameter, soon coalescing to form effused areas to 15 x 3 cm; margin thinning out, irregular, arachnoid, adherent; hymenial surface chalk-white, sometimes tinted cream or pallid pink, deeply areolately creviced, even or finely tuberculate. Context white, to 0.5 mm thick, intermediate layer of loosely arranged erect hyphae radiating from points of attachment, embedding masses of crystals; generative hyphae 3-6 µ diameter, walls 0.5 µ thick, or lumena almost capillary, with clamp connections. Acanthophyses coralloid, branched, freely spinose, varying in shape and size, arising from hyphae of the context at different levels, projecting, lumena capillary. Gloeocystidia absent. Hymenial layer vaguely defined, to 80 µ deep, a scanty palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and acanthophyses. Basidia subclavate, often distorted and genlculated, soon collapsing, 60-115 x 15-26 µ bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, subulate, to 24 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, scanty, buried in the context, 40-110 x 8-12 µ. Spores commonly oval, many subglobose, a few globose, 18-25 x 16-22 µ, walls irregularly aculeate, 1 µ thick, amyloid, spines to 3 µ long.
TYPE LOCALITY: Mt. Tongariro, Wellington, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches, twigs and standing dead saplings.
A. coralloides is common in New Zealand on four endemic species of Nothofagus. It may be identified by the chalk white (sometimes pink) deeply creviced hymenophore, oval irregularly aculeate spores, and thick-walled acanthophyses. The hymenophore, although appearing effused, is in reality composed of many small orbicular coalesced colonies. In sections each colony is apparent since the context hyphae develop from a small submerged base, and are arranged radiately from its centre. Hyphae merge with those of neighbouring colonies, at points of coalescence being less densely compacted. On the surface, margins of colonies are indicated by deep crevices.
Acanthophyses are produced in such masses that the scanty hymenium is masked, and give to sections their characteristic chalky appearance. They simulate pieces of coral, being short-branched, both stems and branches bearing spines and possessing walls so thickened that lumena are capillary. An almost endless variety of shapes may be seen in any section, so that exact descriptions are difficult to prepare. Among the acanthophyses are embedded the paraphyses and young basidia. The latter, when mature, elongate and project above the hymenial surface, produce spores, then collapse. Spores are formed in large numbers and may be found lying upon the surface and scattered through the hymenial tissues. Although appearing almost smooth in lactic acid aniline blue mounts, they are seen to be coarsely and irregularly aculeate when treated with Melzer's reagent.
Acanthophysium coronatum (G. Cunn.) G. Cunn. 1963
EPACRIDACEAE. Cyathodes fasciculata: Auckland, Orere, Hunua Ranges, 300 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 12482.
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 10 x 1 cm; hymenial surface white, then pallid cream, finally creviced; margin thinning out, white, fibrillose, adherent. Context white, 100-150 µ thick, basal layer of a few intertwined hyphae, intermediate layer scanty, of erect hyphae, embedding masses of crystals; generative hyphae to 4 µ diameter, walls 0.25 µ thick, naked, with clamp connections. Acanthophyses coralloid, arising from the base of the intermediate layer and forming the bulk of the hymenial layer, apically branched and covered with fine spines, some of the pedicels spinose, others naked. Gloeocystidia arising in the basal layer, some penetrating the hymenium, narrowly ovate, clavate, or broadly fusiform, 50-80 x 20-28 µ, apically crowned with irregular spinous processes. Hymenial layer to 60 µ deep, a scattered palisade of basidia, paraphyses, acanthophyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia cylindrical, 50-65 x 12-14 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, subulate, to 16 µ long. Paraphyses cylindrical, fusiform, subclavate, or obclavate, irregular, 30-60 x 8-12 µ. Spores elliptical or obovate, strongly apiculate, 16-22 x 8-12 µ, walls delicately verruculose, hyaline, 0.5 µ thick, amyloid.
TYPE LOCALITY: Hunua Ranges, Auckland, New Zealand. DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches and twigs.
Spines on spore walls may be seen only with an oil immersion objective, unless spores are treated with Melzer's reagent, when they become more conspicuous. Masses of crystals, often discoloured, are embedded in tissues of the context. Gloeocystidia are large, conspicuous, and bear irregular spines at or near apices. Acanthophyses are of the coralloid type but more delicate and thin-walled than those of A. coralloides. In macrofeatures the species resembles A. aurantium, and in New Zealand both develop upon the same host plant. Separation may be made by the different gloeocystidia and spores.
Acanthophysium fasciculatum G. Cunn. 1963
LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Wellington, Carters Reserve, Carterton, 55 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma robusta: Wellington, Carters Reserve, Carterton, 45 m. SAPINDACEAE. Alectryon excelsus: Wellington, Carters Reserve, Carterton, 50 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 17690. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Wellington, Carters Reserve, Carterton, 50 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming linear areas 10-30 x 2-4 cm; hymenial surface cream, then alutaceous or buff towards the centre, spinose with projecting fascicles, at length closely areolately creviced; margin thinning out, white, fibrillose, adherent. Context white, 100-150 µ thick, basal layer compact, of mainly repent hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely intertwined hyphae; generative hyphae 2-3.5 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, with clamp connections. Dendrophyses with stems 3-5 µ diameter, scantily branched near apices and sometimes inflated at junctions of branches, at first naked, soon encrusted with fine crystals. Gloeocystidia absent. Fascicles arising in the base of the subhymenium or upper part of the context, projecting for the greater part of their length, 160-230 x 65-90 µ, composed of 100-350 filiform hyphae 3-4 µ diameter, with naked walls. Hymenial layer a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and dendrophyses interrupted by fascicles. Basidia subclavate, soon collapsing, 50-64 x 11-14 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, stout, to 16 µ long. Paraphyses clavate, 25-40 x 6-9 µ. Spores obovate or sometimes limoniform, strongly apiculate, 13-16 x 8-10 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.25 µ thick, nonamyloid, soon collapsing.
TYPE LOCALITY: Carterton, Wellington, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or wood of dead branches and stems.
Hymenophorum membranaceum, adnatum, effusum; superficie cremea deinde alutacea vel bubalina, plerumque velutinata, dense areolato rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae fibulatae, 2-3.5 µ diam. Dendrophyses parce ramosi, incrustati. Gloeocystidia absunt. Fasciculi 160-230 x 65- 90 µ, ad plurimum longitudineum eminentes. Basidia subclavata, 50-64 x 11-14 µ, 4 sporis. Sporae obovatae vel limoniformes, apiculatae, 13-16 x 8-12 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis, nonamyloidibus. On dead bark of Alectryon excelsus, Carterton, Wellington, N.Z.
Fascicles arise deeply within the context or from the base of the subhymenium, project for the greater part of their length, and are similar in structure to those present in species of Epithele. Spores and basidia collapse almost as soon as spores are shed. Dendrophyses may be naked or encrusted with fine crystals, the latter condition being common in sections from some plants, absent from others. Dendrothele Hoehn. & Litsch. was erected (1907, p. 820) on the presence of short fascicles, composed of dendrophyses which in the type species D. papillosa Hoehn. & Litsch. are freely laterally branched. In Acanthophysium fasciculatum they are formed from unbranched filiform context hyphae. Spores of the latter are similar in shape although smaller than those of D. duthieae Talbot (1956, p. 478).
Acanthophysium pulvinatum G. Cunn. 1963
LAURACEAE: Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Lake Rotoehu, 400 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium No. 17441; Lake Rotoiti, 450 m.
Hymenophore annual or biennial, ceraceous, adherent, either in the form of scattered, pulvinate, small, adherent, orbicular colonies 2-5 mm diameter, or coalesced when linear and to 20 x 3 mm; hymenial surface white, rugulose, even, tardily creviced; margin cliff like, white, black when old, adherent. Context white, 150-500 µ thick, basal layer delicate, of intertwined hyphae, intermediate layer of erect delicate hyphae cemented into a pseudoparenchyma, embedding masses of crystals; generative hyphae 0.5-2 µ diameter, walls 0.1 µ thick, with clamp connections. Dendrophyses somewhat scanty, arising in the base of the intermediate layer, projecting slightly, composed of delicate stems bearing apical branches, naked. Gloeocystidia crowded in the hymenium and context, not projecting, clavate or more often fusiform, in the hymenial layer often with an acuminate or slightly expanded apiculus, 25-40 x 9-12 µ, in the context more often subglobose, fusiform, or pyriform, 8-12 µ diameter. Hymenial layer to 50 µ deep, a compact palisade of basidia, paraphyses, dendrophyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia cylindrical or slightly inflated at bases, 30-42 x 7-9 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, stout, to 9 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 30-40 x 6-7.5 µ. Spores globose or subglobose, 7-9 µ diameter, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µ thick, nonamyloid.
TYPE LOCALITY: Lake Rotoehu, Auckland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Scattered on bark of living trunks.
Hymenophorum ceraceum, adnatum, ex multis, sparsis, pulvinatis colonies, 2-5 mm diam.; superficie alba, rugulosa, aequa, tarde rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae fibulatae, 0.5-2 µ diam. Dendrophyses rari, nudi. Gloeocystidia clavata vel fusiformia, 25-40 x 9-12 µ. Basidia cylindricalia, 40-52 x 7-9 µ, 4 sporis. Sporae globosae vel subglobosae, 8-9 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis, nonamyloidibus. On living bark of Beilschmiedia tawa, Lake Rotoehu, Auckland, N.Z.
From others possessing naked dendrophyses the species may be separated by the smooth globose spores and fusiform or clavate gloeocystidia crowded in the context and hymenial layer. The species resembles A. nivosum in certain macrofeatures, differing in that spores are smaller, dendrophyses naked, and the small gloeocystidia are crowded in the context and hymenium.
Acanthophysium sparsum (Berk.) G. Cunn. 1963
MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus hemiphloia: Victoria, Burkes Flat, Bealiba. Eucalyptus spp.: Auckland, Whakarewarewa, 450 m. Queensland, Redbank Plains. New South Wales, Between Booral and Robertson; Wangan; Landsdowne; Macquarrie Pass; Dugong. South Australia, Encounter Bay; National Park, Mt. Lofty Range. Victoria, Macraes Creek, Beenak; Monbulk Forest, Dandenong Ranges.
Hymenophore annual, cretaceous, adherent, at first composed of numerous orbicular or linear small colonies 2-10 mm across, coalescing to form effused areas 11-14 x 1-2 cm; hymenial surface chalk white, even, at length deeply and areolately creviced; margin thinning out, at first fibrillose, later definite and cliff-like, adherent. Context white, to 250 µm thick, basal layer of compact hyphae densely intertwined and almost pseudoparenchymatous, intermediate layer scanty, of erect hyphae; generative hyphae 3-5 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, naked, without clamp connections. Acanthophyses arising from the surface of the basal layer and forming a dense palisade, coralloid, with lateral branches, spinose throughout. Gloeocystidia commonly fusiform, oval, or obpyriform, 32-72 x 18-50 µm, contents orange when fresh. Hymenial layer occupying the greater part of the context, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and acanthophyses. Basidia cylindrical or slightly clavate, 65-110 x 20-25 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, subulate, to 32 µm long. Paraphyses ovate, fusiform, or subclavate, varying in length and shape, deeply embedded, 35-80 x 8-16 µm. Spores elliptical, apiculate, 25-36 x 16-20 µm, walls covered with irregular aculeae to 3 µm long, hyaline; 1 µm thick, amyloid.
DISTRIBUTION: Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
The type collection in Kew herbarium, ex "Wangaretta, Victoria" consists of eight small, irregularly orbicular colonies 1-5 mm wide. It is immature since spores were not found. Sections agree with the collections from Australia listed above, save that paraphyses are more clavate. The description given differs in several particulars from that of Hoehnel & Litschauer (1907, p. 809) which was drawn from specimens collected near the Murray River, Victoria. For they had described a different type of acanthophysis, and stated that spores were smooth. Basidia and paraphyses arise from the surface of the basal layer and are completely embedded in masses of acanthophyses which form the greater part of the context. At maturity basidia become elongated and. project above the hymenium, shed their spores, then collapse. Paraphyses remain deeply embedded. Gloeocystidia are scanty or abundant, apparently absent from some collections, assume many shapes, vary appreciably in size, and when fresh contain orange contents. In a previous paper (1956b, p. 259) I stated they were not present; but in a recent collection they were readily seen, and on re-examination of the other collections were found in some but not all, by aid of a differential stain. Fig. 101 was prepared from a section without gloeocystidia. Acanthophyses are coralloid and arise mainly from the surface of the basal layer. They are freely branched and usually clothed throughout with spines which in turn may branch. Spores are the largest recorded for the genus. In lactic acid aniline blue mounts they appear to be almost smooth; but in Melzer's reagent are seen to be covered with irregular aculeae which may reach a length of 3 µm. Early stages are cupulate or pezizaeform, and fructifications may remain so, or colonies fuse to form effused fructifications typical of most species of Acanthophysium. Pezizaeform plants could be placed under Aleurodiscus, but as their structure is corticioid, acanthophyses coralloid, and the species close to A. coralloides, it has been treated as an Acanthophysium.
TYPE LOCALITY: Victoria, Australia.
Aleurocystis habgallae (Berk. & Broome) G. Cunn. 1956
PIPERACEAE. Macropiper excelsum: Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 520 m. Wellington, Rona Bay, 35 m.
Hymenophore annual, subgelatinous when fresh, horny when dry, irregularly scutellate, 2-10 mm diameter, or somewhat irregular and lobed; exterior surface finely tomentose, radially striate, at first white, drying brown; hymenial surface even, white, drying pallid flesh pink, or plum, not creviced. Context white, drying brown, 0.3-0.5 mm thick, of mainly radiately arranged parallel hyphae compacted and partly cemented; generative hyphae 4-5.5 µm diameter, walls 1-1.5 µm thick, with clamp connections; abhymenial hairs somewhat scanty and brief, arising directly from the basal hyphae. Metuloids arising in the subhymenium, projecting to 50 µm, fusiform, 60-110 x 16-30 µm, crystal encrusted throughout, walls 3-4 µm thick. Hymenial layer to 95 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, metuloids, and pseudophyses. Basidia clavate, 60-95 x 14-20 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, subulate, to 12 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 22-35 x 6-8 µm. Pseudophyses filiform, scarcely projecting, sometimes apically branched, to 4 µm diameter. Spores subglobose or broadly oval, apiculate, 14-20 x 12-14 µm, walls smooth, hyaline; 0.5 µm thick, nonamyloid.
CONIDIAL STAGE. Hymenophore cupulate or disciform, 2-7 mm diameter, attached by a narrow base; hymenial surface pallid buff, or tan, even, or finely tuberculate, sometimes vaguely reticulated; margin raised, acute, entire; exterior cream or tan, finely tomentose, or even. Context cream, to 2 mm thick, composed of several irregular chambers filled with spores. Spores globose, 17-20 µm diameter, walls smooth, tinted, to 3 µm thick, laminated, with 5-7 germ pores, nonamyloid.
DISTRIBUTION: Ceylon, Central and South America, South Africa, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Erumpent through bark of dead branches.
Both conidial and basidial fructifications are present on the same branches in the collection from Mt. Te Aroha, growing among one another, neither exhibiting an epigaean nor hypogaean position. Petch (1926, p. 79) demonstrated with cultures that both are stages in the life cycle of the species. Massee (1888, p. 176) claimed that his genus Matula, based on the conidial stage, produced basidia and figured one basidium [pl. IV, fig. 7] bearing two spores. He placed the species in a new order, Matuleae, which he claimed occupied a position exactly intermediate between the Nidulariaceae and Hymenogastraceae. Spores develop from apices of clavate conidiophores, not basidia, and from an early stage are enveloped in hyphae. When small they become detached and thereafter are nourished by the enclosing hyphae, which appear to act as nurse hyphae, as do those of certain species of Scleroderma. Sometimes hyphal fragments persist, attached to spore walls, giving the impression that spores are warted. Lloyd's four names were applied to different collections of A. hakgallae, as is evident from his descriptions, a sketch of the hymenium provided by Bourdot (1917, p. 656, fig. 937), and examination of an authentic specimen of 'A. capensis'. The sketch referred to shows the characteristic features of metuloids, basidia, and spores. Lloyd (1920, p. 930) noted, when discussing Aleurodiscus capensis, "If this proves to be the same as A. corneus I shall not be much surprised, although on comparison the plants do not seem to be the same, and I am unable to make out crested cystidia in this species". His "crested cystidia" were obviously basidia from which spores had been shed and sterigmata partly collapsed. When discussing A. capensis, Lloyd (1921, p. 1088) remarked "It is the only Aleurodiscus known with subgelatinous texture and cystidia except A. corneus which is probably the same". No reference occurs in any of his writings to 'Corticium' hakgallae, so that it is probable he did not examine specimens or realise he was dealing with that species. Martin (1942, p. 162), W. B. Cooke (1951, p. 208) and Doidge (1950, p. 484) treated Lloyd's four species as synonyms of Cytidia hakgallae. Either the conidial stage of this species, or a closely related one, was described as Michenera rompelii Rick (1904, p. 243). Lloyd (1908, p. 391) transferred it to Matula rompelii (Rick) Lloyd.
TYPE LOCALITY: Hakgala, Ceylon.
Aleurodiscus aberrans G. Cunn. 1956
CONIFERAE. Pinus radiata: Nelson, Appleby, 30 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Te Puna, coast. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 250 m. Wellington, Oturere River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,200 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 400 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 15238; Monument, Huia, 70 m. Wellington, Kaimanawa Ranges, 800-1,200 m.
Hymenophore annual, adherent, ceraceous-cretaceous, at first appearing as small linear scattered colonies 2-5 x 1-2 cm, becoming coalesced forming linear effused areas to 5 cm long; hymenial surface white, remaining so or becoming cream, or occasionally sulphur-yellow, at length deeply areolately creviced; margin thinning out, fibrillose, white, adherent. Context white, 120-160 µ thick, basal layer narrow, of mainly parallel hyphae, intermediate layer occupying the greater part of the context, of closely arranged erect hyphae soon cemented by their walls to form a pseudoparenchyma, embedding masses of crystals; generative hyphae forming the bulk of the hymenial layer, clavate or fusiform, to 6 µ, diameter, with the apical region covered with several (5-14) blunt processes 2-3 µ long. Gloeocystidia arising in the base of the context and subhymenium, some projecting slightly, fusiform or flexuous-cylindrical, 45-80 x 8-10 µ, apices rounded. Hymenial layer to 50 µ deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, acanthophyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 16-25 x 5-6 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 6 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, scanty, 12-18 x 4-5 µ. Spores elliptic-oblong with rounded ends, apiculate, 7-9 x 4-5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick, amyloid, often adhering in fours.
TYPE LOCALITY: Mt. Te Aroha, Auckland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead stems and branches.
Separated from other species bearing clavate acanthophyses by the small basidia, smooth elliptic oblong spores, and absence of clamp connections. The species resembles `Aleurodiscus' cerussatus (Bres.) H. & L. in surface features, presence of gloeocystidia, apically spined acanthophyses and smooth elliptical spores. It differs in that basidia are smaller, clamp connections absent, and spores are smaller and of different shape. In most collections the hymenial surface is white and remains so or changes to cream on drying; the collection from Coriaria arborea is rich cream with sulphur yellow areas where growing in bark crevices.
Aleurodiscus limonisporus D.A. Reid 1956 [1955]
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Whakapapa Valley, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,100 m; Mangatorutoru Stream, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,000 m; Whakapapaiti Stream, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,250 m; Chateau, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,100 m. Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m. Nothofagus cunninghami: Victoria, Cumberland Falls (type collection, herb. Kew). Nothofagus fusca: Auckland, Upper Mohaka River, 700 m. Wellington, Blyth Track, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,500 m. Nelson, Murchison, 140 m; Orwell Creek, Ahaura; Totara Flat; Granville Forest.
Hymenophore annual, ceraceous, at first developing as numerous small orbicular or irregular disciform colonies with free margins and attached by broad bases, 2-10 mm diameter, soon connate and extending to form irregularly linear areas to 15 x 3 cm; exterior surface tan, tomentose with convoluted hairs; hymenial surface even, ridged at points of coalescence, at first cream, soon pallid flesh pink or salmon, not creviced. Context white, to 0.5 mm thick, of radiately arranged parallel hyphae densely compacted and partly cemented at margins, embedding crystals in the base; generative hyphae 5-6 µm diameter, walls 1-1.5 µm thick, without clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arising from the base and penetrating the hymenial layer, not projecting, flexuous-cylindrical, to 160 x 10 µm. Hymenial layer to 150 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, pseudophyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 60-130 x 16-26 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, subulate, to 16 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, or with slightly expanded apices, 48-100 x 7-10 µm. Pseudophyses cylindrical, slightly projecting, often bent or angled, some forked, 4-6 µm diameter. Spores citriform, or elliptical and biapiculate, 16-24 x 12-16 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.25 µm thick, amyloid.
DISTRIBUTION: Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Scattered or connate on bark of dead fallen branches.
Collections vary in surface colour, spore size, diameter of hyphae and thickness of their walls. The species may be separated from others with disciform pilei by the large citriform spores, large basidia, and reticulated surface of the hymenium. Reticulations are produced by ridges formed at points of coalescence of individual colonies. A. limonisporus is confined to species of Nothofagus.
TYPE LOCALITY: Cumberland Falls, Victoria, Australia.
Aleurodiscus mirabilis (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Höhn. 1909
CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Wellington, Pohangina River, 100 m. CUNONIACEAE. Ackama rosaefolia: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 120 m. Weinmannia racemosa: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 120 m; Mt. Karioi, 700 m. Westland, Karangarua Valley, 60 m. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Elaeocarpus dentatus: Auckland, Spragues Hill, Henderson, 200 m. EPACRIDACEAE. Cyathodes fasciculata: Auckland, Kauri Park, Northcote; Titirangi, 250 m; Cornwallis, 20 m; Orere, Hunua Ranges, 300 m; Mt. Te Aroha, 350 m. Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 850 m. ERICACEAE. Gaultheria antipoda: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 450 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Woods Bay, Titirangi. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus sp.: New South Wales, Sydney. Metrosideros robusta: Auckland, Swanson, 100 m; Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 350 m. OLEACEAE. Gymnelaea lanceolata: Auckland, Woods Bay, Titirangi. PIPERACEAE. Macropiper excelsum: Wellington, Crows Nest, Kaiwarra; Ngaio, 100 m. PROTEACEAE. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 240 m; Kohekohe, 20 m; Kauri Park, Birkdale, 100 m; Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 200 m; Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 250 m; Titirangi, 250 m; Lake Okataina, 500 m; Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 550 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma arborea: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. UNKNOWN HOST. New South Wales, Murwillumbah.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, at first pateriform or cupulate and attached by a small base, when orbicular and 1-3 mm diameter, becoming laterally connate and then extending to 4 x 0.5 cm; exterior white and tomentose; margin slightly raised, tomentose, entire, white; hymenial surface farinose, white, then cream, finally pallid ochre, at length creviced. Context white, 0.3-0.5 mm thick, of parallel compact hyphae radiately arranged, many spinose, embedding crystals; surface tomentum of flexuous hyphae bearing acuminate sometimes hooked spines, and of acanthophyses similar to those of the hymenial layer; generative hyphae 3-5 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, with clamp connections. Acanthophyses of two types (1) cylindrical, 4-6 µm diameter, densely covered with short blunt spines, arising from the base of the subhymenium, (2) narrow, geniculated and bearing long spines often hooked, and present also in the context. Gloeocystidia abundant or scanty, arising from the base of the subhymenium, penetrating to different levels, fusiform, subclavate, or flexuous cylindrical, 70-120 x 9-14 µm. Hymenial layer to 180 µm deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, acanthophyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia clavate, 80-160 x 16-24 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly acuuate, subulate, to 24 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 65-80 x 9-12 µm; both basidia and paraphyses sometimes bearing groups of spines near bases. Spores commonly citriform or D-shaped, when usually biapiculate, or obovate when apiculi are lateral or basal, 24-28 x 14-16 µm, walls finely closely verruculose, hyaline, 0.75-1 µm thick, amyloid.
DISTRIBUTION: East and West Indies, South America, Africa, Ceylon, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Scattered or connate on bark of dead branches.
Pilei are at first small and orbicular, with margins plane or with edges slightly raised. Shortly they become connate, then forming linear areas. Each colony is apparent, nevertheless, and indicated by crevices where merging has occurred, and by points of attachment. Acanthophyses are of two types, one being similar to those of A. ochraceo-flavus, with densely arranged blunt spines crowded upon a cylindrical body; the second is composed of flexuous hyphae, bearing acuminate, often hooked large spines at intervals, often at bends. Both are crowded in the hymenial layer, form the tomentum of the exterior, and the second type occurs also in the context, sometimes almost replacing normal hyphae in the basal region. Spores are commonly D-shaped, with apical and basal apiculi. Others may be obovate with a basal apiculus often obliquely inserted, or obovate-elliptical with one side slightly flattened. Walls of spores are covered with closely arranged aculeae. Bases of a few basidia and paraphyses bear spines or irregular angular projections. Gloeocystidia are abundant and arise in the base of the subhymenium and superficial layers of the context; they extend to the hymenium, appearing at different levels therein, some penetrating to the surface. Most synonyms are given on the authority of Rogers & Jackson (1943, p. 267); others as a result of examination of authentic specimens. One collection from New Zealand, ex "Crows Nest, Kaiwarra" was in Kew herbarium filed under the cover of Stereum ochroleucum Fr. Three, ex "Colenso b258, b590 and b729" were placed under the cover of Aleurodiscus oakesii (B. & C.) Cke.
TYPE LOCALITY: Cuba.
Asterostroma andinum Pat. 1893
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax colensoi: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 1,000 m. CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 1,000 m. WINTERACEAE. Pseudowintera colorata: Auckland, Hauhangaroa Ranges, West Taupo, 1,200 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, loosely attached, effused forming small irregular areas 1-5 x 1-3 cm; hymenial surface ochraceous or dingy ferruginous, even, at length creviced irregularly, sometimes pruinose; margin thinning out, fibrillose, loosely attached, concolorous, rhizomorphs scanty but always present, white. Context fuscous, 120-200 µm thick, basal layer dense, of parallel hyphae, varying in thickness, intermediate layer of loosely arranged intertwined hyphae embedding masses of stellate setae; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with occasional bridging hyphae. Gloeocystidia arising in the subhymenium and projecting to 20 µm, commonly fusiform, some subclavate, apices bluntly acuminate with small acute apiculi, 40-54 x 10-22 µm. Stellate setae densely compacted, somewhat scanty near the base, to 120 µm diameter, chestnut-brown, with 4-6 naked aculeate rays, some bifid, to 64 µm long, walls to 2 µm thick. Hymenial layer to 70 µm deep, a scanty palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Asterophyses absent. Basidia cylindrical or slightly constricted in the middle, 30-36 x 7-9 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-18 x 6-7 µm. Spores globose or subglobose, some almost pyriform, apiculate, 6-7 µm diameter, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North and South America, Porto Rico, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Specific features are the globose, smooth, strongly apiculate spores, relatively small gloeocystidia, and absence of asterophyses. Collections agree with a specimen of A. andinum examined in Kew herbarium. They differ from A. laxum Bres., which also has smooth globose spores, by the larger stellate setae and gloeocystidia and absence of asterophyses. Synonyms are given on the authority of Rogers & Jackson (1943, p. 271) who examined types of the four species listed.
TYPE LOCALITY: Quito, South America.
Auriculariopsis ampla (Lév.) Maire 1902
ROSACEAE. Pyrus malus: Hawke's Bay, Hastings, 10 m. Canterbury, Papanui, 15 m. SALICACEAE. Populus nigra var. italica: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. Otago, Outram, 70 m. Salix babylonica: Canterbury, Twizel River, 650 m. Otago, Earnscleugh Research Orchard, 200 m.
Hymenophore pileate, sessile, gelatinous when fresh, horny when dry, solitary or crowded, rarely confluent. Pilei cupulate, disciform, or umbonate-affixed when attached by a narrow vertex, 1-10 mm radius, 1-15 mm wide, when confluent extending laterally to 3 cm; pileus surface white, greyish when old, densely tomentose; hymenial surface reddish-brown, or purple, at first even, in large specimens somewhat rugulose when dry. Context 0.3-0.5 mm thick, brown and glistening in section, basal layer of radiately arranged mainly parallel hyphae embedded in a gelatinous matrix; generative hyphae 5-7 µm diameter, walls 1.5-2.5 µm thick, somewhat gelatinous, with clamp connections; cortex tinted, of more firmly compacted hyphae, abhymenial hairs freely convoluted, 3-4 µm diameter. Hymenial layer to 70 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate; 16-24 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 3 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-18 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores narrowly suballantoid, apiculate, 9-10 x 2.5-3 µm walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick; sometimes adhering in fours.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Solitary or gregarious on bark of dead branches.
A. ampla may be recognised by the white, tomentose fructifications frequently pendent by a narrow vertex, with dark plum or purple hymenial surface, subgelatinous context, and narrow suballantoid, nonamyloid spores. In macrofeatures fructifications resemble scattered pilei of Stereum purpureum, from which the species is readily separated by the absence of the zone of vesicles which characterises the former. Formerly I recorded (1956, p. 232) the species under the name of Cytidia flocculenta, and Cleland (1935, p. 262) also recorded its presence in South Australia under this name. Donk (1959, p. 78) has shown the species to be Auriculariopsis ampla, although inadvertently he had recorded it both as Cytidia salicina (p. 74) and A. ampla (p. 78).
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Botryobasidium subcoronatum (Höhn. & Litsch.) Donk 1931
CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 120 m. Pinus radiata: South Australia, Williamstown. Podocarpus ferrugineus: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 900 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Rangitoto Island. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Kaimanawa Ranges, 900 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 1,300 m. Metrosideros robusta: Auckland, Waiatarua, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Huia, 30 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum tenuifolium: Auckland, Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 300 m; Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 200 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. New South Wales, Sydney. Tasmania, Browns River.
Pellicularia subcoronata (Hoehnel & Litschauer) Rogers, Farlowia 1: 104, 1943.

Corticium subcoronatum Hoehn. & Litsch., S. B. Akad. Wiss. Wien 116: 822, 1907. Botryobasidium subcoronatum (H. & L.) Donk, Meded. ned. mycol. Ver. 18-20: 117, 1931.

Hymenophore annual, adherent, arachnoid-mucedinioid, forming irregular areas to 20 x 5 cm; hymenial surface cream or pallid ochre, tufted; margin thinning out, arachnoid, concolorous, adherent. Context of a few repent hyphae 6-8 µm diameter, walls 0.2-0.5 µm thick, with clamp connections; fertile hyphae erect, bearing lateral branches in botryose or coralloid clusters forming a dense zone near the surface. Basidia developing at ends of lateral branches singly or in groups of 2-4, subclavate, a few cylindrical, 8-12 x 5-7 µm, bearing 6, sometimes 8 spores on slender sterigmata 2-4 µm long. Paraphyses clavate, 6-8 x 4-5 µm. Spores narrowly fusiform or naviculate, with bluntly acuminate ends, a few ovate, apiculate, 6-8 x 2.5-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated decaying wood.
Collections agree with specimens of 'Corticium subcoronatum' examined in Kew herbarium, differing in the slightly smaller more subclavate basidia. The species may be separated from others possessing clamp connections by the small, fusiform or naviculate spores. Branchlets are arranged irregularly, some in coralloid groups, others in cymes. Although basidia collapse early, spores long remain attached by the sterigmata. Oil globules are abundant in the repent hyphae and main branches of the fertile hyphae.
TYPE LOCALITY: Berlin, Germany.
Coniophora arida (Fr.) P. Karst. 1868
CONIFERAE. Podocarpus dacrydioides: Auckland, Hillcrest, Northcote, 110 m. MYRTACEAE. Melaleuca sp.: South Australia, Meningie.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, arid, adherent, effused forming irregularly elliptical areas to 7 x 3 cm; hymenial surface ochraceous, becoming pallid olivaceous towards the centre, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, adherent, fibrillose, concolorous or tan. Context to 300 µm thick, tan, composed of intertwined hyphae not arranged into intermediate and basal layers; generative hyphae 2.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline, naked, branched, septate, not inflated between septa. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, a scanty palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, sometimes cucurbitiform, 35-45 x 7-9 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses clavate, 16-22 x 5-7 µm. Spores elliptical, or obovate, sometimes flattened on one side, apiculate, sometimes obliquely so, 8-12 x 6-7 µm, walls smooth, chestnut, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark and decorticated wood of dead branches.
Collections agree with authentic specimens of C. arida examined in Kew herbarium. The species differs from the related C. betulae in surface features and especially the hyaline, naked, slender hyphae of the context which are not inflated between septa, absence of cordons, narrower spores with thinner walls, and more clavate basidia. C. arida produces a destructive decay of worked timber.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Coniophora betulae P. Karst. 1896
CONIFERAE. Cupressus macrocarpa: Auckland, Tauranga, 20 m; Otumoetai, 35 m. Dacrydium cupressinum: Auckland, Waikaretu, 120 m; Campbells Bay, 75 m; Te Puke, 10 m. Pinus radiata: Auckland, Oratia, 20 m. Nelson, Appleby, 30 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus sp.: Canterbury, West Eyreton, 150 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Moturoa Island, Bay of Islands. PROTEACEAE. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Rangitoto Island. UNKNOWN HOST: South Australia, Kinchina.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, at first adherent, tending to become detached in flakes, effused forming irregularly linear areas 6-10 x 2-5 cm; hymenial surface ochraceous, soon olivaceous or pallid umber, even, finely sparsely and tardily creviced towards the centre; margin thinning out, cream or tan, forming a broad fibrillose border around the darker fertile portion, adherenµm Context to 500 µmthick, ferruginous, of compact hyphae not differentiated into intermediate and basal layers, finally tending to collapse and form a pseudoparenchyma; generative hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, sometimes inflated to 12 µm, often arranged in cordons, walls 0.5 µmthick, hyaline or more usually tinted brown towards the base and encrusted with coarse crystals, branched, septate. Hymenial layer to 65 µm deep, a loose palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subcylindrical, 35-60 x 6-7 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, to 6 µmlong. Paraphyses subclavate, 18-35 x 5-6 µm. Spores elliptical, oval, obovate, or pip-shaped, sometimes flattened on one side, apiculate, occasionally obliquely so, 10-13 x 6-9 µm, walls smooth, ferruginous, 0.75 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark, decorticated wood and worked timber.
Surface features of C. betulae and C. arida are practically identical. Microfeatures are distinct, however; for in C. betulae context hyphae are of greater diameter, often inflated between septa, frequently compacted into cordons near the base, encrusted, especially near the base, with coarse crystals, and usually tinted brown. Basidia are subcylindrical and narrower than those of C. arida, and spores are more irregular in shape, slightly larger, and possess thicker walls. Like C. arida the species produces a destructive decay of worked timber. The type of Thelephora luteocincta in Kew herbarium, ex "Victoria, Wangaretta" was found to be based on a fragmentary specimen of C. betulae.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Coniophora olivacea (Fr.) P. Karst. 1882
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m.
Hymenophore annual, sometimes reviving a second season, loosely attached, effused forming linear areas to 10 x 2 cm; hymenial surface ferruginous, becoming umber, sepia, or olivaceous, velutinate, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, adherent, strongly fibrillose, pallid tan. Context to 500 µm thick, ferruginous, of intertwined hyphae not differentiated into intermediate and basal layers; generative hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, chestnut, branched, inflated to 12 µm inoccasional cells, coated with sparse gelatinous warts. Cordons numerous, scattered in the base, formed from 7-28 partly cemented hyphae. Septocystidia arising in the base of the hymenial layer and projecting to 10 µm, also scattered in the context, cylindrical, septate, 80-180 x 10-16 µm, walls chestnut, 1-3 µm thick, coated with granules of mucilage arranged in irregular warts. Hymenial layer to 120 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, septocystidia, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 30-45 x 6-8 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 18-30 x 5-6 µm. Paraphysate hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, hyaline, slender, septate, projecting to 40 µm. Spores obovate, elliptical, pip-shaped, or naviculate, often flattened on one side, apices rounded or slightly acuminate, bases apiculate, 10-13 x 5-7 µm, walls smooth, ferruginous or chestnut, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, South Africa, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark of decayed branches and trunks.
Readily recognised by the large septocystidia which may project for as much as 110 µm and give to the hymenial surface its velutinate appearance. Hyphae of the context are brown, frequently inflated between septa, and near the base often compacted into cordons. Spores vary appreciably in shape and size. Although Bourdot & Galzin (1928, p. 362) recorded the presence of rare clamp connections, they were not seen in specimens examined in Kew herbarium, nor in collections from this region. As the synonymy shows, based for the most part on the list given by Rogers & Jackson (1943, p. 273), the species bears many names, erected mainly on slight differences in shape and size of septocystidia, or colour variants of the hymenial surface.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Corticium cebennense Bourdot 1910
RUBIACEAE. Coprosma australis: Auckland, Ruatewhenua, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, somewhat loosely attached, effused forming small linear colonies 2-6 x 2-3 cm; hymenial surface white, drying cream or pallid straw, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, white, arachnoid, adherent. Context white, 100-200 µm thick, basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of erect loosely arranged hyphae branched at a wide angle; generative hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Hymemal layer to 50 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate or subcylindrical, 20-26 x 5-6 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, 7-10 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 18-22 x 5-6 µm. Spores allantoid, or rod-shaped with rounded ends, 7-9 x 1.5-2 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on decorticated dead wood.
Context hyphae are naked and the context is without crystals or granules of mucilage. Specific features are the long and narrow allantoid or rod-shaped spores with two prominent guttulae, moderately thick hyphae branched at a wide angle, and small elliptical colonies with cream or ochre, even, non-creviced surface. Our collection agrees with a specimen ex Stockholm examined in Kew herbarium, differing in being non-creviced, and growing upon a different host. In microfeatures they agree closely.
TYPE LOCALITY: Aveyron, France.
Corticium comedens (Nees) Fr. 1838
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m. Nothofagus menziesii: Hawke's Bay, Upper Mohaka Valley, 700 m; Poronui, Kaiwaka Ranges, 650 m. Nelson, Marble Hill, Maruia, 900 m. Otago, Otautau, 350 m.
Hymenophore annual, ceraceous, adherent, erumpent from beneath bark, effused forming linear areas to 30 x 10 cm; hymenial surface at first orange, then reddish-brown, Indian red or lateritius, even, becoming scantily creviced, gelatinous when moist; margin irregular, orange, floccose or sometimes scantily rhizomorphic. Context reddish-brown, 60-100 µm thick, basal layer of parallel hyphae scantily developed, intermediate layer of erect hyphae compacted with mucilage; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, encrusted with orange mucilage granules, flexuous, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer 60-120 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae encrusted with mucilage granules. Basidia clavate, 35-112 x 6-16 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; Sterigmata stout, to 10 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 30-60 x 4-6 µm. Paraphysate hyphae projecting, apically scantily or freely branched, naked, 3-4 µm diameter. Spores allantoid, 16-24 x 5-7 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Erumpent through bark of dead branches.
C. comedens develops beneath bark, soon becoming erumpent, the ruptured bark then curling away to expose the semigelatinous hymenophore. At first bright orange, especially near margins, the hymenial surface soon changes to the colour of deeply burned brick, finally becoming reddish brown. Although sections are reddish, context hyphae are hyaline, colour being supplied to sections by masses of orange mucilage granules encrusting hyphal walls, basidia, paraphyses, and filling interstices between. Paraphyses, although numerous, are often overlooked, since in sections they are almost hidden by the large basidia. Some develop deeply within the intermediate layer, when they may be mistaken for gloeocystidia: Maire stated that spores germinate by repetition; but that is not supported by one collection at hand in which spores were seen to produce hyphae in the usual manner. For this and other reasons he placed the species under Vuilleminia. Gaumann (1926, p. 489) placed the species under the Vuilleminiaceae, a family he erected to contain this one species, which he held to be a heterobasidiomycete. In a later work (1949, p. 263) he recognised the genus but returned it to the Corticiaceae.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Corticium commixtum Höhn. & Litsch. 1907
COMPOSITAE: Senecio kirkii: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest. CONIFERAE. Podocarpus hallii: Wellington, Mt. Holdsworth, 1,200 m. Podocarpus totara: Otago, Ulva Islet, Stewart Island. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Huia, 30 m. ONAGRACEAE. Fuchsia excorticata: Auckland, Te Araroa, 200 m. Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 850 m; Blyth Track, Ohakune, 700 m; Featherston, 50 m; Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 100 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma australis: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 580 m. Coprosma foetidissima: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 950 m. SAPINDACEAE. Dodonaea viscosa: Auckland, Rangitoto Island. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Auckland, Huia, coast. Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 80 m.
Hymenophore annual, cretaceous, adherent, effused forming numerous linear colonies 5-15 x 2-3 mm, merging to form linear areas 9-15 cm long; hymenial surface chalk white, sometimes tinted cream, even, not creviced, occasionally finely faveolate; margin thinning out, membranous, white, sharply defined, adherent. Context white, 10-120 µm thick, basal layer of a few repent parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of erect hyphae embedding masses of crystals which extend between basidia and paraphyses ; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 30-45 x 9-12 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata stout, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-30 x 5-7 µm. Spores subglobose or oval, 7-9 µm diameter, or 7-9 x 6-7 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Northern Europe, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of living or dead trunks and branches.
Tissues are so packed with crystals, which extend between basidia and paraphyses, that the hymenophore appears chalky and is difficult to section. As with many species of Corticium, different collections vary appreciably from one another in certain features. Those on Dodonaea and Podocarpus consist of numerous small elliptical colonies 5-15 mm long growing on living bark; on dead wood of Coprosma foetidissima they are continuous and extend to 15 cm; on dead wood of Fuchsia excorticata both conditions are present. Thickness of the context varies from 10 to 120 µm, with consequent differences in structure, thin plants possessing a scanty intermediate layer, whereas in thick specimens this tissue is well developed. When plants are growing on decorticated wood margins are often outlined by brown or black lines in the wood. Surface tissues are readily eaten by snails or insects. Spores are more globose or oval than those seen in European specimens, but in other features agree. Basidia with two or four spores occur in both, so that it would appear as if the original description and illustration were prepared from an immature specimen, since they call for basidia with two sterigmata and an occasional aborted third.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Corticium confluens (Fr.) Fr. 1838
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax arboreum: Auckland, Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 250 m.LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tarairi: Auckland, Smiths Bush, Takapuna. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Konini Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m.FAGACEAE. Nothofagus menziesii: Auckland, Lake Waikareiti, 600 m. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Huia, 30 m. MONIMIACEAE. Hedycarya arborea: Auckland, Kaiwaka, 30 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus globulus: Auckland, Orewa, 30 m. Eucalyptus spp.: New South Wales, National Park. South Australia, Mt. Lofty. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Huia, 60 m; Mt. Te Aroha, 400 m. RANUNCULACEAE. Clematis paniculata: Wellington, Blyth Track, Ohakune, 850 m. ROSACEAE. Rubus australis: Auckland, Otau, Hunua Ranges, 300 m;Lake Okataina, 500 m. Wellington, Kaimanawa Ranges, 950 m.
Hymenophore annual, ceraceous, adherent, composed at first of numerous small colonies, soon merging to form linear areas to 25 x 10 cm; hymenial surface at first white, soon cream, then alutaceous, finally often pinkish-buff, following closely the surface of the substratum, sparsely creviced when old; margin thinning out, rather indefinite, byssoid, concolorous, adherent. Context white, 100-300 µm thick, basal layer stout, of parallel compact hyphae, intermediate layer of mainly erect compacted hyphae, sometimes with cavities at the base which may be packed with crystals; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 80 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 40-60 x 6-9 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata stout, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, somewhat scanty, 16-35 x 5-7 µm. Spores oval, subglobose, a few globose, apiculate, 7-11 x 6-9 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, West Indies, Africa, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Numerous small colonies first appear and soon merge to form linear fructifications which may attain a length of 25 cm. Crystals are common in old specimens, usually lying between basal and intermediate layers, sometimes in lenticular or conical cavities. Old specimens are somewhat stratose, displaying two or three layers usually vaguely defined. Hyphal walls become partly gelatinised and pseudoparenchymatous. Surface colour varies from cream, argillaceous, alutaceous, to pinkish-buff. The species is separated from C. rickii by the large spores of different shape and larger basidia.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Corticium confusum Bourdot & Galzin 1911
FILICALES. Cyathea dealbata: Auckland, Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 250 m; Te Kouma, Coromandel Peninsula, 130 m; Mt. Te Aroha, 500 m. Cyathea medullaris: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 130 m; Mamaku Forest, 600 m. Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 80 m. Cyathea smithii: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 500 m. Westland, Weheka, 200 m. Dicksonia squarrosa: Auckland, Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 500 m; Mairoa, Wairakei. Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 80 m. Otago, Fern Gully, Stewart Island.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 8 x 1 cm, with a few outlying islands; hymenial surface white, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, to 80 µmthick, basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely intertwined hyphae branched at a wide angle, becoming erect and dense in the subhymenium; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 10-16 x 5-6 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 10-15 x 4-5 µm. Paraphysate hyphae projecting to 15 µm, scanty, with rounded or acuminate apices. Spores allantoid or subnaviculate, bases rounded, apices often acuminate, 5-8 x 1- 5-2 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick; often adhering in pairs or fours.
DISTRIBUTION: Western Europe, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on dead pendent stipes of tree ferns.
Spores are allantoid and often attenuated from rounded bases to apices. Occasional crystals were noted in the tissues of some specimens but were absent from most. The species differs from C. filicinum in the unusual spores, presence of paraphysate hyphae, and subclavate paraphyses. Context hyphae are more strongly developed, slightly thinner, and are without ampullae. Although treated as a subspecies of C. lembosporum by Bourdot & Galzin (1928, p. 208), the plant is sufficiently well defined to maintain as a species.
TYPE LOCALITY: Aveyron, France.
Corticium contiguum P. Karst. 1881
COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Taneatua Reserve, 20 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 300 m. Metrosideros robusta: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 200 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 24.x 2 cm, with numerous outlying islands; hymenial surface white, becoming cream, somewhat prumose, even, at length scantily creviced ; margin thinning out, white, arachnoid, adherent. Context white, 10-30 µm thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of scanty erect hyphae embedding masses of crystals; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, encrusted with coarse crystals, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate or subcylindrical, 12-24 x 4-6 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses scanty, subclavate, 10-18 x 4-5 µm. Paraphysate hyphae with long acuminate apices, projecting to 15 µm, some bearing scattered crystals. Spores ellipticoblong, 5-7 x 3-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Collections listed agree with European specimens examined in Kew herbarium, labelled C. crustaceum, save that paraphysate hyphae are more freely developed. Rogers & Jackson (1943, p. 289) have shown that C. crustaceum is a synonym of C. contiguum. Crystals are produced in such quantities as to obscure the tissues, basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae sometimes being encrusted with them.
TYPE LOCALITY: Mustiala, Finland.
Corticium filicinum Bourdot 1910
FILICALES. Blechnum capense: Taranaki, Mt. Messenger, 200 m. Blechnum fraseri: Auckland, Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 250 m. Cyathea dealbata: Auckland, Waiomu Valley, Thames, 80 m. Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 200 m; Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. Cyathea smithii: Auckland, Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 250 m; Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. Otago, Niagara, Catlins. Dicksonia squarrosa: Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 100 m. Westland, Harihari, 80 m. Pteridium esculentum: Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 350 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 6 x 1 cm; hymenial surface white, even, becoming deeply laterally creviced; margin thinning out, white, arachnoid, adherent. Context to 80 µm thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely intertwined hyphae branched at a wide angle; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.25-0.5 µm thick, naked, sometimes inflated between septa, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 20 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 10-18 x 4-7 µm bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses pyriform, a few fusiform or subclavate, 6-10 x 4-5 µm. Spores elliptical, obovate with rounded apices and attenuate bases, a few suballantoid, apiculate, 7-8 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick; sometimes adhering in fours.
DISTRIBUTION: Western Europe, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on rhizomes or dead pendent stipes of tree ferns.
At first milk-white, the surface of the hymenophore when old may become pallid cream or occasionally pallid mauve. Specific features are the thin context with scanty, widely branched hyphae, shallow hymenial layer, small broad basidia, pyriform paraphyses with acuminate apices, and elliptical or obovate spores. Here found on dead pendent stipes of tree ferns and rhizomes of climbing ferns, in France it has been collected on stipes of Pteris aquilina growing in a similar humid habitat.
TYPE LOCALITY: Aveyron, France.
Corticium flagellatum G. Cunn. 1963
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 120 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 17418.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 10 x 4 cm; hymenial surface cream, even, becoming deeply irregularly creviced; margin thinning out, white, fibrillose, adherent. Context white, to 250 µ thick, basal layer narrow, of intertwined hyphae, intermediate layer of erect hyphae embedding vesicles; generative hyphae 4-6 µdiameter, narrower in the subhymenium, walls 0.2 µ thick, naked, with clamp connections. Vesicles arising from context hyphae, subglobose or pyriform, 8-11 µ diameter, carried on stems to 30 µ long. Stephanocysts obovate or subglobose, 6-8 µ diameter, carried on short lateral branches of context hyphae, bearing on the distal hemispheres 5-8 flagella to 8 µ long, sometimes with ends inflated. Hymenial layer to 35 µ deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia clavate, 28-40 x 7-8 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-20 x 4-5 µ. Paraphysate hyphae scarcely projecting, scattered, capitate, with apices expanded to 8 µ. Spores obovate or elliptical, some flattened on one side, apiculate laterally or at bases, 8-9 x 5-6 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Tuatapere, Otago, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on decorticated decayed wood.
Hymenophorum membranaceum, adnatum, effusum; superficie cremes, aequa, deinde alte inaequaliter rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae fibulatae, 4-5 µ diam. Vesiculae subglobosae vel pyriformes, 8-11 µ. Stephanocystidia obovatae vel subglobosae, 6-8 µ, flagellis ad 8 µ longam. Basidia clavata, 28-40 x 7-8 µ, 2-4 sporis. Sporae obovatae vel ellipticae, 8-9 x 5-6 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. On decayed wood of Nothofagus menziesii, Tuatapere, Otago, N.Z.
"Stephanocysts" are abundant, one-celled, stain deeply with aniline blue, and bear several long flagella upon the distal hemisphere of each. Capitate paraphysate hyphae are abundant in the hymenial layer and stain deeply with aniline blue.
Plants are resupinate and grow closely attached to the substratum, which supplies necessary support to the fructification. The hyphal system is monomitic, composed of generative hyphae alone, and there are no abhymenial hairs, or cortex, as in Stereum illudens.
The context is represented by a basal layer (fig. 2, a) of loosely arranged hyphae lying parallel with the substratum, and an intermediate layer (fig. 2, b) of mainly erect hyphae. Branches of hyphae arising from the basal layer penetrate the substratum, and lateral branches arise from erect hyphae of the intermediate layer to produce small vesicles, some of which bear flagella on the distal hemisphere.
The hymenial layer (fig. 2, c) is composed of a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. The last project slightly, and are slightly capitate. Basidia are subclavate and carry on slightly arcuate sterigmata four obovate or elliptical spores. Hyphae are naked and clamp connections are present at all septa.
Corticium fuciforme (McAlpine) Wakef. 1917 [1916]
GRAMINEAE. Danthonia caespitosa: South Australia, Meningie. Lolium multiflorum: Hawke's Bay, Waipawa, 120 m. Lolium perenne: Auckland, Kaikohe, 120 m; Birkenhead, 40 m; Auckland Domain, 50 m; Te Awamutu, 100 m. Hawke's Bay, Napier, 30 m. Wellington, Owhango, Taumarunui, 400 m; Masterton, 120 m. Poa bulbosa: South Australia, Meningie.
Hymenophore annual, ceraceous, growing from surfaces of culms and leaves of grasses, as clavariform or fuciform single or branched sometimes antler-like processes, each long-aculeate or subulate, 5-25 mm long; hymenial surface flesh-pink or coral-pink, remaining so or drying pallid tan. Context of closely compacted parallel hyphae often breaking into oidia near apices, intermediate layer scanty or wanting; generative hyphae 6-7 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm, thick, naked or encrusted with orange mucilage granules, without clamp connections. Hymenial layer developing both upon the exterior of host tissues and the subulate processes, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 16-20 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata stout, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, a few slightly capitate, 16-18 x 5-6 µm. Spores elliptical, with rounded ends, a few irregularly suballantoid, apiculate, 8-11 x 4-5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Great Britain, North America, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Parasitic upon culms and leaves of grasses.
Although represented in the herbarium of Plant Diseases Division by only a few collections, the species is common through the North Island of New Zealand on certain European grasses of pastures, lawns, golf courses, and bowling greens. It kills plants, forming discoloured orbicular areas from a few centimetres to upwards of one metre in diameter. First found in 1854 at Mt. Gambier, it has become widespread in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, and more recently established in Great Britain and the eastern coast of the United States. C. fuciforme may be recognised readily by the bright flesh-pink or coral, clavariform, semigelatinous bodies produced on killed culms and leaves. Bodies are sometimes sterile, or produce only a few oidia; they are as frequently fertile, bearing a palisade hymenium similar to that developing on killed culms and leaves.
TYPE LOCALITY: Mt. Gambier, South Australia.
Corticium glaucocanum G. Cunn. 1963
VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramif/orus: Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 100 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 17429.
Hymenophore annual, arachnoid, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 15 x 3 cm; hymenial surface dingy white, or bluish-grey, somewhat resembling hoar frost when fresh, drying to a tenuous barely visible film, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, white, arachnoid, adherent. Context white, 60-80 µ thick, basal layer of parallel hyphae collapsed and cemented when old, intermediate layer wanting; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, naked, without clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 25 µ deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia cylindrical with slightly inflated bases, or narrowly ovate, 16-20 x 6-7 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 6 µ long. Paraphyses ovate or pyriform; 9-11 x 5-6 µ. Paraphysate hyphae cylindrical or tapering slightly to rounded apices, 16-20 x 5-6 µ, abundant. Spores globose or subglobose, 5-6 µ diameter, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Pohangina Valley, Wellington, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on decayed decorticated wood.
Hymenophorum araneum, effusum, membrana tenui; superficie alba vel griseo-veneta, aequa, non rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae afibulatae, 3.5-4 µ diam. Stratum medium contextus abest. Basidia cylindricalia vel angusto ovata, 16-20 x 6-7 µ, 4 sporis. Sporae globosae vel subglobosae, 5-6 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. On decayed decorticated wood of Melicytus ramiflorus, Pohangina Valley, Wellington, N.Z.
Characters by which the species may be recognised are the small, smooth, globose spores, ovate or slightly pyriform basidia bearing four spores, cylindrical, abundant paraphysate hyphae, delicate adherent hymenophore and absence of an intermediate layer. Resembling hoar frost when fresh, when dried the hymenophore is barely visible, save under a lens.
Corticium griseliniae G. Cunn. 1963
Specific features are the small, globose, verruculose spores, slender frequently inflated paraphysate hyphae, and encrusted hyphae embedding masses of crystals. The hymenial surface is finely tuberculate, suggesting a Grandinia, but in the context there is no suggestion of regular spines. When old it is also coloured alutaceous in irregular patches. Plants are chalky and brittle, consequently difficult to section.
As in C. flagellatum, the context is composed of a basal layer (fig. 3, a) of repent hyphae from which arise hyphae of the intermediate layer (fig. 3; b), branched at a wide angle, scantily developed, and embedding masses of calcium crystals. The hymenial layer (fig. 3, c) consists of a narrow subhymenium and a palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. The last project and are cylindrical, aculeate, or capitate. Spores are globose with finely verruculose walls. Clamp connections are present at all septa.
Below is given a general account of the morphology of the types of hymenophore present in different species and genera, together with particulars of ancillary organs which may be present in the tissues.
COMPOSITAE. Olearia rani: Auckland, Ruatewhenua, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. CORNACEAE. Griselinia hecida: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 900 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No, 17424; Blyth Track, Ohakune, 700 m. Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m. Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 200 m.
Hymenophore annual, cretaceous, brittle, arescent, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 10 x 3 cm, with scattered outlying islands; hymenial surface white, then cream, finally alutaceous or buff in irregular patches, finely closely tuberculate, not creviced; margin thinning out, white, finely fibrillose, adherent. Context white, 150-200 µ thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely intertwined hyphae embedding masses of crystals; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µ diameter, walls 0.1 µ thick, finely crystal encrusted, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 35 µ deep, a scanty palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 14-18 x 4.5-5 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 6 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-15 x 3.5-4 µ, some encrusted. Paraphysate hyphae projecting to 20 µ, scanty or abundant, fusiform or aculeate, some slightly capitate, 28-35 x 4-5 µ. Spores globose or subglobose, 4.5-6 µ diameter, walls finely verruculose, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick; spines to 0.5 µ long
TYPE LOCALITY: Mt. Tongariro, Wellington, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on decorticated decayed wood of branches.
Hymenophorum ceraaceum, fragile, adnatum, effusum; superficie alba deinde cremes, demum alutacea vel bubalina, subtiliter tuberculata, non rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae fibulatae, 2.5-3 µ diam. Basidia subclavata, 14-18 x 4.5-5 µ, 4 sporis. Sporae globosae vel subglobosae, 4.5-6 µ diam., parietibus subtiliter verruculosis, hyalinis. On decorticated decayed wood of Griselinia lucida, Mt. Tongariro, Wellington, N.Z.
Corticium hydnans (Schwein.) Burt 1926
MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus spp.: New South Wales, Macquarie Pass. South Australia, Kuitpo.
Hymenophore annual, membranous-ceraceous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 20 x 5 cm; hymenial surface buff, becoming reddish-brown, deeply areolately creviced when colliculose; margin thinning out, fibrillose, adherent, concolorous. Context cream, 120-200 µm thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely arranged erect hyphae; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 20 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia clavate, 10-14 x 4.5-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, scanty, 8-10 x 3.5-4 µm. Paraphysate hyphae filiform, projecting to 10 µm, abundant. Spores suballantoid or pip-shaped, 9-10 x 4.5-5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, Australia.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated dead branches.
Close to C. scutellare, differing in the reddish-brown colour of the hymenial surface, narrower context hyphae, smaller differently shaped basidia, and pip-shaped spores. The surface becomes deeply areolately creviced, when segments tend to lift, giving the surface a colliculose appearance.
TYPE LOCALITY: Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Corticium lianicola G. Cunn. 1963
MYRTACEAE. Metrosideros fulgens: Wellington, Upper Pohangina River, 200 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 17437; Ruahine Ranges, 300-400 m.
Hymenophore annual, cretaceous, adherent, brittle, arescent, forming irregular elliptical colonies 5-20 mm long, sometimes merging to form linear areas to 15 x 2 cm; hymenial surface at first dingy white or ivory, becoming straw colour or pallid isabelline, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, adherent, white, fibrillose. Context white, 60-110 µ thick, basal layer narrow, of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of elect crowded hyphae embedding masses of gloeocystidia and crystals; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µ diameter, walls 0.1 µ thick, naked, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia scattered or more usually crowded in hymenium and context, clavate, oval, or subglobose, 6-12 x 6-8 µ. Hymenial layer to 30 µ deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, a few cucurbitiform, 12-16 x 4-5 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, slender, to 4 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 10-14 x 4-5 µ. Spores elliptic-obovate, or as often pip-shaped, 5-6.5 x 3.5-4 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick; often adhering in pairs or fours.
TYPE LOCALITY: Pohangina River, Wellington, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Living bark of lianes.
Hymenophorum cretaceum, arescens, adnatum, effusum; superficie sordide alba, deinde straminea vel pallide isabellina, non rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae fibulatae, 2-2.5 µ diam. Gloeocystidia clavata, ovalia vel subglobosa, 6-12 x 6-8 µ. Basidia subclavata, 12-16 x 4-5 µ, 2-4 sporis. Sporae ellipticae vel obovatae, saepe attenuato-afibulatae, 5-6.5 x 3.5-4 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. On bark of living Metrosideros fulgens, Pohangina River, Wellington, N.Z.
Characters of the species are the closely adherent, brittle, chalky fructifications attached to bark of living climbing stems of Metrosideros fulgens, thin context packed with crystals, small irregular gloeocystidia crowded in context and hymenial layer, and small usually pip-shaped spores often adhering in pairs or fours.
Corticium litschaueri Burt 1926
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax arboreum: Taranaki, Dawson Falls, Mt. Egmont, 1,000 m; North Mt. Egmont, 900 m. COMPOSITAE. Senecio elaeagnifolius: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 1,000 m. CONIFERAE. Pinus radiata: South Australia, Mt. Burr forest. CORNACEAE. Griselinia littoralis: Otago, Lake Wilkie, Catlins, 30 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Westland, Mt. Hercules Reserve; Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island; Ryans Creek, Stewart Island. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Aristotelia serrata: Auckland, Otau, Hunua Ranges, 300 m; Shaw Road, Oratia, 30 m; Lake Okataina, 420 m; Mamaku Forest, 600 m. Wellington, Ohakune, 850 m. Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m. Westland, Waiho, 200 m. Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Kaimanawa Ranges, 950 m. Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m. Otago, Routeburn Valley, 400 m. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m; Lake Rotoiti, 700 m; Murchison, 200 m; Ahaura, 120 m; Totara Flat, 80 m. Nothofagus menziesii: Hawke's Bay, Upper Homestead, Poronui, 700 m. Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 200 m; Maclennan, Catlins, 200 m. ICACINACEAE. Pennantia corymbosa: Westland, Weheka, 200 m. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Waikaretu, 200 m. MONIMIACEAE. Hedycarya arborea: Auckland, Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 200 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Huia, 25-60 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma arborea: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. Coprosma australis: Auckland, Anawahata Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. Coprosma foetidissima: Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island, 30 m; Lake Wilkie, Catlins. UNKNOWN HOST. Western Australia, Pemberton.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming elliptical areas to 14 x 4 cm; hymenial surface white, then cream, coarsely areolately creviced; margin thinning out, white or cream, arachnoid, adherent. Context white, 180-250 µm thick, basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely intertwined hyphae branched at a wide angle, becoming pseudoparenchymatous; generative hyphae 4-8 µm, commonly 5-6 µm diameter, walls 0.5- µm thick, naked, with large clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arising from the upper part of the intermediate layer, flexuous-cylindrical, some submoniliform, 40-96 x 4-8 µm, some projecting to 15 µm. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 20-32 x 4-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyseq subclavate, 18-20 x 4-5 µm. Spores elliptical, 6-8 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Readily recognised by the stout, moderately thick-walled hyphae branching at a wide angle and becoming corymbose beneath the hymenium, long and slender gloeocystidia arising in the context and passing to the surface of the hymenium, moderately sized spores, and white or cream, membranous hymenophore. In some collections gloeocystidia are flexuous-cylindrical, in others submoniliform, in others again both types may be present. Although sometimes difficult to find they are always present and readily seen near margins.
TYPE LOCALITY: North Dakota, U.S.A.
Corticium lividum Pers. 1796
ARALIACEAE. Pseudopanax crassifolium: Auckland, Titirangi, 300 m. COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Ngawhara Stream, Piha. CONIFERAE. Cupressus macrocarpa: Victoria, Woodend, 400 m. Dacrydium cupressinum: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 130 m. Podocarpus hallii: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 900 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Waiomu Valley, Thames, 70 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Auckland, Waiorongomai Valley, Te Aroha, 120 m. Westland, Pukekura, 130 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Orwell Creek, Ahaura, 130 m. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 200 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tarairi: Auckland, Kawau Island, 10 m. MIMOSACEAE. Albizzia lophantha: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 100 m. Oxylobium callystachys: Campbells Bay, 100 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Huia, 30 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Moturoa Island, Bay of Islands, 30 m; Whakarewarewa, 450 m. Metrosideros excelsa: Auckland, Piha, 30 m. PROTEACEAE. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Waikaretu, 140 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma pseudocuneata: Wellington, Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,100 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. South Australia, National Park; Upper Tankalilla Creek. New South Wales, Sydney, National Park, Neutral Bay, Berry. Tasmania, Myrtle Gully, Mt. Wellington.
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 20 x 3 cm; hymenial surface at first dingy white, becoming alutaceous, buff, bluish-grey or reddish-brown, pelliculose, even or finally sparsely creviced; margin thinning out, membranous, vernicose, cream, adherent. Context white, finally reddish-brown and glistening in section, 100-250 µm thick, basal layer stout, of densely compacted parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of closely compacted erect hyphae often encrusted with brown mucilage granules; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.25-0.5 µm thick, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 24-35 x 4-6 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-22 x 3-5 µm. Spores broadly elliptical, some apiculate, 6-8 x 3-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North and South America, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated dead branches.
Collections listed agree with European specimens examined in Kew herbarium, differing in the slightly larger spores and more vivid colours of the surface. At first plants are pelliculose, alutaceous, waxy, and adherent; in more mature specimens they appear pruinose, livid, or reddish-brown, and often plum colour where fertile. Context tissues are encrusted with mucilage granules and interstices filled with them so that sections appear reddish-brown and glistening. In old specimens the surface may be creviced, though sparingly. The basal layer is normally thick, occupying about half the context; in several collections it is thin, or tissues may be zoned with two or three narrow bands of parallel hyphae and erect intermediate hyphae alternating. Occasional plants display a few paraphysate hyphae with apices bearing from one to three short branches. Bridging hyphae are not uncommon. From C. leptospermi and C. vitellinum the species may be separated by the larger basidia, context hyphae of greater diameter, larger spores, and different structure of the context.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Corticium otagense G. Cunn. 1963
CORNACEAE. Griselinia littoralis: Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island, 20 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 17421.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregularly linear areas to 18 x 4 cm; hymenial surface granulose-porose, white or pallid cream, not creviced; margin thinning out, white; fibrillose, adherent. Context white, 80-120 µ thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of mainly erect hyphae more freely branched in the subhymenium; generative hyphae 4-4.5 µ diameter, walls 0.25 µ thick, most encrusted, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arising in the context, projecting to 20 µ, moniliform or tortuous, 40-58 x 5-8 µ, scanty. Hymenial layer to 30 µ deep, an interrupted palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia arranged in tufts. Basidia subclavate, 16-20 x 4.5-5 µ, bearing 2 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-16 x 4-4.5 µ; both basidia and paraphyses encrusted. Spores rod-shaped, or allantoid, apices rounded, bases apiculate, 8-9 x 2.5-3.5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick
TYPE LOCALITY: Stewart Island, Otago, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Hymenophorum membranaceum, adnatum, effusum; superficie alba ad pallide cremea, granuloso-porosa, non rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae fibulatae, 4-4.5 µ diam. Gloeocystidia moniliformia, 40-48 x 6-8 µ. Basidia subclavata, 16-20 x 4.5-5 µ, 2 sporis. Sporae virgulaeformes, 8-9 x 2.5-3.5 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. On dead wood of Griselinia littoralis, Stewart Island, Otago, N.Z.
Identified by the thin hymenophore, somewhat corymbose basidia arranged in tufts so that the hymenial surface appears slightly granulose-porose, basidia with two rod-shaped or allantoid spores, and moniliform gloeocystidia. Basidia, paraphyses, and most context hyphae are encrusted with fine crystals. Although most spores are rod-shaped, a few are allantoid. Gloeocystidia are moniliform or tortuous with deeply staining contents. The species differs from C. bisporum (Schroet.) Hoehn. & Litsch. in the presence of gloeocystidia, large rod-shaped spores and abundant clamp connections.
Corticium permodicum H.S. Jacks. 1950
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax colensoi: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m.
Hymenophore annual, pelliculose, adherent, effused forming irregular linear areas to 20 x 5 cm, with a few linear outlying islands; hymenial surface white or bluish-white when fresh, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context 30-50 p. thick, white, basal layer a narrow zone of parallel hyphae, collapsed and inconspicuous when old, intermediate layer wanting; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls 0.1 µm thick, naked, without clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 25 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia obovate or subclavate, 10-15 x 6-7.5 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, stout, to 7 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate or obovate, 8-11 x 5-6 µm. Spores pyriform, or obovate with prominent apiculi, 6-7.5 x 4.5-5.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick; tending to adhere in fours.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead stems.
Specimens closely resemble the type description and figure of C. permodicum. Diagnostic features are the pyriform spores, which are more or less subglobose with long and conspicuous, persistent apiculi, context reduced to a narrow basal layer of parallel cemented and partly gelatinised hyphae, and absence of clamp connections. Fructifications are thin and inconspicuous, bluish-white, somewhat resembling hoar frost when fresh.
TYPE LOCALITY: Ontario, Canada.
Corticium polyporoideum Berk. & M.A. Curtis 1873
CONIFERAE. Agathis austrahs: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. Cupressus macrocarpa: Auckland, Orewa, 35 m. Podocarpus totara: Waipoua Kauri Forest, 200 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Piha, 130 m. Metrosideros robusta: Auckland, Waiatarua, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 150 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, loosely attached, effused forming numerous irregular colonies 1-6 x 1-3 cm; hymenial surface at first white, becoming yellowish, tan, or pallid buff, even, at length sparsely creviced; margin thinning out, 3-5 mm. wide, white, byssoid, often with radiating mycelial strands, loosely attached. Context white, 300-700 µm thick, basal layer of a few loosely arranged parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely intertwined hyphae becoming more compact in the subhymenium; generative hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, commonly 3-4 µm, walls 0.2 µm thick, finely crystal encrusted, branched at a wide angle, with conspicuous clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a loose palisade of basidia and paraphyses, and sometimes paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 12-24 x 4-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate when 8-16 x 3-4 µm, or pyriform and with long-acuminate projecting apices. Paraphysate hyphae cylindrical, some sparsely branched, finely encrusted. Spores elliptical, obovate, or oval, some apiculate, 6-8 x 4-5 µm, walls delicately and irregularly asperulate, hyaline or tinted, to 0.75 µm thick; often adhering in fours.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Hyphae branch at a wide angle, and septa are widely spaced save in hyphae of the subhymenium. Bridging hyphae are not uncommon. Spores often adhere in fours; in most collections they are obovate or elliptical, in others they may be oval and more distinctly verruculose. Walls of some spores are hyaline, others faintly tinted brown, as may be seen in sections mounted in lactic acid, and may stain with aniline blue. Many are delicately somewhat irregularly asperulate, others bear delicate markings confined to the apical region. The species differs from the European C. alboochraceum Bres. in that spore markings are much finer and context hyphae are not ampullate.
TYPE LOCALITY: Alabama, U.S.A.
Corticium porosum Berk. & M.A. Curtis 1879
COMPOSITAE. Olearia ilicifolia: Westland, Douglas Rock, Copland Valley, 1,200 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Te Whaiti, 400 m. MIMOSACEAE. Albizzia lophantha: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 100 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus sp.: South Australia, Stirling. ROSACEAE. Prunus armeniaca: Otago, Earnscleugh Research Station, 200 m. Prunus cerasus: Otago, Alexandra, 200 m. Prunus persica: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 50 m. Pyrus malus: Hawke's Bay, Twyford, 10 m. SALICACEAE. Salix babylonica: Wellington, Turakina Valley, 70 m. Salix fragilis: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 50 m; Lake Whangapa, Rangiriri, 30 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Auckland, Mountain Road, Henderson, 250 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. New South Wales, Sydney; Killeare. South Australia. National Park.
Hymenophore annual, ceraceous, adherent, composed of numerous small orbicular colonies 5-10 mm diameter which commence at lenticels, often becoming fused to form linear areas to 5 cm long; hymenial surface cream or pallid ochre, usually raised and darker towards the centre, becoming creviced; margin thinning out, pallid cream, finely byssoid, adherent. Context cream, 100-500 µm thick, basal layer stout, of compact parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of mainly erect hyphae, sometimes embedding masses of crystals; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arising from the intermediate layer, fusiform, ventricose, or obclavate, some flexuous-cylindrical, apices long-acuminate, some projecting slightly, 40-80 x 6-8 µm. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 24-32 x 5-6 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 10-18 x 4-5 µm. Spores broadly elliptical, pip-shaped, or obovate, 6-9 x 3-4.5 µm, walls smooth or delicately irregularly verruculose, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick; sometimes adhering in pairs or fours.
DISTRIBUTION: Great Britain, Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.
HABTAT: Bark of dead branches.
Diagnostic features are the usually orbicular colonies often commencing from lenticels, with cream, creviced surface; densely compacted parallel hyphae of the basal layer, somewhat loosely arranged erect hyphae of the intermediate layer sometimes embedding crystals, pip-shaped spores often adhering in fours, and obclavate gloeocystidia with long-acuminate apices extending to the surface of the hymenium. Several forms have been described as species. C. pruni is one with nonamyloid smooth spores, obclavate gloeocystidia with long acuminate apices, and a stout basal layer. Collections from apricot, cherry, and peach match this form. Collections from Albizzia and Beilschmiedia possess delicately granular-verruculose amyloid spore walls which Rogers & Jackson (1943, p. 302) described for the type form. Burt described C. vesiculosum from an old specimen in which gloeocystidia had collapsed, leaving cavities in the context, a condition not uncommon in old specimens at hand. Practically every section examined shows a somewhat different microstructure, consequently it is advisable to regard all as forms of one variable species, as Rogers & Jackson have done. In general, thick specimens have longer gloeocystidia and more of them in the lower portions of the context. Crystals may be present in or absent from different sections taken from the same specimen. A few lateral vesicles, similar to those of C. utriculicum have been noted in the base of the context in a few sections.
TYPE LOCALITY: Neotype from Glamis, Scotland (Wakefield, 1914).
Corticium protrusum Burt 1926
CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Westland, Weheka, 200 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m. Canterbury, Arthur's Pass, 800 m. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m; Orwell Creek, Ahaura, 200 m. LILIACEAE. Rhipogonum scandens: Westland, Weheka, 200 m. MYRTACEAE. Metrosideros robusta: Auckland, Rangemore Track, Waitakere Ranges, 280 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma foetidissima: Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island, 10 m. WINTERACEAE. Pseudowintera colorata: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 900 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Huia, 30 m. Otago, Portobello, 10 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, following the substratum closely, effused forming elliptical or irregular areas to 10 x 6 cm; hymenial surface cream, then alutaceous, finally ochraceous, irregularly colliculose, at length sparsely creviced; margin thinning out, white then cream, arachnoid, adherent. Context white, 100-500 µm thick, basal layer of compact parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of intertwined hyphae becoming more dense in the subhymenium; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, branched at a wide angle, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia with oily, orange contents, of two types: (1) arising from the upper part of the intermediate layer, abundant, narrowly cylindrical with slightly tapering bases and rounded apices, not projecting, 40-70 x 5-6 µm; (2) arising from the base of the intermediate layer, flexuous-cylindrical, to 120 x 6 µm. Hymenial layer to 70 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 25-35 x 4-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 15-28 x 4-5 µm. Spores allantoid, apiculate, 7-9 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches and trunks.
Separated from C. litschaueri by the ochraceous, colliculose surface, narrower context hyphae with thinner walls, protruding basidia, and allantoid spores. Spores, although allantoid, are of unusual shape, being attenuated from rounded bases to narrow apices. They were not seen in a section from the type with which our collections agree in other features.
TYPE LOCALITY: Mexico.
Corticium pteridophilum G. Cunn. 1963
FILICALES. Cyathea dealbata: Auckland, Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 50 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 17427.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming linear areas 8-20 x 1-2 cm; hymenial surface pallid cream, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, 50-110 µ thick, basal layer narrow, of intertwined or parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of mainly erect hyphae cemented and embedding numerous gloeocystidia and masses of crystals; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µ diameter, walls 0.1 µ thick, naked, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arranged in several irregular rows in context and hymenium, elongate-oblong, oval, obovate, or clavate, not projecting, 12-20 x 7-9 µ. Hymenial layer a scanty palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia cylindrical or cucurbitiform, 12-20 x 5-6 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 10-15 x 4-5 µ. Spores broadly fusiform with acuminate ends, sometimes slightly flattened on one side, apiculate, 7-9 x 4-4.5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick; often adhering in pairs or fours.
TYPE LOCALITY: Kauaeranga Valley, Auckland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Pendent dead stipes of tree ferns.
Hymenophorum membranaceum, adnatum, effusum; superficie pallide cremea, non rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae fibulatae, 3-3.5 µ diam. Gloeocystidia elongato-oblonga, ovalia, obovata vel clavata, 12-20 x 7-9 µ. Basidia cylindricalia vel cucurbitiformia, 12-20 x 5-6 µ, 2-4 sporis. Sporae late fusiformes, apicibus acuminatis, 7-9 x 4-4.5 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. On dead pendent stipes of Cyathea dealbata, Kauaeranga Valley, Auckland, N.Z.
C. pteridophilum is one of three species growing upon dead pendent stipes of tree ferns. From the others, C. confusum and C. filicinum, it is separated by the gloeocystidia and broadly fusiform spores. In shape and arrangement of the small gloeocystidia the species resembles C. lianacolum, differing in the broadly fusiform spores and membranous hymenophore. It has similar gloeocystidia and habitat to `Gloeocystidium' cretatum Bourd. & Galz., from which it is separated by the much larger spores of different shape, and wider basidia. Crystals may be present in or absent from different parts of the same specimen; when present they are packed in an irregular zone in the intermediate layer.
Corticium punctulatum Cooke 1878
CONIFERAE. Pinus ponderosa: Auckland, Rotorua State Forest, 400 m. Pinus radiata: Auckland, Atiamuri, 450 m; Pinedale, 500 m.
Hymenophore annual, arid, membranous, adherent, effused forming linear or irregular areas to 15 x 10 cm; hymenial surface straw colour or pallid ochre, at first somewhat punctulate, becoming stellately creviced; margin thinning out, adherent, straw colour, arachnoid, sometimes irregularly porose-reticulate. Context straw colour, 90-130 µm thick, basal layer of a, few stout repent hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely intertwined, widely branched, frequently anastomosed hyphae more densely arranged in the subhymenium; generative hyphae 5-7 µm diameter, walls 0.5-1 µmthick, becoming thinner in the subhymenium, naked, with large often proliferating clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arising from the base of the context and beneath the hymenial layer, some projecting to 90 µm, flexuous-cylindrical, 64-150 x 8-14 µm. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 20-35 x 6-8 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 7 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-22 x 5-6.5 µm. Spores oval, obovate, subglobose, a few elliptical, apiculate, 6-9 x 5.5-7 µm, walls delicately verruculose, hyaline; 0.75-1 µm thick, staining deeply.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, South Africa, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of decayed fallen trunks.
Spores may be globose, subglobose, oval, obovate, or elliptical, and are delicately verruculose, thick walled, and stain deeply with aniline blue. Many are scattered among the context hyphae. Gloeocystidia are flexuous-cylindrical and arise from the base of the context and beneath the hymenium, some of the latter projecting to 90 µm. Paraphyses are subclavate and often develop at a wide angle. Clamp connections are large and frequently proliferating.
TYPE LOCALITY: South Carolina, U.S.A.
Corticium rickii Bres. 1898
CONIFERAE. Podocatpus totara: Auckland, Upper Piha Valley, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria sarmentosa: Auckland, Titirangi, 250 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Murchison, 200 m. MIMOSACEAE. Acacia sp.: New South Wales, Mittagong. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus sp.: South Australia, National. Park. PROTEACEAE. Hakea saligna: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 70 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma australis: Auckland, Mamaku. Forest, 600 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS: New South Wales, Sydney; Lisarow; Bumbarra. South Australia, Mt. Lofty.
Hymenophore annual, ceraceous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 20 x 4 cm; hymenial surface cream, becoming pinkish-buff, even, at length creviced; margin thinning out, somewhat pelliculose, cream, adherent. Context white, 100-500 µm thick, basal layer thick, of parallel compact hyphae, intermediate layer of erect hyphae compactly arranged and often cemented; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and scanty paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 25-35 x 7-9 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses.subclavate, 14-22 x 6-7 µm. Paraphysate hyphae cylindrical, to 4 µm diameter, projecting to 20 µm. Spores globose or subglobose, apiculate, 6-8 µm diameter, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Western Europe, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Close to C. confluens, differing mainly in the nearly spherical smaller spores, small basidia, and subclavate paraphyses. In macrofeatures they are almost identical.
TYPE LOCALITY: Virarlberg, Austria.
Corticium salmonicolor Berk. & Broome 1873 [1875]
ROSACEAE. Pyrus malus: Auckland, Whangarei, 50 m.
Hymenophore annual, byssoid-membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular linear areas 2-15 cm long; hymenial surface bright pink or salmon, fading, velutinate, at length deeply areolately creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, 250-500 µm thick, basal layer of repent hyphae, intermediate layer of intertwined hyphae somewhat corymbose beneath the hymenium; generative hyphae 5-10 µm diameter, becoming narrower from base to surface, walls 3 µm thick in basal hyphae, 0.5-1 µm thick in the upper part of the context and subhymenium, without clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 60 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 24-10 x 6-9 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses irregular in shape and size, clavate or subclavate, 20-40 x 5-7 µm. Paraphysate hyphae scanty or abundant, projecting to 30 µm, cylindrical, to 4 µm diameter, septate. Spores oval, obovate, or subglobose, sometimes flattened slightly on one side, apiculate, 9-12(-14) x 7-9 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µm thick. CONIDIAL STAGE. Sporodochia erumpent, to 0.5 mm across, aggregated into linear or orbicular stromata 1-25 mm long; surface porose-reticulate, orange-red. Spores catenate, arising from stout conidiophores, irregular in size and shape, oval, angular, trigonal, or subglobose, 14-20 x 11-15 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µm thick, contents granular, orange.
DISTRIBUTION: Ceylon, East and West Indies, India, North America, Samoa, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Parasitic on branches, twigs, and leaves.
Specimens from which the description was drawn were collected upon living apple twigs and branches, taken from a neglected orchard. The fungus forms cankers upon these, many small laterals being killed. Although a common parasite in tropical regions, where it has been recorded on citrus, cocoa, rubber, and tea, it has also been recorded as attacking fig and apple trees in Louisiana by Edgerton (1911) under the name of Corticium laetum, a species not present in North America, according to Rogers & Jackson (1943, p. 296). The fungus is unusual in possessing a conidial stage, described as Necator decretus by Massee. Rant (1912) showed by the aid of cultures that it was a stage in the cycle of the species. C. salmonicolor may be identified by the large-diameter basal hyphae with thick walls, absence of clamp connections, dense basidial layer, somewhat large clavate basidia with brief sterigmata, and large oval or subglobose spores. Basidia and paraphyses develop in corymbs, although this can be seen only in sections from developing margins. Although Dastur placed the species under Pellicularia, its only resemblance to members of that genus lies in the stout basal hyphae, development of context and hymenium being typically that of Corticium. Its relationship lies with C. fuciforme, which exhibits somewhat similar stout hyphae, the contents staining deeply with aniline blue.
TYPE LOCALITY: Ceylon.
Corticium scutellare Berk. & M.A. Curtis 1873
COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 250 m. Olearia avicenniaefolia: Westland, Weheka, 200 m. CONIFERAE. Podocarpus ferrugineus: Auckland, Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 150 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Huia Dam track, 110 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m; Rereatukahia Reserve, Katikati, 150 m; Whakarewarewa, 400 m. Taranaki: Mt. Egmont, 1,000 m. Wellington, Ohakune, 700 m. Westland, Weheka, 200 m; Harihari,100 m. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Aristotelia serrata: Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Blyth Track, Ohakune, 700 m. Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 750 m. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m; Orwell Creek, Ahaura, 150 m. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Maclennans, Catlins, 200 m. Nothofagus solandri: Otago, Routeburn Valley, 300 m. Nothofagus truncata: Auckland, Hunua Ranges, 300 m; Waiorongomai Valley, Te Aroha, 50 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 500 m; Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus spp.: South Australia, Mt. Lofty; National Park. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Swanson, 150 m; Spragues Hill, Waitakere Ranges, 270 m; Atkinson Park, Titirangi, 250 m; Hunua Ranges, 200 m; Te Kouma, Coromandel Peninsula, 850 m; Lake Taupo, 500 m. Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 850 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Parahaki, Whangarei, 130 m; Kauri Park, Birkenhead, 75 m; Swanson, 200 m; Henderson, 35 m; Cutty Grass Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Anawhata Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Monument, Huia, 70 m; Mt. Te Aroha, 400 m. Hawke's Bay, Upper Mohaka River, 700 m. Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 850 m. Metrosideros fulgens: Westland, Harihari, 120 m. ROSACEAE. Prunus persica: Auckland, Henderson, 30 m. VERBENACEAE. Vitex lucens: Auckland, Buffalo Beach, Whitianga. UNKNOWN HOSTS. South Australia, Belair; Adelaide; National Park; Mt. Lofty; Stonyfell Hills. New South Wales, Sydney, Killcare, National Park, Kendall.
Hymenophore annual, cretaceous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 10 x 3 cm, frequently with a few linear outlying islands; hymenial surface cream, sometimes becoming pallid buff, deeply and finely areolately creviced; margin thinning out, white, adherent, arachnoid or with stout, brief rhizomorphs which may also develop towards the centre. Context white, 200-300 µm thick, sometimes 500-600 µm when vaguely layered, basal layer narrow, of parallel compact hyphae, intermediate layer of erect hyphae embedding masses of crystals and mucilage granules; generative hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, commonly 3.5-4 µm, walls 0.5-1 µm thick, encrusted, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 12-24 x 4-6 µm bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-18 x 4-5 µm. Paraphysate hyphae cylindrical with rounded apices, projecting to 15 µm, occasionally encrusted at or near apices. Spores elliptical, a few suballantoid, 6-8 x 3-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.25 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, West Indies, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated dead branches and stems.
Collections agree with the type in Kew herbarium, ex "South Carolina, No. 2473" save that paraphysate hyphae are usually more strongly developed. Occasional paraphysate hyphae are crystal encrusted either at apices or crystals are arranged in a band beneath the naked apices. The species might therefore be regarded as a Peniophora, but without justification since crystals are accidental, being present on or absent from hyphae in different sections from the same specimen. In the context, crystals are copiously developed and give to sections a chalky appearance. Several collections exhibit rhizomorphs which at first are peripheral but later may become covered by the developing hymenium. Specimens are often sterile, especially if large. The species resembles C. corniculatum in many macrofeatures, but may be separated by the narrower elliptical spores and cylindrical paraphysate hyphae.
TYPE LOCALITY: South Carolina, U.S.A.
Corticium sulphureum Pers. 1796
FILICALES. Cyathea dealbata: Auckland, Waikaretu, 130 m. LAURACEAE. Litsea calicaris: Auckland, Tasman Valley, Great King Island. PAPILIONIACEAE. Cytisus scoparius: Auckland, Waitetoki, Lake Taupo, 400 m. UNKNOWN HOST. Wellington, Ruahine Ranges.
Hymenophore annual, arachnoid, adherent, effused forming small irregular areas to 8 x 3 cm; hymenial surface sulphur yellow or chrome, farinose, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, concolorous, adherent, sometimes rhizomorphic. Context yellow, either composed of rhizomorphic strands each formed from 2-6 cemented hyphae with a loose weft of solitary hyphae between, forming a scanty reticulated tissue to 30 µm deep; or of an intermediate layer of mainly erect hyphae arising from a narrow basal layer of a few repent hyphae and embedding numerous spores; generative hyphae 3-6 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, often encrusted, sometimes inflated between septa, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer either a continuous palisade, or composed of short lateral branches arising from rhizomorphs and bearing 2-5 basidia and paraphyses. Basidia cylindrical or subclavate, 8-12 x 6-7 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 6-8 x 5-6 µm. Spores subglobose, oval, or broadly elliptical, 5-7 x 4-5.5 µm (including spines), walls finely and closely echinulate, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick; spines to 4 µm long.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on decorticated. decayed wood and fern stipes.
Taxonomists differ as to whether the species should be placed under Corticium or Tomentella. Because spores are hyaline and the hymenium is frequently arranged in the form of a definite palisade, it is treated as a Corticium herein. The collection from the Ruahine Ranges exhibits the Tomentella structure, the others the Corticium form seen in some European collections. The species may be separated from C. tulasnelloideum, which it resembles in the echinulate spores, by the conspicuous yellow colour of the surface and usual presence of rhizomorphs either in the context or at margins. Colour sometimes fades from the central portions, but is retained in the margins. An extensive synonymy is given by Rogers & Jackson (1943, p. 308).
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Corticium tuberculatum P. Karst. 1896
CORNACEAE. Griselinia lucida: Wellington, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,100 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Chateau, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,000 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus spp.: New South Wales, Neutral Bay. South Australia, Mt. Lofty. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma linanifolia: Hawke's Bay, Upper Mohaka River, 700 m.
Hymenophore annual, ceraceous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 12 x 5 cm; hymenial surface cream, pallid alutaceous, or ochre, becoming deeply areolately creviced; then appearing tuberculate; margin thinning out, concolorous, byssold, adherent. Context white, 100-400 µm thick, basal layer narrow, of loosely arranged mainly parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of erect hyphae more densely compacted in the subhymenium, embedding masses of crystals which may be arranged in layers; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, encrusted, without clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 14-32 x 4-6 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical or subclavate, 14-28 x 4-5 µm. Spores oval, ovate, or broadly elliptical, 4-5-6 x 3.5-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated dead branches.
Collections listed agree with a specimen of C. tuberculatum examined in Kew herbarium, differing mainly in the brighter colour of the surface and, particularly, in the masses of crystals present in the context. In specimens from Griselinia lucida crystals are confined to the basal part of the context, whereas in those from Nothofagus cliffortioides they extend to the hymenial layer, lying between and partly encrusting basidia and paraphyses. Australian collections bear only a few crystals, hyphae of the context being encrusted with mucilage granules. Margins of crevices in old specimens often lift slightly and give to plants an odontoid appearance. When plants are actively growing the surface is even although deeply creviced.
TYPE LOCALITY: Finland.
Corticium tulasnelloideum Höhn. & Litsch. 1908
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax arboreum: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 500 m. Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 1,000 m; Dawson Falls, Mt. Egmont, 1,200 m. Neopanax colensoi: Wellington, Blyth Track, Ohakune, 800 m. Schefflera digitata: Auckland, Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 300 m. Westland, The Forks, Okarito. CONIFERAE. Agathis australis: Auckland, Upper Piha Valley, 300 m. Cupressus macrocarpa: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 50 m. Dacrydium cupressinum: Wellington, Blyth Track, Ohakune, 700 m; Ruahine Ranges, 400 m. Otago, Ross Creek, Dunedin, 200 m. Podocarpus hallii: Wellington, Whakapapaiti Valley, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,000 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Auckland, Lake Okataina. 400 m. FILICALES. Cyathea medullaris: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m. Cyathea smithii: Auckland, Whangapoua, Coromandel Peninsula. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Titirangi, 300 m; Lake Okataina, 500 m; Hicks Bay, 100 m. LILIACEAE. Rhipogonum scandens: Auckland, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m. MONIMIACEAE. Hedycarya arborea: Auckland, Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 300 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Great King Island. Lopho-myrtus bullata: Auckland, Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. Metrosideros robusta: Westland, Glacier Road, Weheka, 200 m. ONAGRACEAE. Fuchsia excorticata: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 500 m. PALMAE. Rhopalostylis sapida: Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 300 m. PAPILIONACEAE. Oxylobium callystachys: Campbells Bay, 80 m. Sophora microphylla: Otago, Morrisons Creek, Dunedin, 150 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma australis: Auckland, Ruatewhenua, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Huia, 20 m. SAPINDACEAE. Alectryon excelsus: Wellington, Upper Pohangina Valley, 300 m. WINTERACEAE. Pseudowintera colorata: Taranaki, Dawson Falls, Mt. Egmont, 830 m.
Hymenophore annual, arachnoid, closely adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 5 x 3 cm; hymenial surface at first dingy white, becoming grey or bluish-grey, irregularly granular, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, 10-100 µm thick, commonly 10-20 µm, basal layer narrow, of densely arranged parallel hyphae, intermediate layer wanting; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, sometimes inflated between septa, naked, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a scanty palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate or subcylindrical, 8-16 x 4-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 7 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 6-10 x 4-5 µm. Spores globose, subglobose, or obovate, 4.5-5.5 x 4-4.5 µm, walls echinulate, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or: decorticated dead wood.
Specific features are the echinulate, subglobose, or obovate spores, small basidia, subclavate or elliptical paraphyses, non-creviced surface which on a dark substratum appears as a delicate grey or bluish-grey arachnoid film, and absence of an intermediate layer. Appreciable variations were noted in specimens examined, particularly in thickness of the context, shape and size of spores, and presence or absence of ampullae on context hyphae. The context is reduced to a basal layer of mainly parallel hyphae, which soon collapse and become pseudoparenchymatous. Spores are.similar in size and echinulations to those of C. sulphureum, differing mainly in shape and finer spines.
TYPE LOCALITY: Germany.
Corticium vallum G. Cunn. 1963
ARALIACEAE. Pseudopanax crassifolium: Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 500 m. COMPOSITAE. Olearia colensoi: Westland, Alecs Knob, 1,500 m. CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Wellington, Pohangina Valley, 250 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Waitetoki, Lake Taupo, 450 m. CORNACEAE. Griselinia littoralis: Wellington, Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,000 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 11216. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 150 m. EPACRIDACEAE. Cyathodes fasciculata: Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 400 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma robusta: Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, closely adherent, effused forming linear areas to 12 x 5 cm; hymenial surface cream, later pallid buff, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, white, fibrillose, adherent. Context white, 30-120 µ thick, basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of erect compact hyphae; generative hyphae 3-4 µ diameter, walls 0.5 µ thick, naked, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia crowded in context and hymenium, forming a dense palisade, arising from the base, flexuous-cylindrical, submoniliform, or subclavate, scarcely or not projecting, 45-110 x 10-12 µ, walls 1 µ thick. Hymenial layer to 80 µ deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia clavate, 45-65 x 11-14 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata stout, 8-10 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 30-50 x 7-10 µ. Spores oval, a few subglobose, apiculate, 8-11 x 7-8 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Mt. Ruapehu, Wellington, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on decorticated dead wood.
Hymenophorum membranaceum, adherens, effusum; superficie cremea deinde pallide bubalina, non rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae fibulatae, 3-4 µ diam. Gloeocystidia flexuoso-cylindricalia vel subclavata, 45-110 x 10-12 µ. Basidia clavata, 45-64 x 11-14 µ. Sporae ovales vel aliquot subglobosae, 8-11 x 7-9 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. On dead decorticated wood of Griselinia littoralis, Mt. Ruapehu, Wellington, N.Z.
Basidia are abundant and project slightly when fertile, whereas paraphyses are scanty, slender, and seldom more than half their length. Gloeocystidia are irregular both in shape and size. Many of small size are crowded near the base; others pass from the base into the hymenium, but few project. Most are submoniliform, some cylindrical and sometimes strangulated near apices. Superficially plants resemble some collections of C. patricium.
In an earlier paper (1954, p. 290) I referred the species to C. radiosum Fr. As J. Boidin has pointed out it differs from this species in the larger nonamyloid spores and presence of clamp connections.
Corticium variicolor G. Cunn. 1963
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Murchison, 170 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 470 m. LILIACEAE. Rhipogonum scandens: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 450 m. MYRTACEAE. Metrosideros fulgens: Westland, Weheka, 200 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma australis: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 850 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 17415. WINTERACEAE. Pseudowintera colorata: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 1,100 m.
Hymenophore annual, byssoid-membranous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 20 x 5 cm, with numerous scattered outlying islands; hymenial surface cream, pallid ochre, vitelline, salmon, yellow-green or, where damaged, testaceous, even, at length sparingly creviced; margin thinning out, fibrillose, adherent, white. Context white or isabelline, 150-450 µ thick, basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely intertwined mainly erect hyphae; generative hyphae 2 .5-4.5 µ diameter, walls 0.5 µ thick (to 1 µ thick in some hyphae in the base), without clamp connections, some encrusted with hyaline crystals or brown granules of mucilage. Gloeocystidia arising in the subhymenium, a few scattered in the context, some projecting to 50 µ, cylindrical with rounded ends, 50-75 x 6-9 µ. Hymenial layer to 55 µ deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 30-45 x 6-8 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, slender, to 9 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 18-25 x 5-6.5 µ. Spores oval or broadly elliptical, a few subglobose, apiculate, 7-9 x 5-6 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Mt. Egmont, Taranaki, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated dead wood.
Hymenophorum byssoid-membranaceum, adnatum, effusum; superficie cremea, pallide ochracea, vitellina, salmonea, chlorina vel testacea, aequa, demum parce rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae afibulatae, 2 .5-4.5 µ, diam. Gloeocystidia cylindricalia, apicibus rotundis, 50-75 x 6-9 µ. Basidia subclavata, 30-45 x 6-8 µ, 2-4 sporis. Sporae ovales, aliquot subglobosae, 7-9 x 5-6 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. On dead bark of Coprosma australis, Mt. Egmont, Taranaki, N.Z.
Commonly cream, egg-yolk yellow, or ochre, the hymenial surface may become the yellow-green of ripening lemons, salmon, or where rubbed or chewed by insects, brick red. All these colours may be seen in several of the specimens. The testaceous colour is produced by granules of soluble mucilage which coat hyphae of the upper part of the context. Gloeocystidia are conspicuous and do not collapse; they resemble those of C. patricium, although appreciably smaller. From the latter species separation is made by the differently shaped, smaller spores, smaller gloeocystidia, and absence of clamp connections. Plants stain wood of the substratum yellow. Clamp connections are absent from this and the two following species C. afibulatum and C. crystallitectum.
Corticium vescum Burt 1926
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax colensoi: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 700 m: CORNACEAE. Griselinia littoralis: Otago, Mt. Cargill, 300 m. FILICALES. Cyathea medullaris: Auckland, Huia, 35 m; Te Kouma, Coromandel Peninsula, 200 m. MYRSINACEAE. Myrsine australis: Auckland, Purewa Bush, 30 m. ROSACEAE. Rubus cissoides: Otago, Morrisons Creek, Dunedin, 200 m.
Hymenophore annual, arachnoid or pelliculose, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 20 x 4 cm; hymenial surface white, delicately pruinose, not creviced; margin arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, 10-60 µm thick, basal layer of parallel compact hyphae, intermediate layer wanting; generative hyphae 1.75-2 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick; naked, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer 15-20 µm deep, a scanty palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 10-12 x 3-4 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata delicate, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses obpyriform, ovate, or cylindrical, 5-8 x 3-3.5 µm. Spores allantoid, 3-4 x 1-1.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches and dead stipes of tree ferns.
In C. vescum the hymenophore develops as a tenuous white, sometimes pelliculose film attached firmly to the substratum, following closely its irregularities and resembling a light grey wash of water colour. The context is usually scanty, consisting of a few mainly parallel hyphae which soon collapse and become partly gelatinised; in some collections it may attain the thickness of 50 µm. An intermediate layer is wanting, the hymenium arising from short branches of the basal layer. Obpyriform or ovate paraphyses are common and form the bulk of the hymenial layer. In the collection from Rubus cissoides most paraphyses are obpyriform or ovate, whereas in those from Neopanax colensoi and Myrsine australis they are ovate, pyriform, cylindrical or subglobose.
TYPE LOCALITY: Alabama, U.S.A.
Duportella fulva (Lév.) G. Cunn. 1957
BIGNONIACEAE. Tecoma doratoxylon: Central Australia, Simpsons Gap. CONIFERAE. Podocarpus dacrydioides: Hawke's Bay, Waipatiki Beach. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tarairi: Auckland, Kawau Island, 10 m; Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 200 m. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Claudelands Reserve, Hamilton, 40 m. Wellington, Weraroa, 25 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum tenuifolium: Wellington, Weraroa, 25 m. UNKNOWN HOST. Queensland, Kalbar.
Hymenophore pileate, annual, coriaceous, appearing first as scattered orbicular colonies 2-10 mm diameter, when sessile-umbonate with free margins, merging to form linear areas to 8 x 3 cm. Pilei either conchiform-umbonate when solitary and imbricated, or narrowly effused-reflexed, 1-3 cm wide, 1-6 cm long; pileus surface tan, chestnut, or umber, tomentose, abhymenial hairs sometimes arranged in concentric bands of different shades of brown, imbricate and silky, or with depressed or raised parallel concentric ridges and frequently radiately grooved or plicate; hymenial surface at first bay, fulvous, smoky brown, chestnut, or cinnamon, becoming darker when old, tardily creviced either in radiate series, or areolately; margin thinning out, fibrillose, crenate, at first pallid grey, becoming darker, finally concolorous, free. Context tan or ferruginous, 0.3-0.8 mm thick, of parallel hyphae radiately arranged; skeletal hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, walls 1 µm thick, yellow brown; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline, with clamp connections. Pseudosetae filiform with slightly inflated apices, in sterile plants a few showing false septa, walls brown, thin and encrusted with fine crystals, in fertile specimens walls thickened to 2 µm, seldom septate, encrusted. Hymenial layer when fertile a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and scattered pseudosetae, when sterile appearing as a loose palisade of pseudosetae. Basidia subclavate, 24-30 x 7-8 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 16-22 x 5-6 µm. Spores elliptical, or elliptic-obovate, 7-9 x 4-4.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of dead fallen trunks and stems.
Collections match the type of Stereum schomburgkii in Kew herbarium, ex "Port Denison, Queensland". Talbot (1954, a, p. 316) found this to agree with the type of Thelephora (Stereum) fulva in the herbarium of Paris National Museum, ex "Cap-de-Bonne-Esperance, Drege, 9441". Colour of the surface is at first cinereous, tan, or hazel; later, when pseudosetae replace the basidia, it becomes much darker. D. monomitica resembles D. fulva in macrofeatures, differing mainly in form and colour of the pilei. It differs appreciably in microfeatures; for in D. fulva the hyphal system is dimitic, clamp connections are present in generative hyphae, pseudosetae are of different shape, appreciably thicker in the walls, usually verruculose, and spores are of different shape and slightly larger. As was pointed out by Talbot, the hymenium develops at an early stage, to be replaced by pseudosetae as plants age. In fertile plants the hymenium is composed of a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses through which scattered pseudosetae project, most forming a dense palisade in the subhymenium. Later the hymenium disappears, when the palisade of pseudosetae takes its place, plants then becoming darker on the hymenial surface.
TYPE LOCALITY: Cape of Good Hope, Africa.
Epithele galzinii Bres. 1911
FILICALES. Blechnum capense: Auckland, Te Araroa, 200 m. Blechnum filiforme: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. Cyathea dealbata: Auckland; Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 60 m; Huia, 70 m. Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. Cyathea medullaris: Auckland, Te Araroa, 200 m; Lake Okataina, 400 m; Lake Rotoehu, 400 m; Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 500 m; Mamaku Forest, 600 m. Wellington, Bruces Reserve, Hunterville, 120 m; Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 70 m; Ballance Reserve, 30 m; Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. Cyathea smithii: Wellington, Blyth Track, Ohakune, 700 m; Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 75 m. Westland, Weheka, 200 m. Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island. Dicksonia squarrosa: Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, 300 m. Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 75 m. Pteridium esculentum: Auckland, Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 500 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, forming orbicular or linear maculiform areas 2-15 mm across, sometimes merging to form linear areas to 12 cm long; hymenial surface white, velutinate, minutely areolately creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, arachnoid, adherent. Context white, 10-30 µm thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae firmly cemented, intermediate layer of mainly erect hyphae more freely branched in the subhymenium, pseudoparenchymatous when old; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, with clamp connections. Fascicles arising from the basal layer and projecting for the greater part of their length, 8-10 per mm, cylindrical with penicillate apices, 90-130 x 12-25 µm, composed of 20-45 thin-walled sparsely septate hyphae closely arranged, sometimes branched near apices. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses interrupted by the fascicles. Basidia subclavate, 12-18 x 5-6 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 8-14 x 4-5 µm. Spores suballantoid with bluntly acuminate bases, or pip-shaped, 7-9 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick; often adhering in pairs or fours.
DISTRIBUTION: France, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on dead stipes of tree ferns and bracken and rhizomes of climbing ferns.
Fascicles are delicate, readily fractured, cylindrical with penicillate apices, and composed of compact, thin-walled generative hyphae sometimes sparsely branched near their apices. Spores are suballantoid with acuminate bases, or pip-shaped, and frequently adhere in pairs or fours. In actively growing specimens the context is composed of basal and intermediate layers; shortly tissues become compacted and pseudoparenchymatous, so that details of structure can be ascertained only from sections taken from near the growing periphery. Collections agree with a specimen examined in Kew herbarium, ex "Aveyron, France, herb. Bourdot, No. 8053". The species is confined to dead stipes of ferns both in France and New Zealand, in this region being associated with Corticium confusum, C. filicinum, C. pteridophilum, and Tubulicrinis vermicularis.
TYPE LOCALITY: Aveyron, France.
Epithele nikau G. Cunn. 1956
PALMAE. Rhopalostylis sapida: Auckland, Orewa, 20 m; Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 300 m; Shaw Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 14244; Huia, 30 m; Titirangi, coast; Amodeo Bay, Coromandel Peninsula, coast.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 15 x 4 cm, with numerous irregularly orbicular outlying islands; hymenial surface white, becoming cream, velutinate, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, adherent. Context white, 25-70 µm thick, basal layer of parallel skeletal hyphae, occupying about half the context, intermediate layer scanty, of branched hyphae mainly ascending, and usually embedding masses of crystals; skeletal hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls so thickened that lumena are capillary; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm, diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. 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 µm, composed of 50-110 skeletal hyphae sometimes tapering, where exposed encrusted with fine crystals and in old specimens often enmeshed in irregular hyphal sheaths. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses interrupted by fascicles. Basidia at first cylindrical, becoming somewhat cucurbitiform with inflated bases, 24-30 x 8-10 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata stout, arcuate, to 12 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate or clavate, 18-22 x 8-10 µm. Spores clavate-naviculate, apices bluntly rounded, bases apiculate, 12-16 x 5-6 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick; often adhering in fours.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on dead pendent and fallen stipes
Both basal layer and fascicles are composed of skeletal hyphae. Fascicles are encrusted with fine crystals where exposed, and, as hyphae are firmly compacted, simulate cystidia of Tubulicrinis. 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 hyphae, with many in the interior tapering gradually to the apices. Basidia are at first cylindrical, but as sterigmata elongate they become somewhat cucurbitiform with inflated bases. Spores are naviculate or clavate-naviculate, with attenuated bases. After being shed, ends of spores often collapse near points of attachment when extremities expand into small bulbs. Spores frequently adhere in fours following discharge from the basidia. In shape they resemble somewhat those of E. typhae and E. interrupta. The species is confined to one host, sole representative of the family Palmae in New Zealand, the Maori name for which is nikau.
TYPE LOCALITY: Waitakere Ranges, Auckland, New Zealand.
Hymenochaete attenuata (Lév.) Lév. 1846
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Kaimanawa Ranges, 700-950 m; Waihohonu River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,200 m; Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,150 m. Nothofagus fusca: Auckland, Lake Waikaremoana, 450 m. Hawke's Bay, Upper Mohaka River, 750 m; Ahimanawa Ranges, 850 m. Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m; Murchison, 170 m; Orwell Creek, Ahaura; Totara Flat. Nothofagus menziesii: Auckland, Lake Waikareiti Track, 800 m. Hawke's Bay, Upper Mohaka River, 700 m; Poronui, 750 m. Wellington, Kaimanawa Ranges, 950 m. Nothofagus solandri: Canterbury, Arthur's Pass, 850 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. New South Wales, Milson Island; Kurrajong Mountains.
Hymenophore pileate, coriaceous, annual, sometimes reviving a second season. Pilei at first orbicular and attached by a narrow umbo with reflexed margins, soon merged laterally to form effused-reflexed linear areas to 12 x 2 cm, sometimes resupinate when loosely attached, reflexed portions with a radius of 1-2 cm, extending laterally for the length of the fructification; pileus surface at first fulvous, remaining so or becoming ferruginous, weathering to grey, banded with concentric zones of different shades of brown, sometimes radiately sulcate, tomentose, hairs often arranged in tufts; pileus margin fibrillose, fulvous, entire or torn; hymenial surface at first fulvous, becoming ferruginous or date-brown, sometimes colliculose, at length deeply creviced in small radiate areas; hymenial margin thinning out, fibrillose, fulvous. Context fulvous, 150-200 µm thick, of closely compacted parallel hyphae; cortex absent; abhymenial hairs arising from context hyphae; skeletal hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, golden yellow; generative hyphae 1.5-2 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline. Setal layer to 120 µm deep, composed of 1-3 rows of overlapping setae; setae aculeate, often twisted on their axes, with acute apices, a few domeL shaped, some projecting to 80 µm, 80-110 x 7-10 µm, walls naked, deep reddish-brown, lumena narrow. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and coloured ends of skeletal hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 20-24 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 8-14 x 3.5-4.5 µm. Spores broadly elliptical, 5.5-6 x 4-5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Java, Malaya, Japan, Ceylon, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Crowded on bark of dead twigs, branches and saplings associated with a white rot.
In microfeatures collections match an authentic Leveille specimen from Java in Kew herbarium. They differ in that pilei are not so well developed and the hymenium becomes deeply creviced when old. The species has been placed under Section II, which contains plants with a well developed context but without a cortex.
Plants at first are orbicular and either resupinate or sessile-umbonate with upturned margins. They soon merge to form linear areas with broad resupinate bases and narrowly reflexed margins. The pileus surface is tomentose, hairs becoming compacted into tufts, and arranged in concentric zones of various shades of brown. Pilei are both concentrically and radiately sulcate, these conditions being reflected in the hymenial surface. At first bright fulvous, colour of the pileus surface changes to ferruginous with fulvous margins, and weathers some shade of grey. Pilei are soft and papery, and may be folded without fracture. The hymenium is at first fulvous, soon becoming date-brown and in New Zealand collections fissured so deeply that the fulvous context becomes exposed. Crevices are often arranged in radiate series not unlike those of some resupinate collections of H. obesa. Setae are narrowly aculeate and naked, some being twisted on their axes. A few are short with rounded domed apices (Fig. 161), similar setae being present in the Leveille specimen.
TYPE LOCALITY: Java.
Hymenochaete cacao (Berk.) Berk. & M.A. Curtis 1868 [1869]
UNKNOWN HOST. Queensland, Cooroy (herb. Kew).
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, pileate, sessile. Pilei applanate, sometimes imbricate, 1-3 cm radius, 3-7 cm wide; pileus surface tobacco-brown, finely tomentose, concentrically zoned, plicate; pileus margin lobed, acute, plane; hymenial surface tobacco-brown, or umber, even, not creviced. Context ferruginous, to 500 µm thick, of compact parallel hyphae; cortex absent; abhymenial hairs closely arranged, slightly inflated at apices, brief; skeletal hyphae to 6 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, ferruginous; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline or tinted yellow. Setal layer to 95 µm deep, composed of 3-5 rows of overlapping crowded setae; setae aculeate or fusiform, some projecting to 20 µm, 25-40 x 5-7 µm, walls naked, reddish-brown, 1-2 µm thick. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia cylindrical, 12-18 x 4.5-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 8-12 x 3-3.5 µm. Spores elliptical or suballantoid, 4-4.5 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: India, South America, West Indies, Australia.
HABITAT: Bark of dead branches; type of rot not seen.
The collection listed has been compared with the type in Kew herbarium and found to agree in most features, differing in that surface hairs are more strongly developed. The species is pileate and, as it is without a cortex, belongs to Section II. It may be recognised by the small setae crowded in three to five overlapping rows, and short abhymenial hairs with slightly inflated apices arising directly from the context.
TYPE LOCALITY: Khasia Mountains, India.
Hymenochaete cinnamomea (Pers.) Bres. 1897
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 100 m.
Hymenophore resupinate, perennial, stratose, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas 2-4 cm across; hymenial surface cinnamon, even, delicately velutinate, not creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, fibrillose, adherent. Context cinnamon, 1-3 mm thick, stratose, of numerous setal layers (3-15) with layers of loosely intertwined hyphae between and a broad tissue of intertwined hyphae at the base; generative hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, walls 0.5-1 µm thick, pallid yellow. Setal layers to 95 µm deep, with somewhat scattered setae overlapping into each context layer; setae acicular, some projecting to 50 µm, 60-90 x 5-7 µm, walls naked, golden brown near the surface, darker in the context, lumena narrow. Hymenial layer to 35 µm deep, a close palisade of scanty basidia, abundant paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 16-20 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, tinted, 8-14 x 4-4.5 µm. Paraphysate hyphae to 4 µm diameter, most branched, hyaline or tinted yellow. Spores suballantoid, 5-6 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
>DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of dead branches associated with a pocket rot.
Plants bear more setal layers than authentic European specimens examined in Kew herbarium, but agree in other features, such as the cinnamon surface colour, context hyphae branched at a wide angle, stratose context, small suballantoid spores, and absence of a cortex. Paraphysate hyphae may be abundant or scanty, but are always present, in some plants being so freely developed as to give the surface a tomentose appearance.
H. cinnamomea, H. arida, and H. rhabarbarina are related species; for all are without a cortex, possess a monomitic hyphal system, a context composed of similar intertwined hyphae, and similar spores. In such stratose species as H. cinnamomea, H. lignosa, H. tasmanica, and H. vaginata strata are demarked by layers of persistent paraphyses which usually stain with aniline blue. They show that each layer represents a growth period, and afford a useful feature by which stratose species may be separated from those bearing many rows of overlapping setae, such as H. fusca or H. magnahypha.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Hymenochaete corrugata (Fr.) Lév. 1846
CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 950 m; Dawson Falls, Mt. Egmont, 850 m. Wellington, Blyth Track, Ohakune, 400 m. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Aristotelia serrata: Auckland, Lake Waikaremoana, 450 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 150 m; Catlins, 100 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Waikowhai. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum tenuifolium: Auckland, Kauri Glen, Northcote, 120 m.
Hymenochaete insularis Berk., Grevillea I: 165, 1873.

Hymenophore resupinate, annual, membranous, adherent, at first appearing as scattered orbicular colonies 2-10 mm across, merging to form linear areas to 25 x 3 cm; hymenial surface cinnamon or umber, sometimes reddish-brown, colliculose, often rugulose, becoming deeply and finely areolately creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous or white, tan, bay, or ferruginous, fibrillose, adherent. Context ferruginous, 90-150 µm thick, of intertwined hyphae often compacted embedding the setae; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.5-1 µm thick, golden brown. Setal layer occupying the entire context, of several overlapping rows of setae; setae subulate, sometimes geniculated or distorted, some projecting to 35 µm, 45-75 x 10-18 µm, walls reddish-brown, apices verruculose, lumena usually wide and occasionally exhibiting false septa. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 12-16 x 3.5-4 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 6-12 x 3-3.5 µm. Spores allantoid, 3-4.5 x 1-1.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark of dead branches associated with a white rot.
Collections agree with authentic European specimens examined in Kew herbarium. The species may be recognised by the areolately creviced often rugulose surface and stout, often distorted or radicate setae with verruculose apices. Spores are allantoid and 3-4.5 x 1-1.5 µm, measurements which agree with European specimens, but are smaller than those published by Burt (1918b, p. 359) for North American material. The surface colour ranges from dusky cinnamon to umber or reddish-brown, and the surface may be colliculose, or when examined under a lens, finely rugulose and velutinate. Setae vary appreciably in shape and size, and of those embedded in tissues of the context some may be geniculated, inserted laterally, or strongly radicate. A few exhibit one or more false septa, accidental bridges across the wide lumena.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Hymenochaete corticolor Berk. & Ravenel 1873
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Otago, Routeburn Valley, 450 m.
Hymenophore subpileate when umbonate-sessile, or resupinate, probably perennial, woody coriaceous, loosely attached, forming irregularly orbicular colonies 2-10 mm diameter, or merging to form linear areas 2-3 x 1-2.5 cm; pilei reduced to thickened upper edges of specimens growing vertically, naked, black, longitudinally striate, 1-1.5 mm thick; hymenial surface pallid ferruginous, or cinnamon, not creviced, even; margin usually abrupt, sometimes thinning out, crenate, concolorous, free. Context ferruginous, black next the substratum, 0.3-1 mm thick, of mainly erect hyphae embedding scattered setae and numerous large crystals; skeletal hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls to 1 µm thick, golden brown; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline. Setal layer occupying the entire fructification, of numerous overlapping rows of setae sometimes arranged in irregular strata; setae subulate, some projecting to 60 µm, 65-95 x 9-12 µm, walls naked or encrusted, ferruginous, lumena narrow. Hymenial layer to 35 p deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 14-22 x 3.5-4 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 8-15 x 2.5-3 µm. Spores suballantoid, 5-6.5 x 2-2.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, West Indies, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Living trunks associated with a pocket rot.
The collection listed agrees with authentic specimens examined in Kew herbarium as to macrofeatures and size, the shape and distribution of setae, and size and shape of spores. It differs in that specimens were collected on dead wood of an axe blaze on a living trunk, whereas North American plants grow upon bark of living trunks.
The species is difficult to place within a key; for fructifications, although often resupinate, are not uncommonly umbonate-sessile with the upper margin (of those growing on upright trunks) thickened into a black glabrous pileus. The context is composed of erect hyphae embedding setae arranged in overlapping rows, sometimes in strata; and, as setae are present throughout the fructification a context, present in most pileate species, is wanting. The plant therefore belongs to Section III, and has been treated as a stratose species with rudimentary pilei. Scattered through the context are numerous coarse crystals, or cavities in which they once were present. Projecting setae are usually encrusted with crystals, and sometimes enmeshed in hyphal sheaths.
TYPE LOCALITY: South Carolina, U.S.A.
Hymenochaete dura Berk. & M.A. Curtis 1868 [1869]
CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Westland, Weheka, 200 m. MIMOSACEAE. Acacia dealbata: Victoria, Kallista, Dandenong Ranges. ROSACEAE. Rubus schmidelioides: Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, umbonate-sessile, or resupinate, loosely attached save at the umbo, effused, appearing as numerous small orbicular colonies 3-10 mm diameter, which may merge peripherally to form irregular areas to 3.5 cm long; hymenial surface bay, tan, chestnut, or ferruginous, sometimes velutinate or fibrillose, not creviced but often slightly compressed in the centre; margin thinning out, concolorous, somewhat lighter in colour in young specimens, fibrillose, loosely attached, sometimes bluntly rounded. Context ferruginous, 0.2-0.45 mm thick, of radiately arranged mainly parallel hyphae, cortex dense, chestnut, bearing numerous abhymenial hairs; skeletal hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, pallid yellow-brown; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline. Setal layer to 80 µm deep, a narrow area of 1-3 overlapping rows of somewhat sparse setae irregularly inserted; setae irregularly fusiform or cylindrical with bluntly acuminate apices, often curved or bent, some projecting to 30 µm, 30-60 x 5-8 µm, walls sometimes verruculose near apices, yellow or pallid chestnut, with broad or narrow lumena. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a somewhat sparse palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 12-16 x 3-4 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 8-12 x 3-3.5 µm. Paraphysate hyphae sparse or abundant, filiform, usually hyaline, projecting to 20 µm. Spores elliptical, 4 x 2 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Cuba, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark of dead erect stems associated with a white rot.
Collections agree with the type of H. dura in Kew herbarium, ex "Cuba, C. Wright, No. 241", differing in the thinner context and slightly narrower skeletal hyphae. Setae resemble those of the type, and are unusual in their irregular shape, bluntly acuminate apices, and presence of occasional false septa. Numerous filiform paraphysate hyphae project and give to the hymenial surface its fibrillose appearance, a condition also present in the type.
Spores were not found in the type. Burt (1918b, p. 353) gave measurements as 5 x 3 µm for a cotype specimen he examined. In collections from this region they are scanty, for although basidia were present in some 20 sections examined, attached spores were seen only in two. These were narrowly elliptical, 4 x 2 µm. Setae were sparse in portion of the type examined. In collections listed they were found to be sparse or abundant, being crowded in the central part, progressively more scanty towards the periphery. Burt (1918b, p. 352) described, paraphysate hyphae as paraphyses; the latter are, however, narrower and shorter than the basidia and do not project.
TYPE LOCALITY: Cuba.
Hymenochaete floridea sensu G. Cunn. 1957
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax colensoi: Wellington, Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu, 950 m. Pseudopanax crassifolium: Otago, Lake Wilkie, Catlins. CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Wellington, Blyth Track, Ohakune, 700 m. Podocarpus ferrugineus: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 900 m. Podocarpus spicatus: Auckland, Hauhangaroa Ranges, 750 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 650 m; Camels Back, Coromandel Peninsula, 600 m; Kaimai Ranges, 450 m; Te Whaiti, 700 m; Mt. Pihanga, 850 m. Wellington, Mt. Hauhangatahi, 750 m; Ohakune, 850 m. Westland, Waiho, 200 m; Karangarua Valley, 120 m; Harihari, 30 m; Weheka, 200 m. Otago, Doubtful Sound, 120 m; Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 120 m; Half-moon Bay, Stewart Island; Niagara, Catlins. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Elaeocarpus dentatus: Westland, Harihari. EPACRIDACEAE. Cyathodes fasciculata: Auckland, Titirangi, 250 m; Scenic Drive, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 110 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Kaimanawa Ranges, 850-950 m. Westland, Karangarua Valley, 130 m. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Longwood Ranges, 400 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Great King Island; Little Barrier Island. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. Otago, Ryans Creek, Stewart Island. Lophomyrtus bullata: Auckland, Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. ONAGRACEAE Fuchsia excorticata: Westland, Harihari; Karangarua Valley, 130 m. Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island. PAPILIONACEAE. Sophora microphylla: Auckland, Orakei Bush, 35 m. POLYGONACEAE. Muehlenbeckia australis: Otago, Lake Wilkie, Catlins. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma foetidissima: Otago, Lake Wilkie, Catlins. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Carpodetus serratus: Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island. UNKNOWN HOSTS. New South Wales, Sydney; Tuggerah. South Australia, National Park; Careys Gully, Bridgwater. Western Australia, Pemberton.
Hymenophore resupinate, annual, membranous, adherent, at first appearing as small orbicular scattered colonies 0.5-2 cm across, merging to form irregular linear areas 5-15 x 2-6 cm; hymenial surface reddish-brown, often with a purple tinge or purplish when old, even or irregularly roughened, finely velutinate, either without crevices, tardily creviced, or in old specimens sometimes exhibiting radiate series of crevices as in H. obesa; margin thinning out, fibrillose, loosely attached, narrow or broad, fulvous. Context ferruginous, 150-250 µm thick, of mainly parallel hyphae rather loosely arranged, cortex of cemented intertwined hyphae bearing abhymenial hairs of irregular length; skeletal hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, walls 0.5-1 µm thick, golden yellow; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline. Setal layer 80-130 µm deep, of 2-5 crowded overlapping rows of setae embedded among erect skeletal hyphae and of one or two rows of larger, scattered and often distorted setae in the context; setae irregularly fusiform, a few subulate, some projecting to 40 µm, 40-70 x 6-10 µm (some in the context to 85 µm long), walls delicately verruculose at apices, rich chestnut with moderately narrow lumena. Hymenial layer to 25 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 12-15 x 3-4 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, slightly arcuate, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 8-12 x 3-4 µm. Spores allantoid, 4-5 x 1 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Ceylon, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark of dead branches and trunks associated with a white rot.
Collections agree in microfeatures with the type in Kew herbarium, ex "Central Provinces, Thwaites, No. 336". Many differ in being less brightly coloured, a feature without taxonomic significance. The species may be separated from others of this section by the small allantoid spores; small setae crowded into several overlapping rows, reddish-brown colour of the hymenial surface and fulvous margin. It is liable to confusion with H. plurimaesetae, differing in features discussed under the latter. Sometimes the cortex is suppressed where tissues are in contact with the substratum; but sections from the free peripheral region demonstrate its presence. Most collections were taken from upright dead trunks and saplings, when the upper margins become thickened to simulate rudimentary pilei.
TYPE LOCALITY: Ceylon.
Hymenochaete fusca (P. Karst.) Sacc. & P. Syd. 1899
CONIFERAE. Podocarpus halli: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 950 m. Wellington, Mt. Hauhangatahi, 1,100 m.
Hymenophore resupinate, annual, membranous, adherent, at first appearing as numerous scattered orbicular colonies 3-10 mm diameter, merging to form effused linear areas 4-7 x 1.5-2 cm; hymenial surface sepia, umber, or reddish-brown, colliculose, at length deeply irregularly creviced; margin thinning out, crenate, chestnut when young, becoming concolorous, adherent. Context sepia or fuliginous, 150-250 µm thick, of numerous rows of overlapping setae embedded among erect hyphae, with a delicate layer of intertwined hyphae (sometimes wanting) on the abhymenial surface; skeletal hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, yellow brown; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.1 µm thick, hyaline. Setae subulate with acute apices, some projecting to 50 µm, 65-90 x 7-9 µm, walls naked, reddish-brown, lumena narrow. Hymenial layer to 35 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 14-18 x 3.5-4 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 6-12 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores oval or obovate, a few laterally apiculate, 5-6.5 x 3.5-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, West Indies, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Decorticated wood of dead trunks associated with a white rot.
In shape, size, and arrangement of setae, size and shape of spores, and colour of the hymenial surface the species resembles H. fuliginosa. It differs in that fructifications are resupinate, and a cortex and well developed context are absent. The species may be recognised by the acute, naked setae arranged in a setal layer of from three to five overlapping rows occupying the region of the context, oval or obovate spores, and usually small orbicular colonies with dark hymenial surface.
Collections agree with a specimen examined in Kew herbarium ex "Tyrol, V. Litschauer", filed under the cover of H. fuliginosa (Lev.) Bres. This combination was used by Burt (1918b, p. 365) but is untenable since it is occupied by H. fuliginosa (Pers.) Lev., which, according to Bresadola, is a different plant. Burt suggested the correct name for the species is H. fusca, since he found Swedish specimens named by Karsten to agree with H. fuliginosa (Lev.) Bres.
TYPE LOCALITY: Sweden.
Hymenochaete lictor Petch 1925
ONAGRACEAE. Fuchsia excorticata: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 500 m. POLYGONACEAE. Muehlenbeckia australis: Otago, Taieri Mouth, 70 m.
Hymenophore resupinate, annual, reviving a second season, membranous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 30 x 1-1.5 cm; hymenial surface dark reddish-brown with a purple tinge, velutinate, even, becoming deeply areolately creviced; margin thinning out, definite, fibrillose, ferruginous, adherent. Context 150-250 µm deep, umber, of loosely intertwined and parallel hyphae, bordered by a pseudoparenchymatous cortex bearing short abhymenial hairs; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls 0.25-0.5 µm thick, golden-brown. Setal layer to 130 µm deep, of scattered fascicles of 2-6 setae with single setae between, arising from the subhymenium; setae subulate, apices acute, some projecting to 60 µm, 40-95 x 6-8 µm, walls naked, deep reddish-brown, lumena narrow. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate or more often cucurbitiform, 12-16 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 10-12 x 5-6 µm. Spores elliptical, or obovate, apiculate, 5-6 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Ceylon, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark of dead stems associated with a white rot.
Specimens agree with a cotype collection from Ceylon in Kew herbarium, differing in that hyphae are of slightly greater diameter and fascicles more scattered. Fructifications extend for 30 cm upon dead stems, are closely adherent, with even surfaces coloured dark reddish-brown with a purple tinge. The margin is concolorous and fibrillose. Setae are sometimes arranged in slightly projecting fascicles of two to six with solitary setae between; or may appear in a narrow setal layer without evident fascicles. About half the basidia are cucurbitiform, the others subclavate and narrower than the paraphyses. Spores are abundant, commonly elliptical or some slightly obovate with lateral apiculi. Three species with fasciculate setae have been described. H. lictor differs from H. dictator by several features discussed under the latter; and the South African H. fasciculata Talbot differs from both in its larger setae arranged in fascicles of eight to twelve, stratose context, and dendriform generative hyphae.
TYPE LOCALITY: Ceylon.
Hymenochaete mougeotii (Fr.) Cooke 1880
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax arboreum: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m. CONIFERAE. Pinus radiata: Auckland, Atiamuri, 400 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Waiomu Valley, Thames, 35 m. Coriaria sarmentosa: Auckland, Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 80 m. EPACRIDACEAE. Cyathodes fasciculata: Auckland, Cornwallis, 20 m; Mt. Te Aroha, 310 m; Rereatukahia Reserve, Katikati, 120 m. LABIATAE. Prostanthera lasiantha: Victoria, Tarra Valley. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. LILIACEAE. Rhipogonum scandens: Auckland, Warkworth Spit. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Waiatarua, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m. MIMOSACEAE. Albizzia lophantha: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 85 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus globukts: Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 300 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Karekare, 250 m; Piha, 10 m. Metrosideros excelsa: Auckland, Whitianga-Coromandel Road, 350 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum eugenioides: Auckland, Titirangi, 250 m. Pittosporum tenuifolium: Auckland, Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 200 m; Moumoukai Hill Road, Hunua Ranges, 350 m; Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 500 m. Pittosporum umbellatum: Auckland, Little Barrier Island, 400 m. PROTEACEAE. Hakea acicularis: Auckland, Moturoa Island, Bay of Islands; Titirangi, 250 m. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Hadfields Beach, Orewa. ROSACEAE. Rubus australis: Auckland, Waitakere Dam, 270 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma arborea: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. Coprosma robusta: Wellington, Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu, 950 m. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Ixerba brexioides: Auckland, Trounson Kauri Park.
Hymenochaete resupinate, annual or biennial, membranous, adherent, effused, at first in the form of small orbicular colonies to 5 mm diameter, merging to form linear areas 10-35 x 2-5 cm; hymenial surface when fresh India-red with a brighter periphery, becoming reddish-purple or testaceous, even or tuberculate, at length deeply irregularly creviced; margin thinning out, adherent, bright red with a narrow white or tinted fibrillose edge. Context testaceous or umber, 150-400 µm thick, of parallel hyphae loosely arranged, cortex narrow, with or without abhymenial hairs; skeletal hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, reddish-brown, freely branched, sometimes crystal encrusted; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline. Setal layer 100-150 µm deep, in old specimens to 300 µm, of 3-5 irregular overlapping rows of setae and freely branched hyphae; setae narrowly fusiform, with acuminate apices, some projecting to 50 p, 60-95 x 8-12 µm, walls verruculose, reddish-brown, many tinted only, lumena at first broad, becoming narrow. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 16-22 x 3.5-4 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-18 x 3.5-4 µm. Paraphysate hyphae projecting, dendriform, coloured or hyaline. Spores suballantoid, apiculate, 6-8 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark and decorticated wood of dead branches and stems associated with a white rot.
Fresh specimens may be recognised readily by the closely adherent resupinate fructifications with the hymenial surface coloured scarlet or India-red, periphery bright red, and margin white and fibrillose. At first plants are small and orbicular; soon they merge to form irregular linear areas 5-10 cm long, sometimes extending to 35 cm. Sections through actively growing plants show them to be composed of a narrow setal layer of two or three overlapping rows of setae embedded among erect hyphae freely branched, and a context of parallel hyphae bordered by a coloured cortex of intertwined cemented hyphae which may or may not bear abhymenial hairs. In older specimens the setal layer may occupy the greater part of the context, and be composed of as many as 15 rows of setae irregularly distributed. Numerous dendriform paraphysate hyphae project above the hymenial surface especially in the periphery of actively growing plants. They may be coloured or hyaline, are formed from skeletal hyphae, and tend to disappear as plants age. In the context skeletal hyphae are scantily branched, but in the setal layer become freely so, almost dendriform. Spores, usually suballantoid, may be cylindrical with rounded ends.
Collections listed differ from typical European plants in several particulars. They are more deeply coloured, with purple shades rather than scarlet, margins are less brightly coloured, more closely attached to the substratum, and abhymenial hairs are usually scantily developed save in young specimens. In microfeatures they are similar, even to the dendriform paraphysate hyphae. The distribution given is based on examination of specimens in Kew herbarium and received from correspondents.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Hymenochaete rubiginosa (Dicks.) Lév. 1846
CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Auckland, Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m. Otago, Half-moon Bay, Stewart Island. Podocarpus ferrugineus: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest. Podocarpus spicatus: Otago, Upper Hollyford River, 200 m.
Hymenophore pileate or umbonate-sessile, sometimes reviving a second season, coriaceous, rigid, loosely attached, appearing as effused-reflexed or orbicular colonies 5-25 mm diameter, often laterally merged to form linear areas which may extend to 15 cm. Pilei effused-reflexed with broad resupinate areas and narrow reflexed margins to 10 mm wide, when resupinate disciform with free margins; pileus surface delicately tomentose, sometimes radiately sulcate, ferruginous or umber, darkening with age; hymenial surface bistre or chocolate with a reddish tinge, colliculose, deeply scantily creviced when old, velutinate; margin thinning out, bright fulvous, loosely attached. Context dark ferruginous or umber, 0.3-0.6 mm thick, of parallel hyphae radiately arranged, erect in the setal layer, and bordered on the abhymenial surface by a deeply coloured cemented cortex of intertwined hyphae; skeletal hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, golden brown; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline. Setal layer 120-250 µm deep, a compact zone of 3-7 overlapping rows of setae embedded among erect skeletal hyphae; setae projecting to 90 µm, aculeate, some slightly curved, 80-105 x 7-9 µm, walls naked, rich chestnut, lumena narrow. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 20-24 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 8-18 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores oblong-elliptical, 5.5-7 x 3.5-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark of dead branches and trunks associated with a pocket rot.
Although resembling H. tabacina in the presence of a coloured cortex, dense setal layer, and effused-reflexed fructifications the species differs in that spores are elliptical, setae are narrower, darker in colour, naked, only one colour zone, the cortex, is present, and fructifications are of different shape and colour. Collections vary appreciably. Most are either umbonate-sessile, when orbicular with margins plane, or narrowly effused-reflexed and linear. The pileus surface is some shade of brown, becoming darker with age, in some old specimens being almost black. The hymenial surface of fresh specimens is bright reddish-brown, with bright fulvous margins. On drying, or in old specimens, the surface may change to dingy umber or fuscous and margins become concolorous. Appreciable variations also occur in depth of the setal layer and consequently the number of overlapping rows of setae, thickness of the context, and abundance of abhymenial hairs. In microfeatures New Zealand plants agree with European specimens examined, which also exhibit similar variations in these features. They differ chiefly in host range, all being taken from conifers, whereas in Europe and North America the species is usually found upon frondose species. Although recorded by earlier workers from Australia and Tasmania, collections so named in Kew herbarium are of other species.



FIG. 132. Auriculariopsis ampla. Showing abhymenial hairs, subgelatinous context, the simple hymenial layer, and allantoid spores.

FIG. 133. Tomentella pilosa. Showing a cordon in the base, clavate or capitate paraphysate hyphae some transversely septate, and sinuate verruculose spores.
TYPE LOCALITY: Great Britain.
Hymenochaete semistupposa Petch 1925
MYRTACEAE. Metrosideros excelsa: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. Metrosideros robusta: Auckland, Silverdale, 35 m; Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. South Australia, Kangaroo Island; Mylor. New South Wales, Moruya (herb. Kew under H. fuliginosa).
Hymenophore resupinate, annual, sometimes perennial, membranous-brittle, adherent, effused forming irregular areas 3-6 x 2-3 cm; hymenial surface seal-brown, dark umber, or chocolate, irregularly tuberculate, velutinate, not or tardily creviced; margin thinning out, cinnamon, fibrillose, loosely attached. Context dark umber or sepia, 150-300 µm thick (to 800 µm in stratose specimens), sometimes vertically fibrillose where fractured, of mainly erect hyphae and a cortex of parallel cemented hyphae deeply coloured and bearing abhymenial hairs of irregular length; generative hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, walls 0.5-1 µm thick, dark yellow-brown, some submoniliform. Setal layer to 250 µm deep, composed of 2-5 overlapping rows of setae and stout erect hyphae; setae irregularly fusiform, some projecting to 45 µm, apices acute, 40-70 x 8-12 µm, walls naked, rich chestnut, lumena narrow. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 12-16 x 3.5-4 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 18-24 x 4-5 µm, walls tinted yellow. Paraphysate hyphae scanty, projecting to 30 µm, cylindrical, many submoniliform. Spores suballantoid, 3.5-4 x 1-1.25 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Ceylon, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Decorticated wood of dead branches and trunks associated with a pocket rot.
Collections agree with the type, part of which was examined in Kew herbarium. The species may be identified by several unusual microfeatures, as the occasional submoniliform hyphae which, together with normal hyphae, appear in the context, abhymenial hairs, and as paraphysate hyphae; erect hyphae of the context; presence of a stout cortex of parallel hyphae; delicate basidia and the monomitic hyphal system. Some of these features vary appreciably in different collections. In the type the context consists of a compact dense layer of parallel hyphae, the cortex, and erect hyphae forming a loose palisade between this and the setal layer. About one-third of the hyphae are submoniliform, a feature not mentioned by Petch. In one New Zealand collection in which plants are somewhat immature, a dense cortex is present, and the setal layer arises directly from this with, between setae, erect palisade hyphae, a few of which are submoniliform. In other New Zealand collections the context is stratose, consisting of several setal layers with hyphae between. The latter are erect as in the type, and a few exhibit submoniliform areas as is shown in fig. 152. Basidia and spores were not described by Petch, nor found by Talbot (1951, p. 49). They are nevertheless present in the type and all New Zealand collections. Basidia are delicate, scanty, and smaller than the cylindrical coloured paraphyses.
TYPE LOCALITY: Hakgala, Ceylon.
Hymenochaete tabacina (Sowerby) Lév. 1846
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax colensoi: Westland, Douglas Rock, Copland Valley, 1,200 m. CONIFERAE. Phyllocladus trichomanoides: Wellington, Oturere River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,350 m. Podocarpus ferrugineus: Auckland, Mµm Karioi, 700 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia silvicola: Auckland, Helena Bay. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Elaeocarpus dentatus: Auckland, Taupiri Mt., 300 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Wellington, Days Bay, 120 m. Nothofagus truncata: Auckland, Orere Point. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Waiomu Valley, Thames, 35 m; Claudelands Reserve, Hamilton, 35 m; Waitomo, 80 m; Lake Rotoehu, 400-450 m. Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. MONIMIACEAE. Hedycarya arborea: Auckland, Kauri Park, Northcote; Waiatarua, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Waiomu Valley, Thames, 35 m. MYRSINACEAE. Myrsine australis: Auckland, Upper Piha Valley, 250 m; Rangitoto Island; Clevedon, 10 m; Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 120 m; Waiomu Valley, Thames, 35 m. MYRTACEAE. Lophomyrtus bullata: Auckland, Lake Rotoehu, 400-150 m. Wellington, Ruahine Ranges, 500 m. PAPILIONACEAE. Sophora microphylla: Auckland, Purewa Bush, 35 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum tenuifolium: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 80 m; Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. Pittosporum umbellatum: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. PROTEACEAE. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Puketi, Bay of Islands; Whangarei Heads; Rangitoto Island; Piha, 15 m; Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 250 m; Purewa Bush, 35 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma arborea: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. SAPINDACEAE. Alectryon excelsus: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Swanson, 120 m. New South Wales, Sydney; Robertson.
Hymenophore pileate or resupinate, sometimes reviving a second season, membranous-coriaceous, loosely attached. Pilei either conchate when attached by an umbo, dimidiate, or more frequently effused-reflexed with pilei arising from margins of broadly resupinate bases, 1-25 x 1-5 cm, when resupinate linear or disciform with free margins, of indefinite length; pileus surface some shade of brown, lighter peripherally with fulvous margins, radiately sulcate, finely tomentose, sometimes when old naked and dingy fuscous; hymenial surface commonly tobacco-brown, with bright fulvous margins, velutinate, oµmen with a chestnut tinge, resupinate portions often deeply creviced in radiate series about 10 mm diameter, sometimes creviced irregularly, or even; margin thinning out, lighter in colour, crenate, free. Context ferruginous, 0.3-0.6 mm thick, of parallel hyphae radiately arranged, bordered on the abhymenial surface by a darker, compact and cemented cortex, and beneath the hymenium by a darker chestnut zone associated with the setal layer; skeletal hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, walls 0.5-1 µm thick, golden brown; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline. Setal layer 160-300 µm deep, composed of 3-5 overlapping rows of setae some of which project to 90 µm; setae aculeate, 80-130 x 14-22 µm, walls finely verruculose, chestnut, lumena narrow. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 12-20 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 10-14 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores allantoid, 6-8 x 1.5-2 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Great Britain, Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark of dead branches associated with a white rot.

One of the most abundant species present in New Zealand, but rare in Australia, H. tabacina may be identified by the following features. Plants are either effused-reflexed, sessile with free margins of lighter colour, or as frequently resupinate. A deeply coloured cortex borders the abhymenial surface and a second colour zone lies beneath the hymenium, sometimes extending into the setal layer. From the cortex abhymenial hairs arise both in pileate and resupinate specimens, consequently plants are loosely attached to the substratum. The setal layer is more deeply coloured than the context, and the number of rows of setae increases with age, or position, being more numerous towards the centre and thinning out towards margins, where but one or two rows may be developed. Setae are stout, rich reddish-brown, with verruculose apices. Spores are allantoid, abundant and borne upon short sterigmata.
Colour and thickness of fructifications appear to be influenced by latitude and altitude. Plants from this region, save from the mountains, are more coriaceous and of deeper colour than typical specimens from the northern latitudes of Europe and North America. Commonly tobacco-brown, New Zealand plants often exhibit a reddish-brown colour when viewed at an angle under a lens, because of projecting setae. Many may develop a second growth form upon an earlier fructification. They agree with European specimens in microfeatures, although even these may vary appreciably. In some resupinate specimens the hymenial surface is creviced in orbicular series, each about one centimetre in diameter, crevices radiating from the centre. The condition is more common in European and North American collections than in those from this region. It is not confined to this species, but occurs also in some specimens of H. floridea and all plants of H. obesa.
TYPE LOCALITY: England.
Hymenochaete tasmanica Massee 1890 [1891]
CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia silvicola: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus regnans: Victoria, Sassafras, Dandenong Ranges. Metrosideros excelsa: Buffalo Beach, Whitianga. PROTEACEAE. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Waikaretu, 120 m; Purewa Bush, 35 m. VERBENACEAE. Vitex lucens: Auckland, Purewa Bush, 35 m. WINTERACEAE. Pseudowintera colorata: Westland, The Forks, Okarito. UNKNOWN HOST. New South Wales, Robertson.
Hymenophore resupinate, perennial, stratose, membranous, adherent, at first appearing as numerous small orbicular or linear colonies 2-10 mm across with free, fulvous, fibrillose margins, merging to form irregular areas to 10 x 5 cm; hymenial surface at first reddish-brown, becoming ferruginous or pallid umber, commonly coarsely and densely tuberculate, sometimes even when slightly velutinate, not creviced; margin fulvous, or concolorous, adherent, fibrillose. Context ferruginous, 0.25-4 mm thick, in annual plants composed of one or two rows of rather scanty setae arising near the hymenial surface, a broad layer of intertwined usually dendriform hyphae and a narrow, reddish-brown, compact cortex bearing dense, brief abhymenial hairs; when perennial stratose with 5-16 layers of setae with context hyphae between and parallel lines of darker colour; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.5-1 µm thick, golden brown, freely branched, with many short lateral branches, scantily septate. Setal layers 95-130 µm deep, of 5-16 zones with context tissue between; setae acicular, apices long-acuminate, some projecting to 70 µm, 70-130 x 8-12 µm, walls naked, reddish-brown, lumena narrow, expanded towards the bases. Hymenial layer a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 14-18 x 4.5-5 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 6-12 x 4-4.5 µm. Paraphysate hyphae dendriform, projecting, brown. Spores suballantoid, apiculate, 4-5.5 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of dead branches and trunks associated with a pocket rot.
H. tasmanica may be identified by the usually coarsely tuberculate, ferruginous hymenial surface, fulvous margin of young plants, long and narrow, reddish-brown setae usually arranged in strata, thick-walled narrow hyphae which are freely branched, brown dendriform paraphysate hyphae, and suballantoid spores. The hymenial surface of Australian collections is less tuberculate than those from New Zealand, but in other particulars they are almost identical. Setae are slightly longer in smooth forms, but show an appreciable range in length in all specimens. Spores are scantily produced and found only in specimens actively growing at the time of collecting. Figure 157 was drawn from a young plant showing only two setal layers; in thick specimens as many as 16 layers may develop to occupy the greater part of the context.
Massee's description of the type is faulty in several particulars; for setae are much shorter than he had described them, and spores are shorter and suballantoid. The type specimen was collected in Tasmania, as the type sheet shows, not New Zealand as he had recorded. H. vaginata differs in that setae are of different shape, larger, and usually enmeshed in hyphal sheaths; hyphae are not dendriform, paraphysate hyphae are simple, spores longer and of different shape. Both H. tasmanica and H. vaginata show a general resemblance to H. cinnamomea, since all three are stratose and composed of branched generative hyphae. They differ in possessing a deeply coloured cortex of intertwined and cemented hyphae.
TYPE LOCALITY: Tasmania.
Hymenochaete unicolor Berk. & M.A. Curtis 1868 [1869]
PALMAE. Rhopalostylis sapida: Auckland, Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 250 m. UNKNOWN HOST. New South Wales, Sydney.
Hymenophore resupinate, perennial, membranous, brittle, adherent, at first appearing as numerous orbicular colonies 2-15 mm across, soon merging to form linear areas to 12 x 3 cm; hymenial surface cinnamon, deeply irregularly areolately creviced, tending to lift at edges of crevices; margin thinning out, fulvous, fibrillose, adherent. Context ferruginous, 400-650 µm thick, of many irregular rows of overlapping setae embedded among erect, closely compacted hyphae, sometimes with a narrow zone of intertwined hyphae of deeper colour in the base of the abhymenial region; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, yellow brown. Setae scattered in irregular rows through the context, subulate, some projecting to 35 µm, 40-60 x 5-7 µm, walls naked, reddish-brown, lumena narrow. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 12-16 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate or cylindrical, 6-10 x 3.5-4 µm. Paraphysate hyphae abundant or scanty, projecting to 25 µm, filiform, hyaline. Spores elliptical, 4.5-5.5 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: West Indies, South America, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of dead branches or leaf bases associated with a pocket rot.
In microfeatures specimens agree with the type collection in Kew herbarium, ex "Cuba, Wright, No. 541". They differ somewhat in size and colour of fructifications. The context is composed of overlapping rows of setae embedded among compact erect hyphae, with the abhymenial layer of intertwined hyphae more deeply coloured and compacted. Colour of the hymenial surface resembles that of H. cinnamomea and H. rhabarbarina. From these H. unicolor differs in that setae are slightly shorter and arranged in overlapping rows and, although stratose, layers are indicated by dark parallel lines and not by zones of context hyphae. Spores also differ in shape.
TYPE LOCALITY: Cuba.
Hymenochaete villosa (Lév.) Bres. 1910
CASUARINACEAE. Casuarina equisetifolia: Auckland, Silverdale. CONIFERAE. Agathis australis: Auckland, Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 350 m. Phyllocladus trichomanoides: Auckland, Ngaiotonga Ranges, 200 m. MIMOSACEAE. Acacia melanoxylon: Auckland, Silverdale. MORACEAE. Ficus eugenioides: Queensland, Mt. Glorious. MYRSINACEAE. Myrsine salicina: Auckland, Waitakere Dam, 300 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus viminalis: Auckland, Orewa, 10 m. Eugenia smithii: Auckland, Parnell. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Manaia, Whangarei Heads, 30 m; Little Barrier Island; Kawau Island, 10 m; Spragues Hill, Henderson, 230 m; Swanson, 120 m; Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 300 m; Mt. Te Aroha, 320 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Moturoa Island, Bay of Islands. Metrosideros excelsa: Auckland, Kawau Island; Cornwallis, 20 m. Metrosideros robusta: Auckland, Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 170 m. PROTEACEAE. Banksia spp.: New South Wales, Arakoon; Sydney. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Queensland, Danbulla; Koombooloomba; Imbil. New South Wales, Sydney; Hornsby; Lisarow; Hawkesbury River; Kendall; Melanganee, near Casino; Bullahdelah.
Hymenophore pileate, annual, coriaceous. Pilei applanate, flabeiliform, sometimes umbonate or effused-reflexed, frequently imbricate or fused laterally, 3-7 cm long, with a radius of 2-5 cm; pileus surface coloured various shades of brown.ferruginous, umber, or sepia.concentrically sulcate and zoned with bands of different shades of brown hairs, often radiately sulcate, sometimes radiately plicate, coarsely tomentose, often strigose, at length becoming naked and black; margin lobed, fulvous when young; hymenial surface duplicating irregularities of the pileus surface, radiately ridged, concentrically sulcate, umber, date-brown, or plum colour, even, tardily creviced when old, margin concolorous or lighter. Context dark umber and glistening in section, to 200 µm thick, of closely compacted often cemented parallel hyphae; cortex of darker, parallel, cemented hyphae; skeletal hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, walls 1-2 µm thick, reddish-brown; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, tinted yellow. Setal layer to 80 µm deep, of 2-3 rows of scattered setae, some projecting to 35 µm; setae subulate, 35-55 x 5-7 µm, walls naked, rich chestnut, lumena narrow. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 16-22 x 4-4.5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 10-16 x 3.5-4 µm, walls tinted yellow. Spores elliptical, apiculate, 3.5-4 x 2-2.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Java, Malaya, Ceylon, India, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of dead branches and stems associated with a coarse pocket rot.
Resembling Stereum illudens in general appearance, the species may be identified readily since it is the only Hymenochaete present in the region with applanate or flabelliform pilei. The pileus surface is coarsely tomentose, concentrically sulcate and zoned with hairs of different shades of brown, radiately sulcate, and sometimes plicate. In young plants the tomentum is usually aggregated into strigose tufts, but as plants age, hyphae become lax and intertwined to form a dense mat which may attain a depth of 0.5 mm. Finally the tomentum tends to disappear, weathered plants sometimes becoming naked and almost black. The hymenial surface reflects the configuration of the pileus surface and exhibits a wide range of colours. At first ferruginous, it soon becomes date-brown, often with a plum-coloured bloom, and finally dark umber. Under a lens, sections appear dark brown and glistening. The context is composed of stout parallel hyphae, closely compacted and cemented, with a darker cortex formed from parallel hyphae and bearing the abhymenial hairs. The setal layer is narrow and composed of two or three overlapping rows of small setae embedded among irregular erect hyphae. Setae are subulate with often a stout base turned at an angle and parallel with the context hyphae. Spores are scanty and found only near margins of growing plants.
Choice of a specific name lies between H. villosa and H. nigricans. Both were published (as Stereum) on the same page by Leveille. Bresadola claimed they were applied to the same species, but this I have not been able to verify since the types have not been examined. Collections match an authentic Leveille specimen of Stereum villosum in Kew herbarium; and Petch forwarded specimens to Kew herbarium from Ceylon, named H. nigricans, which are of the same species. The combination Hymenochaete villosa was published by Bresadola six years before he used H. nigricans; and as the latter is inappropriate, save for old weathered plants, I have preferred H. villosa, a combination also used by Wakefield (1915, p. 368) for an Australian collection in Kew herbarium.
Distribution is based on collections examined in Kew herbarium, filed under H. nigricans, H. phaea (type ex Bay of Islands, N.Z.), H. spadicea (type ex Ceylon), H. strigosa (type ex Ceylon), and H. villosa. Three collections from Tasmania in Kew herbarium are filed under H. rubiginosa.
TYPE LOCALITY: Java.
Lachnella alboviolascens (Alb. & Schwein.) Fr. 1836
COMPOSITAE. Cirsium arvense: Canterbury, Ashley River, Rangiora, 25 m. Olearia sp.: Auckland, Mangere, 15 m. Senecio jacobea: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 850 m. Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island. POLYGONACEAE. Muehlenbeckia australis: Wellington, Kitchener Park, Feilding, 30 m. ROSACEAE. Rubus idaeus: Hawke's Bay, Hastings, 10 m. RUTACEAE. Citrus aurantifolia: Auckland, Avondale, 5 m. SOLANACEAE. Cyphomandra betacea: Auckland, Remuera, 80 m; Mt. Eden, 120 m.
Pilei annual, scattered or gregarious, membranous, at first subglobose, becoming disciform or pezizaeform, 0.25-1.25 mm diameter, attached by brief bases; exterior white, covered with a dense tomentum of abhymenial hairs which curve over the hymenium and fringe the substratum,, hairs filiform, 4-6 µm diameter, finely crystal encrusted; margin fimbriate, inturned; hymenial layer even, cream or pallid buff, concave. Context white, to 80 µm thick, of radiately arranged compact hyphae; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline, tinted in a few outer hyphae. Hymenial layer to 80 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 50-80 x 11-14 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 7 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 45-65 x 9-11 µm. Spores irregular, obovate, pyriform, limoniform, or triangular with rounded angles, often biapiculate, 12-17 x 9-11 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.25 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Scattered or crowded on bark of dead twigs.
Although close to L. villosa in macrofeatures, the species may be separated by the larger basidia and almost triangular spores with rounded angles and oblique apiculi. Only a few spores exhibit this feature, others being obovate, pyriform, or limoniform, often with two apiculi. In the original description the hymenial surface was said to be violaceous, but in collections examined in Kew herbarium, and those present in this region, it is cream or buff.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Lachnella anomala (Pers.) G. Cunn. 1963
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax arboreum: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 1,100 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 35 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus sp.: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 35 m. PAPILIONACEAE. Sophora microphylla: Auckland. Purewa Bush, 35 m. ROSACEAE. Pyrus malus. Auckland. Oratia Research Orchard, 25 m. SAPINDACEAE. Alectryon excelsus: Auckland. Cornwallis, 20 m: Huia, 35.m.
Subiculum annual, arachnoid, fragile, ferruginous or chestnut, effused forming linear areas to 5 x 2 cm. Pilei crowded, sometimes confluent, pyriform, urceolate, or clavate, 300-500 µm diameter, seated on bases which may attain a length twice that of the pilei; pileus exterior clothed with erect abhymenial hairs 2.5-3 µm diameter, filiform with apices inturned or hamate, some inflated, walls yellow brown, densely finely encrusted; margin inrolled, radiate-striate, tomentose; hymenial surface even or pruinose, ferruginous, concave. Context brown, to 80 µm thick, of radiately arranged parallel hyphae; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, yellow brown. Hymenial layer to 60 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 24-32 x 6-7 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 18-26 x 5-6 µm. Spores long-elliptical, ovate, or obovate, apiculate, some obliquely so, 8-11 x 5-6.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan.
HABITAT: Crowded on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
In a former paper I (1953b, p. 178) described the species under the name of Solenia stipitata. W. B. Cooke has advised that this is a synonym of S. anomala. The species may be recognised by the brown, irregularly shaped pilei, and tomentose exterior clothed with filiform, brown, encrusted abhymenial hairs with inturned or hooked apices some of which are apically inflated. Sometimes a second pileus develops from the interior of an older one, plants then being twice or thrice as long. The subiculum may be scanty and arachnoid, or well developed, approaching membranous. The species was made the type of Cyphellopsis Donk and, because of the well developed subiculum and brown hyphae, could well be employed as the type of a small genus to contain L. anomala and other species with these features.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Lachnella aotearoa G. Cunn. 1963
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m. ROSACEAE. Rubus australis: Auckland, Walkers Bush, Henderson Valley, 120 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 18614.
Pilei annual, crowded in linear groups associated with a delicate white subiculum, membranous, fragile, cupulate or as often infundibuliform, attached by or pendent from narrow bases, 0.1-0.5 mm diameter, 0.25-1 mm long; pileus surface white, tomentose, abhymenial hairs tortuous, tapering to bluntly acuminate apices, aseptate, unbranched, to 3 µ diameter, walls 0.25 µ thick, hyaline, densely encrusted with fine crystals; margin inturned, fimbriate; hymenial surface even, concave, white or ivory. Context white, to 60 µ thick, of parallel hyphae radiately arranged; generative hyphae to 3 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, hyaline. Hymenial layer to 30 µ deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 10-16 x 5-6 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, slender, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses clavate, 8-12 x 4-5 µ. Spores broadly obovate, pip-shaped, or subglobose, apiculate, 4.5-5 x 3.5-4.5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Henderson Valley, Auckland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Crowded on bark of dead branches.
Pilei ex subtile albo subiculo, cupulati vel infundibuliformes; exteriore parte alba, tomentosa pilis tortuosis, hyalinis, fastigatis, incrustatis. Basidia clavata, 10-16 x 5-6 µ. Sporae late obovatae, obovatae attenuato-apiculati, vel subglobosae, 4-5.5 x 3.5-4.5 µ. On dead bark of Rubus australis, Henderson Valley, Auckland, N.Z.
The delicate white subiculum, delicate walls of the small pilei, acuminate, hyaline, encrusted abhymenial hairs, and small obovate or pip-shaped apiculate spores separate the species from others of the section.
Lachnella candida (Pers.) G. Cunn. 1963
CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Otago, Ryans Creek, Stewart Island. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Auckland, Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 60 m. UNKNOWN HOST. Auckland, Waiomu Valley, Thames, 130 m.
Subiculum annual, arachnoid, white, effused forming irregular areas to 5 x 2.5 cm. Pilei scattered or crowded in small groups, not confluent, cylindrical, 0.25-1.25 mm tall, 0.1-0.3 mm diameter, attached by narrow bases, ceraceous, fragile, white drying honey yellow; pileus surface delicately pruinose, clothed with delicate septate abhymenial hairs bearing apically 3-11 filiform branches 0.5-1 µm diameter; margin even, fringed with a compact palisade of branched hairs, erect or slightly inturned. Context white, to 30 µm thick, of densely compacted parallel hyphae; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline. Hymenial layer to 25 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 14-18 x 4-5.5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses clavate, 8-14 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores globose or subglobose, apiculate, 4.5-5 µm diameter, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Solitary or crowded on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Separation from L. fasciculata may be made by the type of abhymenial hairs covering surfaces of pilei. In L. candida they are freely septate with delicate walls and apices bearing several (2-11) delicate branches.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Lachnella coprosmae G. Cunn. 1963
RUBIACEAE. Coprosma foetidissima: Westland, Pukekura, 30 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 18633; The Forks, Okarito.
Pilei annual, scattered, rarely crowded, membranous, fragile, clavate becoming urniform, 0.25-0.75 mm diameter, 0.5-1.25 mm long, attached by narrow bases; exterior bay or tan, densely tomentose, abhymenial hairs tortuous, tapering to long-acuminate apices, to 3-5 µ diameter, aseptate, unbranched, walls hyaline, 0.5 µ thick, staining, some encrusted with deciduous crystals; margin inturned, fibrillose, lacerate; hymenia surface even, concave, tan. Context pallid tan, to 80 µ thick, of closely compacted radiately arranged parallel hyphae; generative hyphae to 4 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, tinted yellow, without clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 45 µ deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 22-28 x 7-9 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 16-24 x 6-7 µ. Spores pip-shaped, obliquely apiculate, 7-8 x 3.5-4 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick, often adhering in fours.
TYPE LOCALITY: Pukekura; Westland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Scattered on bark of dead twigs.
Pilei solitarii, basi prominente adjuncti, clavati diende urniformes; exteriore parte badia, tomentosa, pilis tortuosis, ad apicem acuminatum fastigatis, hyalinis, incrustatis. Basidia clavata, 22-28 x 7-9 µ. Sporae obovatae, attenuato-afibulatae, 7-8 x 3.5-4 µ. On dead bark of Coprosma foetidissima, Pukekura, Westland, N.Z.
Characterised by the tortuous abhymenial hairs of the pileus surface, narrow pip-shaped spores, tan colour of the fragile, irregularly shaped pilei, pallid yellow walls of context hyphae, and absence of clamp connections. Abhymenial hairs are densely crowded and stain deeply with aniline blue; at first they are encrusted with fine crystals, which gradually disappear so that in mature plants most hairs are naked.
Lachnella fasciculata (Pers.) G. Cunn. 1963
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax colensoi: Taranaki, Dawson Falls, Mt. Egmont, 1,100 m. Schefflera digitata: Auckland, Walkers Bush, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m; Rangemore Track, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 65 m. CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 500 m. Otago, Ryans Creek, Stewart Island. Pinus radiata: Auckland, Oratia, 20 m: Woodhill, coast. Wellington, Weraroa, 25 m. Podocarpus hallii: Auckland, Hauhangaroa Ranges, 950 m. Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 900 m. Podocarpus totara: Auckland, Hauhangaroa Ranges, 950 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Westland, Karangarua Valley, 35 m. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Aristotelia serrata: Auckland, Tauranga Road, Kaimai Ranges, 500 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Nelson, Maitai Valley, 30 m. FILICALES. Cyathea dealbata: Auckland, Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 200 m. Dicksonia squarrosa: Westland, The Forks, Okarito. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia taraira: Auckland, Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus globulus: Auckland, Whakarewarewa, 450 m. Wellington, Waverley, 130 m. ONAGRACEAE. Fuchsia excorticata: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 500 m. PIPERACEAE. Macropiper excelsum: Auckland, Taupiri Mount. POLYGONACEAE. Muehlenbeckia complexa: Westland, Weheka, 200 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma australis: Auckland, Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 200 m. Coprosma foetidissima: Wellington, Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,200 m. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Quintinia serrata: Westland, Harihari. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Great King Island; Thumb Track, Little Barrier Island; Waiomu Valley, Thames, 35 m.
Subiculum annual, arachnoid, white, effused forming areas to 10 cm across. Pilei densely aggregated, sometimes confluent, seldom scattered, cylindrical or subclavate, 0.5-3 mm tall, 0.1 -0.4 mm diameter, attached by narrow bases, ceraceous, brittle, white drying honey yellow; pileus surface covered with tortuous encrusted (in part) abhymenial hairs; margin even, inrolled and slightly thickened. Context white, to 35 µm thick, of densely compacted parallel hyphae; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 12-16 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 10-14 x 4-5 µm. Spores subglobose, a few globose or oval, 4.5-5.5 µm diameter, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Crowded often in fascicles on bark or decorticated dead branches or dead stipes of tree ferns.
Pilei grow in dense clusters, rarely solitary. At first globose, they soon become cylindrical. The exterior is covered with tortuous, aseptate, simple abhymenial hairs which later may disappear though some may remain near apices. The subiculum is arachnoid, delicate and often difficult to detect unless specimens are examined under a dissecting microscope. Spores vary in size and shape; when first formed, walls are relatively thick, but as spores mature walls become thinner. In a previous paper (1953b, p. 176) I listed "Solenia" fasciculata as a synonym of S. candida . W. B. Cooke has advised that the two may be separated by the abhymenial hairs, those of the former being filiform and encrusted, of S. candida delicate, naked, and branched near apices. In other particulars they appear to be similar, save that pilei of L. candida are seldom crowded into fascicles.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Lachnella hebe (G. Cunn.) G. Cunn. 1963
SCROPHULARIACEAE. Hebe salicifolia: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 1,350 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 11167.
Pilei annual, scattered, membranous-coriaceous, cupulate, 1-2.5 mm diameter, attached by narrow bases; exterior bay, tan, or ferruginous, finely radiately striate, often splitting on the posterior side, usually naked, rarely 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 for a few tinted hyphae near the periphery, to 80 µ thick, of radiately arranged densely compacted parallel hyphae; generative hyphae 4-5 µ diameter, walls to 2 µ thick, hyaline. Hymenial layer to 40 µ deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 35-42 x 10-12 µ, bearing 4 spores, sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 6 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 28-36 x 6-8 µ. Spores elliptic-fusiform, a few suballantoid, ends bluntly acuminate, apiculate, 12-13 x 4-5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Mt. Egmont, Taranaki, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Scattered on bark of dead twigs.
Lachnella hebe and L. totara resemble one another in shape and colour of the naked pilei. They differ in several microfeatures, mainly in structure of the context and shape of the spores. Exterior walls of occasional pilei appear as if delicately tomentose when examined under a dissecting microscope, an appearance produced by brief ends of occasional context hyphae which project slightly.
Lachnella muscigena sensu G. Cunn. 1963
UNKNOWN MOSS HOSTS. Wellington, Silverstream. South Australia, Adelaide.
Pilei annual, scattered, ceraceous, fragile, 0.2-3 mm diameter, campanulate, often irregular, attached by or pendent from brief bases arising from white fibrillose discs; exterior white, drying white or pallid cream, naked or at first delicately tomentose with hyphal ends of context hyphae; margin acute, plane or flaring, often deeply lacerated; hymenial surface even or slightly rugulose, white. Context white, to 100 µm thick, of radiately arranged densely compacted hyphae; generative hyphae to 8 N. diameter, commonly about 5 µm, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 16-24 x 5-6 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-18 x 4-5 µm. Spores pyriform or oval with acuminate bases, apiculate, 7-9 x 5-6 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.25 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Scattered on leaves and stems of mosses.
Plants agree with authentic specimens examined in Kew herbarium. The species may be. recognised by the fragile naked pilei, context hyphae of large diameter, and oval spores with acuminate bases. The moss habitat is also noteworthy. Bourdot & Galzin (1928, p. 158) stated that context, hyphae were without clamp connections; but as they are present in specimens at hand it is possible two species are involved. The hymenial surface is usually even; occasional plants are slightly rugulose, the condition being confined to large specimens. Owing to similarity of specific names, the species might be confused with Cantharellus muscigenus (Bull.) Fr. which has been proposed by Donk (1951, pp. 211, 213) as the type species for Leptoglossum Karst. and Dictyolus Quel.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Lachnella nikau G. Cunn. 1963
PALMAE: Rhopalostylis sapida: Auckland, Centennial Track, Piha, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 18615.
Subiculum annual, white, arachnoid, of a few repent hyphae, forming irregular areas to 7 x 3 cm. Pilei closely aggregated but remaining distinct, at first globose, becoming cupulate, ceraceous, brittle, white, drying white, 0.1-0.25 mm diameter, seated upon narrow bases, pileus surface coarsely strigose with erect abhymenial hairs reaching a length of 130 µ, tapering from inflated bases (to 10 µ) to long-acuminate apices, walls hyaline, to 3 µ thick at bases, 0.5 µ near apices, finely and closely crystal encrusted, margin erect and fimbriate. Context delicate, white, to 20 µ thick, of closely compacted parallel hyphae, generative hyphae 2-2.5 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, hyaline. Hymenial layer to 35 µ deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 22-30 x 10-12 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses clavate, 16-22 x 7-9 µ. Spores elliptical, slightly obovate with oblique apiculi, or a few subfusiform, 11-14 x 6-7.5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Piha, Auckland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: crowded on bark of dead stipes.
Pilei ex subtile albo subiculo, globosi deinde cupulati; exteriore parte alba, crasse strigosa, pilis aculeatis, hyalinis; incrustatis. Basidia clavata, 22-30 x 10-12 µ. Sporae ellipticae vel obovatae, 11-14 x 6-7.5 µ. On dead stipes of Rhopalostylis sapida, Piha, Auckland, N.Z.
Abhymenial hairs are of unusual shape. Narrowly ventricose with inflated bases, they taper to the long-acuminate apices; walls are hyaline and thickened to 3 µ towards the base and closely encrusted. Basidia and spores are large, pilei delicate, and the subiculum is rudimentary.
Lachnella sulphurea (Sacc. & Ellis) G. Cunn. 1963
CORYNOCARPACEAE. Corynocarpus laevigatus: Auckland, Piha, coast. PALMAE. Rhopalostylis sapida: Auckland, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m, PAPILIONACEAE. Lupinus arboreus: Taranaki, New Plymouth, sandhills. PIPERACEAE. Macropiper excelsum: Auckland, Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 120 m. Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. SAPINDACEAE. Alectryon excelsus: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Auckland, Blue Lake, Rotorua, 450 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Walkers Bush, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m; Coromandel Peninsula, 380 m.
Subiculum annual, delicate, arachnoid, yellow, effused forming linear areas to 8 x 2 cm. Pilei crowded, not confluent, subglobose or cupulate, 100-300 µm diameter, attached by narrow bases; pileus exterior finely radiate-striate, tomentose, abhymenial hairs filiform, 2.5-3 µm diameter, slightly tortuous, erect, walls light yellow brown, finely crystal encrusted; margin strongly inturned, obscuring the hymenium, tomentose, lacerate; hymenium even, grey, concave. Context white, to 50 µm thick, of radiately arranged densely compacted parallel hyphae; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 16-24 x 6-8 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-20 x 5-6 µm. Spores globose or subglobose, apiculate, 6-8 x 5-6 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.25 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Crowded on bark of dead stems and branches.
Abhymenial hairs provide the yellow colour of pilei; they are erect, imbricated, sometimes tortuous, with acuminate apices and yellow walls encrusted with fine crystals. The subiculum is delicate and extends as an arachnoid film beyond the area occupied by the pilei. It is composed of a few repent hyphae from which arise erect tufts of branched and tortuous hyphae with yellow walls.
TYPE LOCALITY: New Jersey, U.S.A.
Lachnella totara (G. Cunn.) G. Cunn. 1963
CONIFERAE. Podocarpus hallii: Auckland, Titirangi, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m. Wellington, National Park, 950 m; Mt. Tongariro, 850-1,100 m; Mt. Hector, Tararua Ranges, 900 m. Canterbury, Arthur's Pass, 850 m. Podocarpus totara: Auckland, Swanson, 120 m; Oratia, Waitakere Ranges, 200 m; Titirangi, 250 m. Wellington, Mt. Holdsworth, Tararua Ranges, 1,350 m. Canterbury, Peel Forest, 600 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 3349. Otago, Hollyford Valley, 250 m; Alton Stream, Tuatapere, 120 m; Ulva Islet, Stewart Island; Ryans Creek, Stewart Island.
Pilei annual, scattered, membranous-coriaceous, 2-3 mm long, 1-8 mm broad, usually pendulous when attached by narrow vertices, conical-cupulate when seated upon narrow bases, or sometimes scutellate and attached by broad bases; exterior fawn or tan, darker peripherally, finely radiate striate, or wrinkled, naked; margin acute, inturned or plane, entire or slightly lacerate; hymenial surface even or slightly rugulose, bay, concave. Context white (brown in some old specimens), to 250 µ, thick, of radiately arranged, compact, parallel hyphae; generative hyphae 4-5 µ, diameter, walls 1 µ, thick, hyaline, tortuous. Hymenial layer to 70 µ deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 40-56 x 7-9 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 32-48 x 6-7 µ. Spores obovate or elliptical, apiculate, 8-9.5 x 5-6 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Peel Forest, Canterbury, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Scattered on bark of living and dead branches and trunks.
Common on two endemic species of Podocarpus, called totara by the Maori, the species possesses the largest pilei of any present in the region. Usually 1-3 mm diameter, pendulous and conical-cupulate (as in the type collection), pilei sometimes may extend laterally to 8 mm, and become scutellate with a slightly wrinkled hymenial surface. Pilei grow upon bark of living or dead branches and small trunks, and because of the exterior colour are difficult to detect. In Kew herbarium there is a collection, ex "Buller Valley, Westland, T. Kirk, No. 236" which Cooke placed under the cover of `Cyphella' cupulaeformis Berk. & Rav. The latter differs in possessing markedly angular, distorted, irregular spores
Lachnella villosa (Pers.) Gillet 1880
JUGLANDACEAE. Juglans regia: South Australia, Fullarton. MYOPORACEAE. Myoporum acuminatum: Hawke's Bay, Cape Kidnapper Reserve. PAPILIONACEAE. Cytisus scoparius: South Australia, Mt. Lofty. Lupinus arboreus: Auckland, Whatipu. ROSACEAE. Rubus australis: Auckland, Walkers Bush, Henderson Valley, 200 m. RUTACEAE. Citrus limonum: Auckland; Henderson. VITACEAE. Vitis vinifera: South Australia, Adelaide.
Pilei annual, scattered or more usually crowded in small groups, membranous, at first subglobose, becoming pezizaeform, 0.2-1 mm diameter, attached by brief bases; pileus exterior white, tomentose with filiform abhymenial hairs which are 4-6 µm diameter, aseptate, unbranched, apices rounded, sometimes inflated at or below apices, walls 0.5-1 µm thick, densely and finely encrusted with somewhat fugacious crystals; margin inturned, fimbriate; hymenial surface even, concave, white becoming cream. Context white, to 75 µm thick, of radiately arranged parallel hyphae, walls tinted in a few outer hyphae; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline. Hymenial layer to 60 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 35-60 x 8-12 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender; to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 22-45 x 6-8 µm. Spores obovate with bluntly acuminate bases, or oval, some ovate, apiculate, 10-12 x 7-9 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Scattered or crowded on bark of dead branches and twigs.
From L. alboviolascens the species is separated by the obovate, oval, or ovate spores of moderate size; and from others of the section by the thin-walled, encrusted abhymenial hairs.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Lopharia areolata G. Cunn. 1963
CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Westland, Lake Mapourika, 100 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 5100; Rimu, 50 m. Otago, Niagara, Catlins, 35 m. ICACINACEAE. Pennantia corymbosa: Hawke's Bay, Turangakumu Saddle, 850 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum rigidum: Wellington, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,100 m. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Carpodetus serratus: Auckland, Rangemore Track, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. Hawke's Bay, Turangakumu Saddle, 850 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Auckland, Alfriston, 35 m.'
Hymenophore annual, membranous, forming irregular areas either in the form of numerous colonies with reflexed upper margins, when 2-5 cm across, or as linear resupinate areas to 30 x 3 cm with reflexed lateral margins. Pilei effused-reflexed, sometimes reduced to upturned edges, to 5 mm radius, length of the fructifications; surface straw colour, pallid ochre with tan or reddish-brown margins, bearing coarse hairs either in strigose tufts, or imbricately, edges lobed or torn, often incurved; hymenial surface cream, then alutaceous, even, becoming deeply areolately creviced. Context white, 250-400 µ thick, of mainly parallel hyphae and a deep subhymenium containing metuloids; without a cortex; generative hyphae 4-6 µ diameter, walls 0.2-1 µ thick, naked, without clamp connections. Metuloids crowded in the hymenium and subhymenium, forming a layer to 160 µ deep, of 3-7 overlapping rows, in thick specimens occupying the greater part of the context, some projecting to 20 µ, cylindrical with rounded apices, or subfusiform with acuminate apices, some flexuous, 30-65 x 7-9 µ, encrusted throughout, more coarsely below, the brief pedicels naked. Hymenial layer to 50 µ deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 20-24 x 4-5.5 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate or subcylindrical, 16-20 x 3-4.5 µ. Spores oblong-elliptical, a few narrowly obovate, apiculate, 6-8 x 3-3.5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Lake Mapourika, Westland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark of dead branches.
Pilei effuso-reflexi, ad 5 mm radium, saepe absentes vel resupinatus est; superficie straminea vel pallide ochracea, pilis in cristis strigosis vel imbricata. Superficies hymenii cremea deinde alutacea, deinde alte areolato rimosa. Hypharum systema monomiticum; hyphae generatoriae afibulatae, 4-6 µ diam. Metuloids cylindricalia, apicibus rotundis vel subfusiformia, apicibus acuminatis, 30-65 x 7-9 µ, crystallis tecta. Basidia subclavata, 20-24 x 4-5.5 µ, 2-4 sporis. Sporae oblongo-ellipticae, 6-8 x 3-3.5 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. On dead bark of Weinmannia racemosa, Lake Mapourika, Westland, N.Z.
Of the three species with monomitic hyphal systems L. areolata may be identified by the delicate hymenophore, small metuloids with brief hyaline pedicels, and absence of clamp connections. The context of pileate specimens consists of a broad layer of mainly parallel hyphae from which arise the abhymenial hairs, bordered by a deep layer of erect hyphae containing the metuloids; in resupinate specimens the context is composed mainly of intertwined hyphae as in members of the Corticeae. Lower metuloids are more coarsely encrusted, crystals becoming progressively finer towards the surface.
Lopharia cheesmanii (Wakef.) G. Cunn. 1963
UNKNOWN HOST. New South Wales, Moruya (Type collection, herb. Kew).
Hymenophore perennial, coriaceous, resupinate with a dark brown thickened fibrillose border 2-3 mm deep representing the pileus, loosely attached, forming irregular areas to 8 x 7 cm; hymenial surface pallid ochre, even or somewhat radiate-striate, not creviced. Context isabelline or woodbrown, 0.5-0.75 mm thick, of compact parallel hyphae radiately arranged, embedding scattered metuloids, bordered by a coloured cemented cortex to 70 µm thick, from which arise short, stout abhymenial hairs; skeletal hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, walls so thickened that lumena are capillary; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls 0.1 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Metuloids arranged in numerous rows in a layer to 350 µm deep, each in a lacuna formed from intertwined compact staining hyphae, obconic or fusiform with long pedicels staining blue, a few projecting slightly, 24-72 x 10-16 µm,upper two-thirds encrusted with coarse hyaline crystals, naked towards the base, many with pedicels alone remaining. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 16-24 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 12-20 x 5-6 µm. Spores globose, or oval, 4.5-5-5 x 4-4.5 µm, walls hyaline, smooth, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Australia.
HABITAT: Loosely attached on dead wood.
Although the type specimen is almost resupinate, one margin shows a definite thickening, which represents a rudimentary pileus. Together with the arrangement of the context hyphae, dimitic hyphal system, presence of a well developed coloured cortex, and abhymenial hairs, this indicates that the species possesses the morphology of a pileate Stereum; and the metuloids show it to be a Lopharia. Metuloids are arranged in many rows in a compact zone occupying about one-third to one half of the thickness of sections. Each is seated in a lacuna with the pedicel attached to the floor of the cavity, exactly as in Peniophora sacrata (Fig. 74). Spores are mostly subglobose, a few oval, with delicate walls.
TYPE LOCALITY: Moruya, New South Wales, Australia.
Lopharia cinerascens (Schwein.) G. Cunn. 1956
ACERACEAE. Acer pseudoplatanus: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 85 m. CONIFERAE. Pinus radiata: Auckland, Mt. Maunganui, coast. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria sarmentosa: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. CORYNOCARPACEAE. Corynocarpus laevigatas: Auckland, Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 250 m; Cornwall Park, 75 m; Huia, 30 m. JUGLANDIACEAE. Juglans regia: Hawke's Bay; Twyford, 10 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tarairi: Auckland, Parahaki, Whangarei, 70 m; Little Barrier Island. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Claudelands Reserve, Hamilton, 35 m; Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. MALVACEAE. Hoheria glabrata: Canterbury, Governors Bush, Hermitage, 850 m. Hoheria populnea: Auckland, Piha, 35 m; University Grounds. Plagianthus betulinus: Kitchener Park, Feilding, 30 m. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Little Barrier Island; Orakei Bush, 30 m; Huia, 70 m. MIMOSACEAE. Albizzia lophantha: Auckland, Oratia, 30 m. MORACEAE. Ficus macrophylla: New South Wales, Sydney Domain. MYOPORACEAE. Myoporum laetum: Auckland, Hillcrest, Northcote, 35 m. MYRSINACEAE. Myrsine australis: Auckland, Purewa Bush, 30 m. PALMAS. Rhopalostylis sapida: Auckland, Huia, 35 m. PAPILIONACEAE. Sophora macrophylla: Auckland, Boulder Bay, Rangitoto Island; Whekatahi Stream, Piha; Purewa Bush, 50 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum crassifolium: Auckland, Piha, 250 m. POLYGONACEAE. Muehlenbeckia australis: Auckland, Waikowhai, 30 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma repens: Auckland, South-west King Island. Coprosma crenulata: Auckland, Three Kings, 55 m. Coprosma robusta: Auckland, Little Barrier Island; Karekare, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m. RUTACEAE. Citrus aurantifolia: Auckland, Henderson, 20 m. Citrus limonum: Auckland, Claudelands, Hamilton, 35 m. Melicope ternata: Auckland, North-east King Island. SALICACEAE. Salix fragilis: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 55 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Auckland, Little Barrier Island; Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 200 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Queensland, Tully. New South Wales, Sydney, National Park, Bulli Pass, Lisarow, Katoomba.
Hymenophore annual or biennial, coriaceous, widely effused with reflexed margins, or resupinate, at first small and orbicular, finally forming irregular areas 7-12 x 1-4 cm. Pilei narrowly applanate, often reduced to mere upturned margins, or wanting; pileus surface straw colour or pallid ochre, clothed with appressed hairs often imbricately arranged, or radiately striate; hymenial surface cream to pallid ochre, sometimes buff, velutinate, at length deeply areolately creviced, or finely tuberculate; margin when resupinate thinning out, fibrillose, concolorous, adherent. Context cream, isabelline, or bay, 0.2-1 mm thick, of parallel hyphae densely arranged, tinted towards the base, bordered by a coloured cortex and abhymenial hairs; skeletal hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, lumena capillary, naked; generative hyphae 2.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, without clamp connections. Metuloids arranged in a zone of erect hyphae, each within a locule, some projecting to 90 µm, narrowly conical, or lanceolate, with short, stout, often tinted pedicels, 80-180 x 16-26 µm, coarsely encrusted throughout. Hymenial layer to 70 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 40-64 x 8-12 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 35-56 x 6-10 µm. Spores elliptical with rounded ends, 9-14 x 7-9 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated dead wood.
Separated by the dimitic hyphal system, skeletal hyphae with walls so thickened that lumena are capillary, large metuloids with short and stout pedicels, large basidia and spores. Metuloids may be arranged in one irregular row in the hymenial layer, or more often in several obscure zones within tissues of the hymenial layer and context. They vary appreciably in shape and size, shape and length of the stout pedicels, and size of crystals. Some basal metuloids may be naked, or bear only a few scattered crystals. In thin specimens the context is composed of parallel hyphae as in species of Stereum; in thick forms a deep subhymenium is developed in which metuloids are embedded in lacunae.
The species bears a long list of synonyms, although its specific name has seldom been in doubt. Usually placed under Peniophora, on account of the metuloids, or Stereum because of the pileate fructifications, it has also been used as the type species of Thwaitesiella, Lloydella, and Lopharia. Lloyd admitted that his Stereum purpurascens was merely a coloured form; and Talbot showed that S. caperatum Lloyd and S. turgidum Lloyd were likewise synonyms. S. subporiferum Berk., the 'type' of which came from the Chatham Islands, ex "Travers, No. 7" is also based on the species.
TYPE LOCALITY: Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Lopharia crassa (Lév.) Boidin 1959 [1958]
ARALIACEAE. Meryta sinclairii: Auckland, Mt. Eden, 100 m. Neopanax arboreum: Auckland, Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m; Anawhata Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. Taranaki, Veronica Track, Mt. Egmont, 1,200 m. Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 700 m. CONIFERAE. Agathis australis: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 200 m; Upper Piha Valley, 300 m; Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m; Stony Creek, Henderson Valley, 200 m. Pinus radiata: Wellington, Weraroa, 25 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Waiomu Valley, Thames, 60 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m. Weinmannia silvicola: Waipoua Kauri Forest, 120 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Auckland, Waitetoki, Lake Taupo, 450 m. Wellington, Blyth Track, Ohakune, 700 m. Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Totara Flat, 120 m. Nothofagus truncata: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. Quercus robur: Victoria, Creswick. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 500 m. Wellington, Weraroa, 25 m. MIMOSACEAE. Albizzia lophantha: Auckland, Three Kings, 60 m; Oratia, 25 m. Oxylobium callystachys: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 85 m. MONIMIACEAE. Hedycarya arborea: Auckland, Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 200 m. MYRSINACEAE. Myrsine salicina: Auckland, Anawhata Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus globulus: Wellington, Waverley, 120 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Little Barrier Island; Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 250 m. PANDANACEAE. Freycinetia banksii: Auckland, Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 35 m. PAPILIONACEAE. Cytisus scoparius: Auckland, Waitetoki, Lake Taupo, 450 m. PIPERACEAE. Macropiper excelsum: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum tenuifolium: Auckland, Spragues Hill, Waitakere Ranges, 200 m; Ruatewhenua, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Huia, 30 m; Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 450 m. PROTEACEAE. Hakea saligna: Auckland, Swanson, 200 m. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Anawhata Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Upper Piha Valley, 300 m; Claudelands Reserve, Hamilton, 40 m. ROSACEAE. Prunus persica: Auckland, Mangere, 10 m. Pyrus malus: Auckland, Oratia, 20 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma polymorpha: Otago, Portobello, 10 m. Coprosma robusta: Auckland, Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m. SALICACEAE. Salix fragilis: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 60 m; Waikaretu, 160 m. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Carpodetus serratus: Auckland, Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m. VERBENACEAE. Vitex lucens: Auckland, Cornwallis, 20 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. South Australia, Kuitpo; Beaumont, Adelaide; Kalangadoo; Pt. Hoarburgh; Mt. Lofty; Encounter Bay; West Stirling. New South Wales, Sydney; Bullahdelah; Milsom Island; Neutral Bay; Wangan 6 Kurrajong Mts. Tasmania, Mt. Wellington; Port Arthur. Victoria, Gippsland. Western Australia, Donnybrook.
Hymenophore pileate, annual, membranous, effused-reflexed, often resupinate, at first developing as small orbicular colonies merging to form linear areas which may extent to 40 x 4 cm. Pilei laterally extended and narrowly applanate, sometimes imbricate; surface grey or fawn, abhymenial hairs radiately arranged and sometimes concentrically zoned, often imbricated; hymenial surface ranging in colour from cream through buff or ochre to dark umber, often violaceous, heliotrope, or tinted purple, at first even or finely tuberculate, becoming deeply areolately creviced, tending to lift at margins of crevices; margin when resupinate thinning out, fibrillose, concolorous, adherent. Context dingy white, 0.2-1 mm thick, without a cortex, of parallel hyphae and an intermediate layer of ascending hyphae, loosely arranged and embedding metuloid pedicels; generative hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls 0.5-1 µm thick, naked, without clamp connections. Metuloids borne on long slender pedicels, extending to the hymenial layer, some projecting to 35 µm and scattered through the context, narrowly fusiform with acute apices, tinted fuscous, 40-190 x 8-16 µm, encrusted with hyaline or tinted crystals which may cover the modified body or be confined to its apical region, occasionally in part encrusted with brown mucilage granules; pedicels of unusual length, some 600 µm long, 5-7 µm diameter, some lightly tinted beneath metuloids. Hymenial layer to 60 µm deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 20-24 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate or cylindrical, 12-18 x 4-5 µm. Spores elliptical, 5-7 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North and South America, Western Europe, Africa, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Dead bark and decorticated wood.
In a former paper (1956a, p. 625) I employed the combination Lopharia vinosa under the impression that Berkeley's name Thelephora vinosa was the first applied to the species, overlooking that Persoon had earlier (1801, p. 578) used this name for a different plant. Lentz (1955, p. 20) used Laxitextum crassum for the species, deriving the specific name from Thelephora crassa Lev., part of the type of which, ex herb. Bresadola, from Tourane, Cochin China, was in the herbarium of National Fungus Collections of the United States Department of Agriculture. The species varies appreciably in the degree of pileus formation, thickness of context, surface colour, size and abundance of metuloids, length of pedicels, and coarseness of crystals. Most collections are resupinate, or exhibit broad resupinate fructifications with narrow reflexed margins; in others pilei are freely developed and often imbricately arranged. The context may vary in thickness and in old specimens exhibit vaguely defined zones of metuloids and context hyphae. Colour of mature plants may be some shade of brown, umber predominating, or as frequently violaceous, heliotrope, or purple, Australasian collections being rich in brightly coloured specimens. At first white, colour rapidly changes to some shade of brown, or violaceous shades may appear as soon as colour changes begin. Resupinate forms may be separated from species of Peniophora by the tinted metuloids borne on unusually long pedicels which, being aseptate, simulate skeletal hyphae although the species has a monomitic hyphal system. Pedicels ascend obliquely and are sometimes tinted beneath the metuloids. Their length would appear to be governed by development of the context, in thick plants pedicels attaining a maximum length of 600 µm. Occasional crystals are also tinted; they may be abundant or scanty, coarse or fine, and may encrust metuloids completely, be confined to their apical regions, or appear as scattered granules upon their surfaces. Bridging hyphae have been noted in the context.
TYPE LOCALITY: Cochin China.
Lopharia involuta (Klotzsch ex Fr.) G. Cunn. 1963
OLEACEAE. Gymnelaea lanceolata: Auckland, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Queensland, Tully Falls, Atherton Tableland. Fiji, Suva Forestry Station; Upolu.
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, scattered or crowded, sessile. Pilei commonly flabelliform when attached by a narrow lateral umbonate base, conchate, cupulate or pateriform when attached by a basal umbo, sometimes imbricate, 1.5-7 cm radius, 1-5 cm wide; pileus surface at first velutinate and azonate, soon concentrically banded with zones of coloured hairs which may be bay, chestnut, reddish-brown or even olivaceous, often radiately rugulose or fluted; margin entire, crenate, deeply lobed, or torn, darker in colour, thinning out; hymenial surface reflecting surface irregularities, ranging in colour from cream through ochre to rich reddish-brown, often vernicose and pruinose towards the base. Context white or wood colour with, in mature plants, a thick, waxy, deep, subhymenial zone, 0.3-1 mm thick, a dense layer of mainly parallel hyphae bordered by a narrow cortex bearing abhymenial hairs which may be slightly inflated at their free ends; skeletal hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls thickened; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arising at different depths in the subhymenium, penetrating the hymenial layer but not projecting, flexuous-cylindrical or fusiform, usually somewhat inflated near bases, 60-110 x 6-10 µm. Metuloids arising at various depths in the subhymenium, not projecting, obconic or fusiform with prominent pedicels, 35-56 x 12-16 µm, walls to 4 µm thick, encrusted, pedicels hyaline. Hymenial layer 50-250 µm deep, a dense almost gelatinised layer of basidia, paraphyses, gloeocystidia, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 12-18 x 3.5-4 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 12-18 x 2.5-3 µm. Spores elliptical, apiculate, 3-3.5 x 2-2.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Mauritius, South Africa, Philippine Islands, Fiji, New Guinea, Cook Islands, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Solitary or crowded on bark of dead branches and trunks.
Collections agree with the type of 'Thelephora' involuta Kl. in Kew herbarium. Although Fries (1838, p. 546), Massee (1890, p. 176) and Saccardo (1888, p. 560) cited Klotzsch as the author and Linnaea7: 499, 1830 as the place of publication, there is no reference to the species in that or any other volume of Linnaea. His was most likely a herbarium name validated by Fries. Specimens show a wide range of variation in size, shape, surface markings, and colour of the pileus surface and hymenium. Several species were based on slight differences in these, and according to Lloyd (1922, p. 1115) Stereum bresadoleanum Lloyd, S. gossweileri Lloyd, and S. philippense Lloyd were erected on slight differences in colour and markings of the pileus surface. When young, plants are conchate and attached by a lateral or basal umbo and the surface is velutinate without evident zoning. As plants enlarge they mostly change in shape to flabelliform and become concentrically zoned with bands of different shades of brown hairs. According to their age when collected, in these features alone plants may exhibit the minor differences upon which Lloyd's several species were based. The hymenial surface also shows a wide range of colours; at first cream or ochre, in old plants it becomes rich reddish-brown and appears as if varnished. Plants also exhibit variations in numbers, shape, and size of gloeocystidia and metuloids. In old plants they are usually abundant and distributed through the thickened hymenial layer, which exhibits a granular appearance owing to being partly gelatinised with components cemented. There are numerous collections from this region in Kew herbarium, placed under the covers of Stereum involutum, S. moselei, S. prolicans, and S. vespilloneum. S. hollandii Lloyd, ex "Okumi, Cross River Expedition, J. H. Holland, No. 40" is based on an infundibuliform plant, not uncommon in Fijian collections at hand.
TYPE LOCALITY: Mauritius.
Lopharia ochracea G. Cunn. 1963
CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Auckland, Te Whaiti, 500 m. Westland, Pukekura, 120 m. Pinus radiata: Auckland, Waikato Heads, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 7076.
Hymenophore annual or biennial, membranous, widely effused with reflexed margins, or resupinate, then forming irregular linear areas to 15 x 2-5 cm. Pilei reflexed margins of broad resupinate areas, to 5 mm radius; pileus surface chestnut, tomentose, with lighter margins; hymenial surface ochre, ferruginous when old, velutinate, at length finely areolately creviced; margin of resupinate plants thinning out, even, pallid ochre, adherent. Context ochre, to 400 µ thick, in first growth plants composed of a basal layer of mainly parallel hyphae, in older plants almost wholly occupied by the metuloid layer, or of as many as three layers with context hyphae between; generative hyphae 4-4.5 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, naked, with clamp connections. Metuloid layer 80-300 µ thick, in 1-3 layers; metuloids scarcely projecting, irregular in shape and size, subclavate, subfusiform, or subulate, often flexuous or distorted, some inflated near centres or bases, 25-90 x 4-12 µ, apices bluntly acuminate, encrusted on the upper half, lower part naked, often coloured, staining deeply; in the basal region of old plants metuloids are frequently tinted, elongated, sparsely encrusted, lying parallel or at various angles. Hymenial layer to 70 µ deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subcylindrical, 24-30 x 3 - 5-4 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 16-22 x 3.5-4 µ. Spores elliptical, with oblique apiculi, or suballantoid, 4-5 x 2.5-3 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Waikato Heads, Auckland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Pilei effuso-reflexi, angusti, ad 5 mm radium vel resupinatus est; superficie castanea, tomentosa; superficies hymenii ochracea, mature ferruginea, velutinata, subtiliter areolato rimosa. Hypharum systema monomiticum; hyphae generatoriae fibulatae, 4-4.5 µ diam. Metuloids subclavata, subfusiformia vel subulata saepe distorta, 25-90 x 4-12 µ, apicibus acuminatis, in superiore parte incrustatis, pedicillis nudis, saepe coloratis. Basidia cylindricalia, 24-30 x 3.5-4 µ, 2-4 sporis. Sporae ellipticae vel suballantoides, 4-5 x 2.5-3 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. On dead bark of Pinus radiata, Waikato Heads, Auckland, N.Z
From L. crassa the species is separated by the much smaller, distorted and irregular, more coarsely encrusted metuloids, smaller spores, and different colour and texture of the hymenophore. Metuloids show unusual diversity in size and shape, are encrusted on their upper half, naked below, most are tinted and stain deeply with aniline blue. Produced in large numbers, they are at first arranged vertically in a layer of two or three overlapping rows. As plants age the metuloid layer becomes deeper, in one collection forming a continuous zone 300 µ deep, in a second composed of three layers with intertwined hyphae between. In the first collection the context is well developed, occupying the greater part of the fructification and composed of parallel hyphae embedding numerous slender metuloids. In a third thick specimen metuloids occupy most of the context, and are inserted in many overlapping rows, either with context hyphae between, or forming a continuous layer. Most fructifications are resupinate, two being reflexed with narrow pileate margins.
Lopharia papyracea (Jungh.) D.A. Reid
UNKNOWN HOSTS. Queensland, Dunk Island (As Stereum percome, herb. Kew); Stannary Hills (As S. amaenum, herb. Kew).
Hymenophore annual or biennial, coriaceous, loosely attached, patelliform with raised margins, narrowly effused-reflexed, sometimes resupinate, 1-3 cm across, or fused to form irregular areas 3-8 cm long. Pilei merely reflexed margins, to 0.5 cm broad, surface densely tomentose, concentrically zoned, dingy white, straw colour, or tan; hymenial surface ferruginous, umber, or purple towards the centre, tuberculate or rugulose, deeply radially creviced; margin thinning out, fibrillose, grey becoming tan. Context ferruginous, 0.2-0.75 mm thick, of hyaline parallel hyphae radiately arranged, cortex ferruginous, of intertwined partly cemented hyphae, ends of skeletal hyphae forming a dense palisade of cystidioid hyphae beneath the subhymenium, some penetrating the hymenial layer, expanded to 8 µm, densely encrusted with brown mucilage granules; skeletal hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls 1-2 µm thick; generative hyphae 2.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, naked, without clamp connections. Metuloids arising in the hymenium and subhymenium, some projecting to 30 µm elliptical or lanceolate, 32-60 x 12-16 µm, walls coarsely encrusted with crystals. Hymenial layer to 35 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, metuloids, and cystidioid hyphae. Basidia subcylindrical, or subclavate, 20-26 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 18-22 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores elliptical, 4.5-5 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: East Indies, Ceylon, India, Pakistan, Burma, Australia.
HABITAT: Loosely attached to bark of dead branches.
In a former paper (1953, p. 289) following Cooke I referred a Queensland specimen in Kew herbarium to Peniophora papyrina. From this species Reid has shown that L. papyracea may be separated by the presence in the hymenium and subhymenium of a palisade of cystidioid hyphae, densely encrusted with brown mucilage granules soluble in aqueous solutions of potassium hydroxide. Spores are rare in the specimens examined, a few only attached to basidia being of the dimensions given, although they may not have reached full size. The type of S. percome from Ceylon in Kew herbarium was found to be of this species. S. corruge was based on a stratose specimen.
TYPE LOCALITY: Java.
Merulius corium (Pers.) Fr. 1828
ARALIACEAE. Meryta sinclairii: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 45 m. Neopanax arboreum: Auckland, Upper Piha Valley, 300 m; Mt. Pihanga, 750 m. Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 900 m. Canterbury, Rakaia Gorge, 400 m. Neopanax colensoi: Wellington, Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu, 950 m. Pseudopanax crassifolium: Auckland, Scenic Drive, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. Hawke's Bay, Poronui, 700 m. Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 750 m. Schefflera digitata: Westland, Waiho, 200 m. BALSAMINACEAE. Impatiens sp.: Auckland, Cornwallis, 20 m. COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Mt. Pihanga, 750 m. Wellington, Kahuterawa River, 35 m. Olearia ilicifolia: Westland, Douglas Rock, Copland Valley, 1,200 m. Olearia rani: Auckland, Upper Piha Valley, 300 m. CONIFERAE. Pinus halpensis: South Australia, Snuggery. Pinus radiata: South Australia, Mt. Burr Forest. CORNACEAE. Griselinia littoralis: Otago, Whisky Gully, Tapanui, 180 m. CORYNOCARPACEAE. Corynocarpus laevigatus: Auckland, Piha, coast. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Wellington, Wanganui, 10 m. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Aristotelia serrata: Auckland, Waitomo, 70 m. EPACRIDACEAE. Cyathodes fasciculata: Auckland, Anawhata Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, National Park, 1,250 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Cutty Grass Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Scenic Drive, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. MIMOSACEAE. Acacia melanoxylon: Victoria, Croydon. South Australia, Mt. Burr Forest. MONIMIACEAE. Hedycarya arborea: Auckland, Woods Bay, Titirangi. MYRSINACEAE. Myrsine salicina: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. MYRTACEAE. Metrosideros fulgens: Westland, Weheka, 200 m. OLEACEAE. Ligustrum vulgare: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 50 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum colensoi: Wellington, Whakapapaiti Stream, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,200 m. Pittosporum crassifolium: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 50 m. Pittosporum tenuifolium: Auckland, Henderson, 75 m; Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 450 m; Waitetoki, Lake Taupo, 500 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma areolata: Auckland, Whangarei Heads. Coprosma australis: Auckland, Waiatarua, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m; Cutty Grass Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. Coprosma foetidissima: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 950 m; Westland, Harihari. Coprosma robusta: Auckland, Mt. Eden, 120 m; Mairangi Bay, coast. Wellington, Weraroa, sandhills. RUTACEAE. Citrus limonum: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 50 m. SALICACEAE. Salix fragilis: Wellington, Weraroa, 25 m. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Carpodetus serratus: Auckland, Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Queensland, Buriya Mountains. South Australia, National Park; Bordertown; Mt. Lofty; Beaumont. New South Wales, Bulli Pass; Mosman. Victoria, Wallaby Creek; Creswick; Brisbane Ranges. Tasmania, Port Arthur.
Hymenophore pileate, annual, coriaceous. Pilei effused-reflexed, sometimes imbricate or scutellate, often resupinate, on lateral branches extending to 20 cm, 0.5-1 cm radius, on vertical branches narrowly effused-reflexed, or conchate, 1-3 x 0.5-1 cm; pileus surface white or cream, radially sulcate and sometimes zoned with one or two light brown bands, finely tomentose; margin inturned, acute, lobed, concolorous; hymenial surface cream, pallid flesh-pink, or orange, shining, finely porose-reticulate with pores 1-4 per mm; often with large, plane, even areas or shallowly punctate, fertile to the edge, when old sometimes creviced. Context white or cream, 0.2-0.5 mm thick, of somewhat loosely intertwined hyphae; generative hyphae to 6 it diameter, walls 0.5-2 µm thick, hyaline, without clamp connections, sometimes crystal encrusted. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, subhymenium to 100 µm, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, or subcylindrical, 16-24 x 4-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 10-18 x 4-5 µm. Spores elliptical, 6-7.5 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan.
HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Merulius corium maybe recognised by the effused-reflexed pilei with white finely tomentose surface, flesh-pink glistening hymenial surface, elliptical spores, and absence of clamp connections. Resupinate forms are common and not infrequently the surface is almost even or delicately punctate, when the species might be mistaken for a Stereum. In a previous paper (1950) I recognised a second species, M. confluens Schw., but now doubt if both can be maintained on any constant morphological feature. Examination of the types in Kew herbarium has shown that Polyporus eriophorus Berk. & Br., ex "Q., Brisbane, F. M. Bailey, No. 419" and Merulius pelliculosus Cke. ex "Vic., Mrs Martin, No. 762" are also synonyms. Specimens of M. aurantius Lloyd from Tasmania, sent by the late L. Rodway to J. B. Cleland also proved to be of this species.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Merulius niveus Fr. 1828
CORNACEAE. Griselinia lucida: Westland, Weheka, 200 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Wellington, York Bay, 120 m, part of type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 1218. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Alfriston, 20 m.
Hymenophore annual, resupinate, adherent, cartilaginous, fragile, effused forming irregular areas to 10 x 3 cm; hymenial surface at first orange or reddish-brown, becoming pallid vinaceous, porosereticulate, pores 1-2 mm wide, to 0.1 mm deep; margin arachnoid; irregular, fawn or light brown, adherent. Context white or more often dingy wood brown, 60-250 µm thick, of loosely intertwined hyphae partly encrusted with granules of orange or yellow mucilage; generative hyphae to xxx µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, hyaline, without clamp connections. Gloeocystidia lying beneath folds of the hymenial layer, clavate or cylindrical, 24-30 x 4-6 µm, or scattered among hyphae of the context when 30-55 x 5-8 µm, contents orange. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia cylindrical or subclavate, 12-16 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 8-12 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores allantoid, 4.5-6 x 1-1.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark of dead fallen branches.
Plants are resupinate and may be recognised by the orange colour of the surface of fresh specimens turning vinaceous when dried, small allantoid spores and thin-walled delicate context hyphae without clamp connections. An orange pigment layer lies beneath the readily separable hymenium, colour being derived from orange mucilage granules encrusting hyphae of the subhymenium. Gloeocystidia arise in folds of the hymenium, and are also embedded among hyphae of the subhymenium and upper part of the context, being larger in the latter region. They are readily overlooked unless sections are stained with aniline blue.
TYPE LOCALITY: York Bay, Wellington, New Zealand.
Merulius porinoides Fr. 1821
LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Anawhata Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Cutty Grass Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m.
Hymenophore resupinate, annual, fragile, pelliculose, loosely attached, effused forming irregular areas to 8 x 4 cm; hymenial surface cream, drying reddish-brown or pallid olive in patches, with sparse, irregular; broken reticulations 0.5-5 mm across, folds delicate, not exceeding 0.4 mm tall; margin ivory, to 5 mm broad, arachnoid, fibrillose and sometimes with rhizomorphs. Context dingy white, to 300 µm thick, basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae which may attain a diameter of 8 µm, irregularly crystal encrusted, intermediate layer of naked intertwined hyphae; generative hyphae 3-5 (8) µm diameter, walls 0.1 µm thick, hyaline, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 25 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 14-20 x 4.5-5 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-16 x 4-4.5 µm. Spores elliptic-oblong with rounded ends, 4-4.5 x 2.5-3 µm, a few subglobose when 4 x 3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, New Zealand.

HABITAT: Effused on decorticated fallen branches.
Specimens agree with collections examined in Kew herbarium, save in surface colour and slightly larger diameter of some hyphae of the basal layer. Features by which the species may be identified are the shallow, broken, irregular folds of the pelliculose hymenial layer, small elliptic-oblong spores with rounded ends and hyaline walls, and stout encrusted hyphae of the basal layer, contrasting with the narrower naked hyphae of the intermediate layer. Hymenial reticulations are not arranged in any pattern, but appear as irregular folds simulating shallow pores, raised portions resembling stars or angles, sometimes connected with shallow folds not exceeding 0.4 mm tall. Surface colour varies appreciably. Fresh specimens are pallid cream; when dried, patches develop which are reddish-brown, pallid olive, or fuscous.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Merulius ravenelii Berk. 1872
CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Auckland, Whitianga-Coromandel Road, 260 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m; Orwell Creek, Ahaura. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 200 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Te Whaiti, 400 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus obliqua: South Australia, Mt. Lofty. Eucalyptus spp.: Victoria, Creswick; Cockatoo Creek. South Australia, Mt. Lofty; National Park. Metrosideros excelsa: Auckland, Piha, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m; Buffalo Beach, Whitianga. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma foetidissima: Westland, Harihari. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Waiotapu, 450 m. New South Wales, Moss Vale. South Australia, Mt. Lofty. Tasmania, Browns River.
Hymenophore resupinate, annual, loosely attached, effused forming linear areas to 10 x 3 cm; hymenial surface reddish-brown with a purple tinge, becoming vinaceous when old, at first reticulateplicate, becoming porose-reticulate, pores 2-3 per mm, often with a linear arrangement; margin irregular, 1-2 mm wide, byssoid, white, becoming darker with age, loosely attached. Context white, to 400 µm thick, of loosely intertwined hyphae embedding crystals, hyphae in the subhymenium encrusted with orange mucilage granules; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, to 1 µm towards the base, hyaline, without clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 10-14 x 3-4 µm bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 8-12 x 3-3.5 µm. Paraphysate hyphae filiform, projecting to 25 µm, tinted, 3-4 µm diameter. Spores allantoid, 4-5 x 0.75-1 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on decorticated fallen branches.
Absence of gloeocystidia and clamp connections, presence of paraphysate hyphae, the small basidia, small allantoid spores, and reddish-brown or vinaceous surface of the hymenium separate the species from others present in the region. Many collections resemble resupinate forms of Polyporus merulinus Berk. in surface colour, and in size and shape of spores. They may be separated by certain microfeatures, for P. merulinus is dimitic with clamp connections in the generative hyphae. Although in North America confined to conifers, the species has been found both on conifers and frondose hosts in New Zealand, and occurs mainly on Eucalyptus species in Australia.
TYPE LOCALITY: South Carolina, U.S.A.
Pellicularia filamentosa (Pat.) D.P. Rogers 1943
PAPILIONACEAE. Vinca major: Wellington, Upper Hutt, 20 m. SOLANACEAE. Solanum tuberosum: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 100 m.
Hymenophore annual, effused, readily lifting, spreading over stems of living plants, arachnoid-mucedinioid, forming irregular linear areas to 15 cm long, 2-10 mm wide; hymenial surface white, drying cream or greyish, irregularly slightly tufted; margin thinning out, concolorous, arachnoid. Context white, of a few repent hyphae 8-10 µm diameter, commonly 7-8 µm, walls 0.5 µm thick, without clamp connections; fertile hyphae erect, cymose, ends of branchlets bearing clusters of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, some cylindrical, 12-18 x 8-10 µm, bearing 3-4 spores on sterigmata which may attain a length of 15 µm. Paraphyses subclavate, 6-10 x 6-8 µm. Spores elliptical or oblong, some obovate, apiculate, 7-11 x 5-6.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Probably cosmopolitan.
HABITAT: Effused on stems and leaves of living plants.
Recognised by the elliptical spores borne on sterigmata which, at first stout and short, elongate shortly before spores are formed to reach a length of 15 µm. Not infrequently one sterigma is suppressed, basidia then bearing three spores. Although the Pellicularia stage is comparatively rare, the hyphal stage of the species is a well known parasite of many plants. On potato tubers the fungus forms black sclerotia, this stage being long known under the name of Rhizoctonia solani. In a previous paper (Cunningham 1953, c, p. 328) Corticium praticola was listed as a synonym. Flentje has shown that this species, to which he gave the name Pellicularia praticola (Kotila) Flentje (1956, p. 353) may be separated by cultural characters and several minor morphological features.
TYPE LOCALITY: Ecuador, South America.
Pellicularia flavescens (Bonord.) D.P. Rogers
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Auckland, Lake Waikaremoana, 600m.
Hymenophore annual, adherent, mucedinioid-membranous, effused forming linear areas to 11 x 3 cm; hymenial surface cream, even or as often somewhat tufted, at length irregularly creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, of several repent hyphae 7-8 (10) µm diameter, branched at a wide angle, walls 0.5 µm thick, without clamp connections; fertile hyphae erect, bearing clusters of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 20-26 x 10-14 µm, bearing 2-4 spores on stout sterigmata to 14 µm long. Paraphyses clavate or obpyriform, 10-15 x 5-7 µm. Spores ovate, oval, elliptical with lateral apiculi, sometimes limoniform with one or two apiculi, 11-13 x 7-8 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, New Zealand.
Habitat: Effused on bark of dead branches.
According to Rogers (1943) spores germinate by repetition. The species may be identified by absence of clamp connections, basidia bearing two or four spores on long stout sterigmata, and apiculate or biapiculate, irregularly oval, ovate, or elliptical spores. The following species resembles P. flavescens closely, differing in the smaller spores, subclavate paraphyses, and in being a plant parasite.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Pellicularia subcoronata (Höhn. & Litsch.) D.P. Rogers 1943
CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 120 m. Pinus radiata: South Australia, Williamstown. Podocarpus ferrugineus: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 900 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Rangitoto Island. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Kaimanawa Ranges, 900 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 1,300 m. Metrosideros robusta: Auckland, Waiatarua, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Huia, 30 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum tenuifolium: Auckland, Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 300 m; Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 200 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. New South Wales, Sydney. Tasmania, Browns River.
Hymenophore annual, adherent, arachnoid-mucedinioid, forming irregular areas to 20 x 5 cm; hymenial surface cream or pallid ochre, tufted; margin thinning out, arachnoid, concolorous, adherent. Context of a few repent hyphae 6-8 µm diameter, walls 0.2-0.5 µm thick, with clamp connections; fertile hyphae erect, bearing lateral branches in botryose or coralloid clusters forming a dense zone near the surface. Basidia developing at ends of lateral branches singly or in groups of 2-4, subclavate, a few cylindrical, 8-12 x 5-7 µm, bearing 6, sometimes 8 spores on slender sterigmata 2-4 µm long. Paraphyses clavate, 6-8 x 4-5 µm. Spores narrowly fusiform or naviculate, with bluntly acuminate ends, a few ovate, apiculate, 6-8 x 2.5-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated decaying wood.
Collections agree with specimens of 'Corticium subcoronatum' examined in Kew herbarium, differing in the slightly smaller more subclavate basidia. The species may be separated from others possessing clamp connections by the small, fusiform or naviculate spores. Branchlets are arranged irregularly, some in coralloid groups, others in cymes. Although basidia collapse early, spores long remain attached by the sterigmata. Oil globules are abundant in the repent hyphae and main branches of the fertile hyphae.
TYPE LOCALITY: Berlin, Germany.
Pellicularia vaga (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) D.P. Rogers ex Linder 1942
Agathis australis: Auckland, Waikaretu, 170 m. Dacrydium cupressinum: Westland, Weheka, 200 m. Pinus radiata: Auckland, Pinedale, 450 m; Waiotapu, 500 m. Podocarpus ferrugineus: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 850 m. Podocarpus spicatus: Westland, Karangarua Valley, 150 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Auckland, Rereatukahia Reserve, Katikati, 170 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Auckland, Lake Waikaremoana, 450 m. FILICALES. Dicksonia squarrosa: Auckland, Rangemore Track, Waitakere Ranges, 200 m. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Waikaretu, 400 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 1,000 m. Metrosideros excelsa: Auckland, Piha, coast. ONAGRACEAE. Fuchsia excorticata: Auckland, Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. PAPILIONACEAE. Oxylobium callystachys: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 70 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma australis: Auckland, Ruatewhenua, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. UNKNOWN HOST. New South Wales, near Sydney.
Hymenophore annual, readily removed as a thin film, arachnoid-mucedinioid, forming irregularly linear areas to 20 x 4 cm; hymenial surface cream or pallid ochre, even; margin thinning out, concolorous, arachnoid. Context of a few repent hyphae 8-10 µm diameter, walls to 1 µm thick, without clamp connections; fertile hyphae erect, mainly arranged in cymes, bearing terminal clusters of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia cylindrical or subclavate, 12-16 x 8-11 µm, bearing 6, occasionally 8 spores on sterigmata 2-5 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical or subclavate, 8-10 x 5-7 µm. Spores irregularly fusiform or naviculate, apices bluntly acuminate, sometimes rounded, bases attenuate and apiculate, 7-10 x 3-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North and South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on dead bark or decorticated wood.
Collections agree with part of the type collection of'Corticium' vagum examined in Kew herbarium. The species may be separated from P. scabrida by the narrower, smooth-walled repent hyphae and different type of branching; and from P. filamentosa by the differently shaped spores, and habitat.
TYPE LOCALITY: South Carolina, U.S.A.
Peniophora affinis Burt 1926 [1925]
UNKNOWN HOST. New South Wales, Mosman.
Hymenophore annual, ceraceous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 15 x 2 cm, with numerous orbicular outlying islands; hymenial surface at first argillaceous, becoming reddish-buff or chestnut, velutinate, at length deeply but scantily laterally creviced; margin thinning out, white, fibrillose, adherent. Context isabelline, 120-150 µm thick, basal layer well developed, of compact mainly parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of erect hyphae closely compacted and cemented, embedding masses of crystals; generative hyphae to 6 µm diameter in basal hyphae, 3-4 µm in those of the intermediate layer, walls 0-2 µm thick, hyaline, encrusted with both crystals and mucilage granules, without clamp connections. Metuloids scattered or in small groups of 3-5, some projecting to 35 µm, usually subulate with slightly inflated bases and long-acuminate apices, or less often fusiform, 40-75 x 6-9 µm, most finely crystal encrusted where exposed, some naked. Hymenial layer to 25 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids, encrusted with mucilage granules. Basidia subclavate, 16-24 x 5-6.5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 14-18 x 4-5 µm. Spores elliptical or elliptic-obovate, 5-6.5 x 3.5-4 µm walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, Europe, Great Britain, West Indies, Australia.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Specimens match a collection of P. laevis, ex "Sweden, Bygget" in Kew herbarium, so named by H. Bourdot. The species may be identified by the thin-walled subulate projecting metuloids, often in groups of three or five, elliptical or elliptic-obovate spores and absence of clamp connections. Burt described the species under the names P. laevis (Fr.) Burt and P. affinis Burt. Rogers & Jackson (1943, p. 318) have shown the first is invalid, consequently this species, present in Europe as well as North America, should be labelled P. affinis.
TYPE LOCALITY: Vermont, U.S.A.
Peniophora aspera (Pers.) Sacc. 1916
CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Wellington, Carters Reserve, Carterton, 50 m. Pinus radiata: Wellington, Waverley, 120 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Waiomu Valley, Thames, 75 m. LILIACEAE. Cordyline australis: Auckland, Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 300 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Hawke's Bay, Turangakumu Saddle, 850 m. South Australia, National Park; Fullarton; Blackfellows Creek. New South Wales, Sydney.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas 5-25 x 5-10 cm; hymenial surface white, then cream, finally alutaceous, granular-arachnoid, or even, finely velutinate, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, 200-300 µm thick, basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of densely arranged erect branched hyphae; generative hyphae 4.5-6 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline, naked, with clamp connections. Metuloids arising from the intermediate layer, often from its base, projecting to 70 µm, cylindrical or slightly tapering, 60-192 x 6-10 µm, transversely septate, some septa with clamp connections, walls partly encrusted with coarse or fine crystals. Hymenial layer to 35 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia cylindric-flexuous, some inflated at the base, 24-32 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, stout, to 6 x 2 µm. Paraphyses clavate, some with an apical bead or digitate process, 12-16 x 5-6 µm. Spores narrowly elliptical with rounded apices, apiculate, usually obliquely so, 7-10 x 3-5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches and trunks.
P. aspera may be recognised by the large, transversely septate, encrusted metuloids, long elliptical spores and arrangement of context hyphae. Metuloids arise from the intermediate tissues, some projecting to 70 µm, whereas others do not extend beyond the surface of the hymenium. The hymenial surface may be even, velutinate, somewhat porose-reticulate, or granular. It was this last condition which led Miller to place the species under Odontia, with which genus it has several features in common; but as most collections examined are even, both from this region and in Kew herbarium, the species is best treated as a Peniophora, and the ancillary organs, although septate, regarded as metuloids. Basidia are frequently cylindrical, and flexuous, with slightly inflated bases. Although commonly known in Europe as Peniophora setigera, in North America as Corticium berkeleyi, Rogers & Jackson (1943, p. 282) held that the most tenable name for the species is P. aspera. They gave a long synonyme list, from which some of the more common synonyms have been taken. Neither spores nor metuloids of Australasian collections attain to the dimensions given by Bourdot & Galzin (1928, p. 309), namely spores 8-11-16 x 3-4-6 µm; metuloids 75-250 x 7-15 µm, but agree with several European collections examined in Kew herbarium.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Peniophora byssoides (Pers.) Bres. 1898
CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Auckland, Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 200 m. Pinus radiata: Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 300 m; Waiotapu, 500 m. Nelson, Appleby, 30 m. South Australia, National Park; Mt. Lofty. Podocarpus hallii Wellington, National Park, 1,100 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. UNKNOWN HOST. South Australia, National Park.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregularly linear areas 5-15 x 2-3.5 cm; hymenial surface cream, drying sulphur yellow or naples-yellow, at first floccose, becoming even, at length irregularly areolately creviced; margin thinning out, fibrillose, white or cream, loosely attached. Context cream, 150-100 µm thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of intertwined hyphae dense below, loosely arranged beneath the subhymenium; generative hyphae 3.5-4.5 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline or tinted, encrusted with fine deciduous crystals, with clamp connections. Metuloids arising from the subhymenium, cylindrical, aculeate or slightly fusiform, projecting to 55 µm, with rounded slightly tapered apices, 50-80 x 4-6 µm, 2-4 transversely septate, with clamp connections at septa, walls encrusted, many becoming naked. Hymenial layer to 60 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 12-18 x 4-4.5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 10-15 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores elliptical, apiculate, 4-1.5 x 2-2.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline or tinted, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, West Indies, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decayed wood, humus, or soil.
Characters of the species are the bright yellow colour, loose context composed of intertwined hyphae branching at a wide angle and encrusted with delicate deciduous crystals, corymbose arrangement of basidia and paraphyses, slender, aculeate, transversely septate metuloids with walls encrusted with delicate deciduous crystals, and small spores with walls hyaline or tinted yellow in a spore print. Usually metuloids have been described as smooth, probably because when sections are placed in potassium hydroxide solutions crystals disappear; but crystals are present on most, as may be seen when sections are mounted in lactic acid solutions. Following Karsten, Burt (1917, p. 263) discussed the species under Coniophora; but as Rogers & Jackson (1943, p. 275) have shown, its only resemblance to members of that genus are the tinted spore walls. As metuloids are encrusted, it is evident the species is a Peniophora, related to P. aspera. Most synonyms are given on the authority of Rogers & Jackson (1943, p. 274).
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Peniophora cinerea (Pers.) Cooke 1879
COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 500 m. Olearia macrodonta: Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 400 m. CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Auckland, Mairoa, Wairakei. Phyllocladus alpinus: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 900 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Oratia, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m. Coriaria sarmentosa: Auckland, Wairakei, 400 m. Wellington, Turakina Valley, 70 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m; Lake Waikaremoana, 700 m. Taranaki, Dawson Falls, Mt. Egmont, 850 m. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Aristotelia serrata: Auckland, Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m; Otau, Hunua Ranges, 120 m. Westland, Karangarua Valley, 120 m. Otago, Ryans Creek, Stewart Island. Elaeocarpus dentatus: Westland, Harihari, 80 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Ohakune Track, Mt. Ruapehu, 700 m. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m. FILICALES. Blechnum filiforme: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 500 m. Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m; Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 45 m. Cinnamomum camphora: New South Wales, Sydney. MONIMIACEAE. Hedycarya arborea: Auckland, Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. MYRSINACEAE. Myrsine salicina: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Bethells Road, Waitakere Ranges, 200 m; Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 70 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Moturoa Island, Bay of Islands, 10 m; Mt. Te Aroha, 400 m. Otago, Stewart Island. Metrosideros excelsa: Auckland, Rangitoto Island. Metrosideros perforata: Ulva Islet, Stewart Island. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum tenuifolium: Auckland, Waitetoki, Lake Taupo, 450 m. PROTEACEAE. Hakea saligna: Auckland, Campbells Bay. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Kauri Park, Birkdale, 120 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma arborea: Auckland, Huia, 100 m. Coprosma robusta: Auckland, Rangitoto Island; Little Barrier Island; Paraheka Gorge, coast. SAPINDACEAE. Alectryon excelsus: Hawke's Bay, Waipatiki Beach. Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Quintinia serrata: Westland, Pukekura. UNKNOWN HOSTS. South Australia, Adelaide; Blackwood Gully, Kuitpo; Encounter Bay; National Park; Mt. Lofty; Belair; Mt. Compass. New South Wales, Sydney; Killcare. Tasmania, Port Arthur.
Hymenophore perennial, ceraceous, adherent, at first appearing as numerous- small orbicular or elliptical scattered colonies which may remain discrete or coalesce to form linear areas to 20 x 1-3 cm; hymenial surface some shade of grey, often tinged violet, heliotrope, pinkish, or when old, bay or umber, even or when in small groups often tuberculate, finally deeply laterally creviced; margin either thinning out or abrupt with concolorous or darker border, byssoid, adherent. Context dark brown and glistening in section, 60-240 µm thick, of one or several zones each composed of a scanty basal layer of parallel cemented hyphae with walls coloured brown, and an. intermediate layer of erect compact hyphae and embedded metuloids; generative hyphae to 5 µm diameter, walls 1-1.5 µm thick, chestnut, naked, with clamp connections. Metuloids scattered through intermediate and hymenial layers, some projecting slightly, at first fusiform and naked, becoming conical with prominent coloured pedicels, 24-32 x 10-16 µm, walls coarsely encrusted, metuloids in the base oval or pyriform, 18-24 µm broad. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 20-28 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 16-22 x 4-5 µm. Spores suballantoid, some allantoid, 7-8.5 x 3-3.5 µm walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan.
HABITAT:Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Metuloids develop from the base of each intermediate layer, and pedicels, being of different lengths, carry them to different positions in the context. They tend to disappear from lower zones of the context, pedicels remaining in position and then resembling gloeocystidia, as do immature metuloids in the current layer. Collections vary appreciably in shape and size of metuloids, thickness and degree of stratification of the context, and in thickness of the basal layer. Normally thin and scanty, in occasional specimens the basal layer may be appreciably thickened, as in a collection from Blechnum filiforme, which agrees with typical forms in other features. According to Eriksson (1950, p. 33) collections labelled Thelephora cinerea in Persoon's herbarium are of the related P. lycii; and the type of P. cinerea is not now in the herbarium of Fries at Uppsala.
TYPE LOCALITY: Sweden.
Peniophora cremea (Bres.) Sacc. & P. Syd. 1902
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax arboreum: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m. Wellington, National Park Station, 1,200 m. CONIFERAE. Pinus radiata: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 90 m; Oratia, 20 m. South Australia, Mt. Burr Forest; Beaumont, Adelaide. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Kaimanawa Ranges, 600 m. Nothofagus fusca: Auckland, Turangi, Lake Taupo, 400 m. Nelson, Orwell Creek, Ahaura. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Maclennan, Catlins, 200 m. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Huia, 75 m. Metrosideros excelsa: Auckland, Huia, 10 m. ONAGRACEAE. Fuchsia excorticata: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 500 m. PALMAE. Rhopalostylis sapida: Auckland, Oratia, 30 m. PAPILIONACEAE.Cystisus scoparius: Auckland, Waitetoki, Lake Taupo, 450 m. PIPERACEAE. Macropiper excelsum: Wellington, Blyth Track, Ohakune, 700 m. ROSACEAE. Rubus fruticosus: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 30 m. SALICACEAE. Populus tremula: Auckland, Cornwall Park, 70 m. TILIACEAE. Entelea arborescens: Auckland, Awhitu Peninsula, 100 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. South Australia, Mt. Lofty; Beaumont, Adelaide; Belair; Kuitpo; Mt. Compass; Encounter Bay. New South Wales, Kendall; Sydney. Tasmania, Browns River. Western Australia, Mundaring.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming linear areas 3-20 x 1-4 cm; hymenial surface cream, when old tinted ochre, isabelline, or pallid reddish-brown, finely velutinate, sometimes sparsely creviced when old; margin thinning out, white, fibrillose, adherent. Context white, 150-500 µm thick, basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer forming the bulk of the context, of loosely arranged hyphae becoming more dense and erect towards the surface; generative hyphae 6-8 µm diameter at the base, attenuated to 4-6 µm beneath the subhymenium, walls 1.5-2 µm thick, encrusted beneath the hymenium, branched at a wide angle, sometimes articulated at septa, without clamp connections, bridging hyphae common. Metuloids arising from the hymenial layer and subhymemum, the former projecting to 50 µm, cylindrical with rounded apices or as often fusiform and with acuminate apices, 60-85 x 8-10 µm, commonly with exposed surfaces finely encrusted, sometimes with tips only coated, or a few naked; embeddea metuloids narrowly fusiform, usually with acuminate apices, 45-72 x 12-20 µm, upper part coarsely encrusted. Hymenial layer to 40 µm, deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 26-36 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 16-20 x 3-4 µm. Spores elliptical or suballantoid, 6-7.5 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.25 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
P. cremea, P. filamentosa, and P. gigantea show certain relationships, for hyphae are of greater diameter than in other species described herein, are without clamp connections, and metuloids are of similar size and shape. P. cremea differs from P. filamentosa in that hyphae are encrusted with calcium crystals beneath the hymenium, possess thicker walls, branch at a wide angle, and margins are without rhizomorphs. In P. gigantea hyphae are naked.
TYPE LOCALITY: Tyrol, Austria.
Peniophora filamentosa (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Burt 1909
CHLORANTHACEAE. Ascarina lucida: Westland, Mt. Hercules Reserve, 120 m. CONIFERAE. Podocarpus spicatus: Auckland, Mt. Pihanga, 800 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Titirangi, 250 m; Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 600 m. LILIACEAE. Rhipogonum scandens: Auckland, Mountain Road, Henderson, 200 m. MIMOSACEAE. Acacia melanoxylon: Auckland, Silverdale, 30 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Wellington, Pohangina Valley, 300 m. WINTERACEAE. Pseudowintera colorata: Auckland, Hauhangaroa Ranges, Taupo, 500 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Mt. Wellington, 130 m; Ruatewhenua, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. Nelson, Murchison, 140 m. New South Wales, Lindfield; Kendall; Neutral Bay. Victoria, Ballarat. South Australia, National Park, Mt. Lofty, Encounter Bay.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, fragile, loosely attached, rhizomorphic, effused forming irregular areas to 10 x 4 cm; hymenial surface pallid ochre or isabelline, even or as often farinose, scantily creviced when old and tending to lift at edges of crevices; margin thinning out, often strongly rhizomorphic, fibrillose, loosely attached, concolorous. Context bay or ferruginous, 100-400 µm thick, basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae, often reduced to a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of somewhat loosely arranged hyphae ascending at a wide angle, encrusted with granules of brown mucilage, often embedding masses of crystals; generative hyphae 4-8 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline, sometimes constricted at septa, without clamp connections. Metuloids arising from the hymenium and base of the subhymenium, a few projecting to 40 µm, narrowly conical or subfusiform, 32-80 x 10-16 µm, encrusted for the greater part of their length with coarse crystals. Hymenial layer to 60 µm deep, a closely arranged palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 20-26 x 4-5 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 7 µm, long. Paraphyses subclavate, 20-25 x 3-4 µm. Spores oval or elliptical, apiculate, 5-6 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline; 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, Europe, Great Britain, West Indies, Japan, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Context hyphae afford a ready means of identifying the species. They are stout, thin walled, and so heavily encrusted with masses of mucilage granules as to appear brown in sections, although walls are hyaline. Granules are soluble in potassium hydroxide solutions, turning them a characteristic vinaceous colour, and in alcohol, which is coloured orange. Other basidiomycetes producing similar mucilage are Odontia archeri, Grandinia australis, and Polyporus rutilans.
TYPE LOCALITY: Alabama, U.S.A.
Peniophora gigantea (Fr.) Massee 1892
CONIFERAE. Pinus radiata: Wellington, Ngaumu State Forest, Wairarapa.
Hymenophore annual, ceraceous, drying horny, somewhat loosely attached and tending to peel from the substratum when dry, effused forming irregular areas 2-12 cm across; hymenial surface pallid ochre or pallid flesh colour, even or irregularly rugulose, not creviced; margin thinning out, fibrillose, white or cream, loosely attached. Context white, drying isabelline, 200-500 µm thick, basal layer well developed, of mainly parallel compacted hyphae with walls tinted in a few next the substratum, intermediate layer of mainly erect hyphae densely arranged; generative hyphae 4-7 µm diameter, walls 0.25-1 µm thick, hyaline, with rare clamp connections, sometimes wanting. Metuloids arising in the hymenial layer when some project to 35 µm and scattered among hyphae of the intermediate layer and subhymenium, conical, subfusiform, or cylindrical with acuminate apices, 55-84 x 8-16 µm, encrusted wholly or upon apices only, crystals deciduous, walls to 5 µm thick in submerged metuloids. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia clavate, 14-22 x 4.5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-18 x 4-5 µm. Spores elliptical or obovate, some with oblique apiculi, 5-6.5 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches and trunks.
But one collection has as yet been found in the region, and agrees with European specimens examined, differing only in the smaller size of fructifications, these being roughly orbicular and 2.5 cm across. The species may be recognised by the almost cartilaginous context (when dry) and large, thick-walled metuloids embedded in the context. The latter are completely encrusted, whereas those of the hymenial region are thin-walled, and only partly encrusted, or some may be naked, resembling then some of those of P. cremea. Hyphae are of large diameter, but naked, and exhibit occasional clamp connections, about one per cent of septa bearing them. Although recorded for New Zealand by Colenso (1895, p. 614), no specimens are in Kew herbarium from the region.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Peniophora incarnata (Pers.) P. Karst. 1889
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax arboreum: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m. Wellington, Blyth Track, Ohakune, 750 m. Neopanax colensoi: Auckland, Mt. Pihanga, 560 m. Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 800 m; Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,200 m; Whakapapaiti Stream, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,000 m. Neopanax simplex: Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 80 m. Pseudopanax crassifolium: Wellington, Ruahine Ranges, 500 m. COMPOSITAE. Olearia virgata: Hawke's Bay, Upper Mohaka River, 750 m. Senecio elaeagnifolia: Canterbury, Governors Bush, Hermitage, 850 m. CONIFERAE. Libocedrus bidwillii: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 1,000 m. Phyllocladus alpinus: Wellington, Mt. Hauhangatahi, 850 m. CORNACEAE. Griselinia lucida: Wellington, Oturere River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,300 m; Kaimanawa Ranges, 950 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Wellington, Pangarara River, Mt. Tongariro, 850 m. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Aristotelia serrata: Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 85 m. LAURACEAE. Bedschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Upper Wairoa Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m; Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 600 m; Te Whaiti, 400 m; Lake Okataina, 470 m; Lake Waikareiti, 950 m. PAPILIONACEAE. Carmichaelia orbiculata: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 800 m. Cytisus scoparius: Auckland, Waiotapu, Rotorua, 500 m. RHAMNACEAE. Discaria toumatou: Canterbury, Twizel River, 650 m. ROSACEAE. Rubus fruticosus: Auckland, Waitetoki, Lake Taupo, 450 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma foetidissima: Westland, Waiho, 200 m. Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island. Coprosma pseudocuneata: Auckland, Whakapapaiti Stream, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,000 m. SAPINDACEAE. Alectryon excelsus: Wellington, Carters Reserve, Carterton, 50 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Wellington, Mt. Hauhangatahi, 850 m. WINTERACEAE. Pseudowintera colorata: Hawke's Bay, Hauhangaroa Ranges, 750 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. South Australia, National Park. Victoria, Tarra Valley Park; Creswick.
Hymenophore annual or perennial, ceraceous, adherent, at first in the form of numerous small orbicular colonies 2-10 mm diameter, becoming coalesced forming effused irregularly linear areas 12-15 x 2-4 cm; hymenial surface ranging in colour from pallid pink to salmon or pallid orange, even, sometimes delicately farinose, becoming deeply irregularly creviced; margin abruptly thinning out, concolorous or lighter, fibrillose, adherent. Context white, 100-260 µm thick, zoned in perennial forms, basal layer scanty, of parallel hyphae densely compacted and sometimes partly gelatinised, intermediate layer of erect hyphae embedding metuloids and gloeocystidia; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline, naked, with large clamp connections. Gloeocystidia copious, arising at different levels in the context but mainly from the base and extending into the hymenium, some projecting to 20 µm, usually forming a dense palisade, flexuous-cylindrical, 50-160 x 8-12 µm. Metuloids arising from the basal layer, scattered through the context and extending into the hymenial layer, not projecting, abundant or scanty, narrowly conical with acuminate apices, or fusiform, 56-80 x 12-16 µm, larger basally, coarsely encrusted. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, gloeocystidia, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 28-35 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 16-20 x 3.5-4 µm.Spores elliptical or as often suballantoid, apiculate, 8-10 x 4-4.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated dead wood.
In several features P. incarnata varies appreciably, mainly in surface colour, size, shape and abundance of metuloids and gloeocystidia. It is readily separated from P. coprosmae by the scanty basal layer, long gloeocystidia most arising from the basal layer and forming a dense palisade in the context with apices extending into the hymenial layer, narrowly fusifoid metuloids, and smaller spores.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Peniophora longispora (Pat.) Höhn. 1905
ARALIACEAE. Meryta sinclairii: Auckland, North-west King Island. CORYNOCARPACEAE. Corynocarpus laevigatus: Auckland, Ngarawhara Stream, Piha, 10 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffbrtioides: Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 120 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Blue Lake, Rotorua, 450 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Titirangi, coast. PALMAE. Rhopalostylis sapida: Auckland, Huia, 35 m. PAPILIONACEAE. Oxylobium callystachys: Campbells Bay, 85 m. ROSACEAE. Eriobotrya japonica: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 35 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma robusta: Auckland, Cornwallis, 20 m. VERBENACEAE. Vitex lucens: Auckland, Whekatahi, Piha, 35 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming small linear areas 5-15 x 1-2 cm; hymenial surface white, drying pallid cream, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, 100-200 µm thick, basal layer scanty, of a few parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely arranged mainly ascending hyphae often branched at a wide angle, more freely in the subhymenium; generative hyphae 3-3-5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline, with clamp connections, encrusted beneath the hymenium. Metuloids arising from the hymenium and hyphae of the intermediate layer, projecting to 60 µm, subulate with sometimes inflated bases, terminating in long-acuminate apices which often collapse, 60-112 x 4-5 µm, encrusted save at apices with flat tuberculate crystals, walls thinning towards apices. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a lax palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, somewhat scanty, 20-26 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata delicate, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, somewhat scanty, 16-20 x 4-5 µm. Spores narrowly rod-shaped with rounded ends, sometimes vermiform or allantoid, 14-17 x 1.5-2.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North Africa, Europe, Great Britain, North America, West Indies, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated dead wood.
Recognised readily by the long rod-shaped spores often adhering in fours, and subulate metuloids projecting for about half their length and bearing flat tuberculate crystals.
TYPE LOCALITY: Tunisia.
Peniophora luteoaurantiaca (Wakef.) G. Cunn. 1963
UNKNOWN HOST. Auckland, Mamaku Forest, W. N. Cheesman, 1914 (type collection, in herb. Kew).
Hymenophore perennial, membranous-ceraceous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 8 x 5 cm; hymenial surface at first pallid orange, drying ochre, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, isabelline, or abrupt and cliff like when dark brown. Context isabelline, 300-750 µm thick, of several obscure zones, basal layer of compact intertwined hyphae, intermediate layer of compact erect hyphae embedding metuloids and at the base masses of crystals; generative hyphae 5-6 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline, many encrusted in part with granules of mucilage, crystals, or both, staining blue, without clamp connections. Metuloids arranged in 3-7 irregular rows in the context, some projecting to 35 µm, fusiform or aculeate, 40-55 x 5-8 µm, encrusted on the upper third with orange or yellow masses of mucilage granules or calcium crystals. Hymenial layer to50 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 14-25 x 5.5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender; to 5 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 18-24 x 3.5-4 µm.Spores elliptical, 4.5-5 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Only the type collection has yet been found. Metuloids are encrusted on their upper third with either granules of yellow or orange mucilage, or calcium crystals, sometimes both being present on the same metuloid. Similar crystals and granules are present on portions of the context hyphae. Because of the bright colour of granules, metuloids are readily seen in sections. According to E. M. Wakefield granules are soluble in alkalies, producing a bright yellow solution.
TYPE LOCALITY: Rotorua, Auckland, New Zealand.
Peniophora lycii (Pers.) Höhn. & Litsch. 1907
APOCYNACEAE. Nerium oleander: Auckland, Mt. Eden, 100 m. ARALIACEAE. Meryta sinclairii: Auckland, Mt. Eden, 100 m. Neopanax arboreum: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m; Mt. Te Aroha, 370 m; Rereatukahia Reserve, Katikati, 100 m. CAPRIFOLIACEAE. Viburnum japonicum: Auckland, Mt. Eden, 100 m. COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Huia, 15 m; Waiomu Valley, Thames, 35 m; Lake Okataina, 500 m. Wellington, Upper Pohangina Valley, 300 m; Ballance Reserve, 35 m. Olearia rani: Mt. Te Aroha, 300 m. Olearia virgata: Hawke's Bay, Upper Mohaka River, 900 m. CONIFERAE. Libocedrus bidwillii: Auckland, Kaimanawa Ranges, 900 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Te Araroa, 200 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Otago, Niagara, Catlins, 25 m. FILICALES. Cyathea dealbata: Auckland, Mt. Eden, 120 m: HIPPOCASTINACEAE. Aesculus hippocastaneum: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. JUGLANDACEAE. Juglans regia: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 50 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Taneatua Reserve, 20 m; Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 500 m. Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 50 m. MIMOSACEAE. Albizzia lophantha: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 45 m. MYOPORACEAE. Myoporum laetum: Auckland, Purewa Bush, 30 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus spp.:Campbells Bay, 50 m. South Australia, Mt. Lofty. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Rangitoto Island. Lophomyrtus bullata: Wellington, Upper Pohangina Valley, 300 m. OLEACEAE. Ligustrum vulgare: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 50 m. PIPERACEAE. Macropiper excelsum: Auckland, Huia, 20 m. Wellington, Kahuterawa River, 200 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum tenufolium: Auckland, Kauri Glen, Northcote; Campbells Bay, 100 m; Auckland Domain, 100 m; Te Kouma, Coromandel Peninsula, 250 m. PROTEACEAE. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Rereatukahia Reserve, Katikati, 100 m. ROSACEAE. Pyrus malus: Auckland, Oratia, 20 m. Rubus fruticosus: Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 85 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma australis: Auckland, Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 300 m; Mt. Te Aroha, 500 m; Rereatukahia Reserve, Katikati, 170 m. Coprosma robusta: Auckland, Kohekohe, 100 m; Hadfields Beach, Orewa; Awhitu Peninsula, 100 m. SAPINDACEAE. Alectryon excelsus: Wellington, Upper Pohangina River, 300 m; Ballance Reserve, 35 m; Carters Reserve, Carterton, 50 m. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Carpodetus serratus: Auckland, Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m. SCROPHULARIACEAE. Hebe salicifolia: Auckland, University Grounds; Hicks Bay, 100 m. Wellington, Turakina Valley, 70 m. VERBENACEAE. Vitex lucens: Auckland, Huia, 30 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Auckland, Waiomu Valley, Thames, 100 m; Coromandel Peninsula, 250 m. VITACEAE. Vitis vinifera: Auckland, Mt. Eden, 100 m.
Hymenophore perennial, ceraceous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 12 x 0.5-2 cm, with several outlying islands; hymenial surface bluish-grey, french-grey, or sometimes cinereous, darker when old, pruinose, at length finely areolately creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, finely byssoid, adherent. Context ferruginous in section, 60-120 µm thick, basal layer of scanty, compact, parallel hyphae with walls coloured brown, intermediate layer of erect compact hyphae, brown basally, becoming lighter towards the hymenium; generative hyphae to 6 µm diameter, walls 1-1.5 µm thick, chestnut or fuscous, naked, with clamp connections. Metuloids of two types: (1) pyriform or obovate, crowded in the base of the intermediate layer and extending irregularly to the hymenial surface, to 32 x 20 µm, heavily encrusted, pedicels tinted brown; (2) cylindrical with rounded or acuminate apices, arising from the base of the intermediate layer and subhymenium, projecting slightly, encrusted or naked, walls 0.5-3 µm thick, hyaline in upper, brown in lower metuloids. Hymenial layer to 45 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, metuloids, and paraphysate hyphae. Basldia subclavate, 26-34 x 6-8 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 18-26 x 5-6 µm. Paraphysate hyphae arising in the intermediate layer and projecting above the basidia, hyaline, apically branched, encrusted with fine hyaline crystals. Spores suballantoid, less frequently cylindrical, usually apiculate, 9-12 x 4-4.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead fallen or attached twigs and small branches.
Peniophora lycii is abundant in New Zealand and shows a partiality for dead twigs attached to living plants. Its main specific feature is the presence in the hymenium of branched paraphysate hyphae which sometimes develop additionally in the context. They may be conspicuous and appear like miniature antlers, or delicate with one or two branches only, and are encrusted (Fig. 62) with fine refractive crystals which may extend to contiguous basidia, paraphyses, and projecting metuloids. Spores are larger than those of P. cinerea and P. nuda, consequently as they are always present, these two features enable the species to be identified readily.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Peniophora nikau G. Cunn. 1963
PALMAE. Rhopalostylis sapida: Auckland, Cascades, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 13816.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 7 x 4 cm; hymenial surface white or ivory, not creviced, even; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, 60-100 µ thick, basal layer scanty, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely arranged ascending hyphae branched at a wide angle, corymbose in the subgymenium, generative hyphae 3-4 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, hyaline, naked, with clamp connections. Metuloids arising from hyphae of the intermediate and basal layers, projecting to 60 µ, aculeate with longacuminate apices, 64-105 x 5-7 µ, encrusted save at apices with scanty flattened crystals, walls becoming thinner towards apices. Hymenial layer to 25 µ deep, a scanty and irregular palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 16-20 x 4-5 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, arcuate, 6-8 µ long. Paraphyses scanty, subclavate or cylindrical, 8-14 x 3-4 µ. Spores elliptical or suballantoid, 7-9 x 4-5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Waitakere Ranges, Auckland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on dead leaf midribs.
P. nikau and P. longispora show a close resemblance in structure of the context and especially in shape of metuloids. The latter are aculeate, taper from bases to apices, project for about half their length, are relatively thin-walled, and bear small tuberculate, scattered crystals often resembling plates or scales. P. nikau is separated by its spores of different shape and size, and more delicate metuloids. In a former paper it was described under the name of P. sororia; as this is occupied (Bourdot & Galzin, 1912, p. 386) the species has been renamed after the Maori name of the host.
Peniophora nuda (Fr.) Bres. 1897
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax colensoi: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 1,000 m; Whakapapaiti Stream, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,000 m. Neopanax simplex: Otago, Ryans Creek, Stewart Island. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus sp.: Auckland, Mt. Eden, 120 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Rangitoto Island. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum tenuifolium: Auckland, Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 250 m. ROSACEAE. Prunus cerasus: Wellington, Pangarara River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,100 m. South Australia, Beaumont, Adelaide.
Hymenophore annual, sometimes perennial, ceraceous, adherent, at first developing as numerous irregular colonies, becoming coalesced forming linear areas to 15 x 3 cm; hymenial surface some shade of grey (battleship-grey, mouse-grey), becoming darker with age, at first tuberculate or even, finally deeply creviced and tending to lift at margins of crevices; margin thinning out, concolorous, finely byssoid, adherent. Context ferruginous, 80-120 µm thick, sometimes zoned, basal layer scanty, of parallel coloured hyphae, intermediate layer of densely compacted erect hyphae with walls coloured brown and cemented; generative hyphae 3-5 µm diameter, walls 1-1.5 µm thick, pallid brown, naked, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia pyriform or obovate when arising from the base of the intermediate layer, cylindrical or fusiform when arising in the base of and extending into the hymenial layer, 24-48 x 12-20 µm, walls to 2 µm thick. Metuloids abundant or scanty, usually conical with long pedicels, arising from the base of the intermediate layer, or sometimes developing in the subhymenium when fusiform with projecting sometimes strangulated apices, to 40 x 12 µm, finely encrusted. Hymenial layer to 35 µm, deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 22-30 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 16-22 x 4-5 µm. Spores suballantoid, apiculate, 7-9 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead small branches.
Peniophora nuda, P. lycii, P. cinerea, and the extralimital P. violaceo-livida form a small group of related species. In all the context is waxy and composed of brown hyphae firmly cemented by their walls, spores are suballantoid or allantoid, and the hymenial surface is coloured some shade of grey. Probably species are perennial, although specimens with one or two zones of context are most frequently collected. Thanks to the excellent work of Eriksson (1950) it is possible to identify all four readily. P. nuda is separated by the presence of pyriform or clavate gloeocystidia. According to Eriksson (1950, p. 43) the type is no longer in the herbarium of Fries at Uppsala.
TYPE LOCALITY: Sweden.
Peniophora pubera (Fr.) Sacc. 1888
UNKNOWN HOSTS: New South Wales, Katoomba (herb. Kew); National Park.
Hymenophore annual, ceraceous, adherent, effused forming irregularly linear areas to 10 x 3 cm; hymenial surface white, ivory, or pallid cream, at length scantily deeply creviced; margin thinning out, farinose, white, adherent. Context white, 50-150 µm thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of scanty hyphae branched at a wide angle; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm thick, hyaline, naked, with clamp connections at some septa. Gloeocystidia scanty, flexuous-cylindrical, often distorted, arising in the context, some projecting slightly, 30-70 x 6-9 µm. Metuloids arising in the context and subhymenium, a few projecting to 45 µm, scattered or crowded, narrowly conical or subfusiform, 40-96 x 8-16 µm, walls finely encrusted, crystals deciduous. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, gloeocystidia, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate, 16-25 x 6-7 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses clavate, 12-16 x 4-5 µm. Spores elliptical, obovate, or pip-shaped, a few sub-allantoid, apiculate, sometimes laterally, 6-9 x 3.5-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Great Britain, North America, Australia.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Collections agree with European specimens examined, save that the context is less well developed. Gloeocystidia are scanty and difficult to find unless thin sections are prepared, but present in all sections examined.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Peniophora sambuci (Pers.) Burt 1926 [1925]
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax arboreum: Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 80 m. Schefflera digitata: Auckland, Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 400 m. Westland, The Forks, Okarito. BERBERIDACEAE. Berberis vulgaris: Auckland, Te Puke, -15 m. COMPOSITAE. Senecio kirkii: Auckland, Orere, Hunua Ranges, 350 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria sarmentosa: Westland, Rolo Creek, Okarito. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Elaeocarpus dentatus: Auckland, Blue Lake, Rotorua, 500 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Murchison, 140 m. LILIACEAE. Phormium tenax: Westland, Okarito Lagoon. Rhipogonum scandens: Auckland, Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 300 m; Lake Okataina, 500 m. LOGANIACEAE. Geniostoma ligustrifolium: Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 350 m; Waiomu Valley, Thames, 35 m. MALVACEAE. Hoheria populnea: Auckland, Atkinson Park, Titirangi, 250 m. MONIMIACEAE. Hedycarya arborea: Auckland, Blue Lake, Rotorua, 500 m. MYRTACEAE. Metrosideros excelsa: Auckland, Whites Stream, Piha. PIPERACEAE. Macropiper excelsum: Auckland, North-east King Island; Claudelands Reserve, Hamilton, 35 m. Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 70 m. POLYGONACEAE. Muehlenbeckia australis: Wellington, Ballance Reserve, 35 m. Nelson, Maitai Valley, 15 m. Westland, The Forks, Okarito. ROSACEAE. Rubus australis: Auckland, Lake Rotoehu, 450 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma australis: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m. RUTACEAE. Phebalium nudum: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 200 m. SOLANACEAE. Cyphomandra betacea: Auckland, Te Puke, 15 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiiforus: Auckland, Huia, 35 m; Purewa Bush, 30 m; Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 30 m; Mt. Te Aroha, 500 m; Lake Okataina, 500 m. Wellington, Carters Reserve, Carterton, 50 m; Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 30 m. UNKNOWN HOST. New South Wales, Cronulla.
Hymenophore annual, sometimes biennial, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular often linear areas 5-15 x 2-6 cm; hymenial surface white, drying cream, even or slightly tuberculate, often farinose, finally deeply creviced; margin thinning out; sometimes indefinite, white, fibrillose or arachnoid, adherent. Context white, 80-150 µm thick, basal layer scanty, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely arranged mainly erect scantily branched hyphae, becoming more dense beneath the hymenium and scantily encrusted; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0-2 µm thick, hyaline, with clamp connections. Metuloids arising from the hymenium and subhymenium, some projecting to 30 µm, sometimes a few scattered in the intermediate layer, cylindrical, 30-50 x 5-8 µm, apices rounded or as often slightly capitate, finely or coarsely encrusted, or with the apical region naked. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, metuloids, and occasional paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 16-22 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 8-16 x 3-4 µm. Paraphysate hyphae scanty, cylindrical, projecting to 15 µm. Spores broadly elliptical, many subglobose, 5-6 x 3.5-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Specific features are the abundant, broadly elliptical, small spores, narrow metuloids often capitate and bearing fine crystals, loosely arranged encrusted context hyphae and white or cream, fragile hymenophore. In collections from this region metuloids are distinctly encrusted, whereas in European specimens examined in Kew herbarium, some bore only a few crystals, and many were naked. Because of this the species has sometimes been treated as a Corticium, and metuloids described as 'cystidioles'.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Peniophora viticola sensu G. Cunn. 1963
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax arboreum: Auckland, Anawhata Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, fragile, at first adherent, when old somewhat loosely attached, effused forming irregular areas to 15 x 7 cm, with a few outlying islands; hymenial surface mustardyellow, pruinose, often finely papillate, at length scantily creviced; margin thinning out, fibrillose, concolorous, adherent. Context yellow, 150-250 µm thick, basal layer well developed, of intertwined mainly erect hyphae, more freely branched in the subhymenium; generative hyphae to 5 µm diameter, walls 0-2 µm thick, hyaline, branched at a wide angle, without clamp connections, some naked, most encrusted with coarse hyaline crystals or yellow mucilage granules; the latter coating most of the hyphae of the subhymenium, forming a deeply coloured zone. Metuloids arising in the subhymenium, some projecting to 50 µm, cylindrical with rounded apices, a few slightly irregular, 1-3 transversely septate, 40-75 x 5-7 µm, walls bearing a few mucilage granules or crystals below apices, some naked. Hymenial layer to 35 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and metuloids. Basidia subclavate or cylindrical; 16-22 x 4.5-5 µm; bearing 1-2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-16 x 4-4.5 µm. Spores elliptical or suballantoid, apiculate, 4-5-6 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated dead wood.
Hyphae of the subhymenium and upper part of the intermediate layer are densely encrusted with yellow mucilage granules like those of P. filamentosa. Metuloids are commonly cylindrical with rounded apices, occasionally strangulated, or geniculated, one to three transversely septate with thin hyaline walls bearing scattered granules or crystals near the hymenial surface, or naked. Our collection agrees with North American specimens save that spores are slightly smaller.
TYPE LOCALITY: North Carolina, U.S.A.
Phlebia celtidis W.B. Cooke 1956
CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Auckland, Lake Waikaremoana, 850 m.
Hymenophore resupinate, annual, ceraceous, loosely attached by a central base, forming orbicular or elliptical areas 3-5 x 2-3 cm; hymenial surface pallid flesh colour, drying orange or reddishbrown with plum or purple coloured central regions, radiately ridged, folds either regular and receding from the centre, or in a series of radiately arranged rounded tubercules larger and more abundant towards the centre, peripherally plane or slightly rugulose, not creviced; margin thinning out, fibrillose, to 2 mm broad, yellow or orange, drying wood colour. Context white, to 1 mm thick, of radiately arranged mainly parallel hyphae more densely compacted beneath the subhymenium and abhymenial surface, embedding a few coarse crystals and in the subhymenial region bearing gelatinous granules; generative hyphae 3-5.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline, with conspicuous clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 90 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses, many encrusted with mucilage granules. Basidia clavate, 26-35 x 6-7 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 18-28 x 4-5 µm. Spores narrowly elliptical or allantoid, 5-6 x 2-2.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick, nonamyloid.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Collections agree with the description published by Cooke, the species being separated from the closely related P. radiata Fr. by the absence of gloeocystidia.
TYPE LOCALITY: Idaho, U.S.A.
Scytinostroma odoratum (Fr.) Donk 1956
UNKNOWN HOST. New South Wales, near Sydney.
Hymenophore annual or biennial, ceraceous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 12 x 5 cm; hymenial surface cream or pallid ochre, pruinose, not creviced; margin thinning out, white, fibrillose, adherent. Context white, 200-400 µm thick, basal layer a narrow zone of parallel hyphae closely compacted, intermediate layer mainly of skeletal hyphae embedding gloeocystidia; skeletal hyphae freely branched, 2-3 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, aseptate, staining deeply; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.1 µm thick, not staining, without clamp connections. Gloeocystidia scattered, obclavate, cylindrical, or subfusiform, some projecting slightly, arising in the context, 45-80 x 7-10 µm, contents at first of yellow oil globules, becoming vitreous. Hymenial layer to 65 µm deep, an obscure palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia irregular in shape, cylindric-flexuous or subclavate, soon collapsing, 30-48 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slightly erect, slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses scattered, subclavate or cylindrical, 24-36 x 4-5 µm. Spores obovate, oval, or pip-shaped, often flattened on one side, with lateral apiculi, 7-9.5 x 5-7 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick, nonamyloid.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, Australia.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated dead wood.
Skeletal hyphae form the bulk of the intermediate layer and are thick-walled, aseptate, and stain deeply. Among them lie the thin-walled, freely septate generative hyphae, which are without clamp connections and do not stain with aniline blue. Gloeocystidia arise from generative hyphae among the skeletal hyphae of the intermediate layer. At first conspicuous because of the yellow contents, in old specimens contents become glassy, when gloeocystidia are often difficult to detect. Occasional branches of skeletal hyphae pass through the hymenium to appear above the surface, as simple or finely branched paraphysate hyphae. Basidia, at first somewhat irregular, soon become elongated, flexuous, and project slightly. Spores vary in size and shape, most being somewhat pip-shaped with lateral apiculi. The collection listed agrees with Swedish specimens in the herbarium. The species differs from the related S. galactinum in the larger spores and absence of clamp connections; and from S. ochroleucum by the smaller spores and narrower basidia.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Scytinostroma portentosum (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Donk 1956
ARALIACEAE. Pseudopanax crassifolium: Wellington, Ruahine Ranges, 600 m. COMPOSITAE. Olearia furfuracea: Auckland, Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m. CONIFERAE. Cupressus macrocarpa: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 80 m. Phyllocladus alpinus: Canterbury, Arthur's Pass, 850 m. EPACRIDACEAE. Cyathodes fasciculata: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 200 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tarairi: Auckland, Awhitu Peninsula, 100 m; Karekare, Waitakere Ranges, 280 m. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Claudelands Reserve, Hamilton, 45 m; Lake Okataina, 500 m. Wellington, Ballance Reserve, 35 m; Lake Papaitonga, 20 m; Weraroa, 25 m. MALVACEAE. Hoheria populnea: Auckland, Mt. Eden, 120 m. Plaginathus betulinus: Wellington, Upper Pohangina River, 400 m; Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 45 m; Carters Reserve, Carterton, 50 m. MIMOSACEAE. Albizzia lophantha: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 85 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Whangarei Heads. Metrosideros excelsa: Auckland, Chicken Island, 10 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma crenulata: Auckland, North-east King Island. RUTACEAE. Melicope ternata: Auckland, North-east King Island. SAPINDACEAE. Alectryon excelsus: Wellington, Carters Reserve, Carterton, 50 m. VERBENACEAE. Vitex lucens: Auckland, Huia, 10 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Wellington, Upper Pohangina River, 300 m; Ruahine Ranges, 400 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 250 m; Swanson, 120 m; Birkenhead Kauri Park, 35 m; Kohukohunui Ridge, Hunua Ranges, 300 m; Huia, 10 m. Canterbury, Riccarton Bush. South Australia, Meningie; Kangaroo Island; Millicent; Mt. Burr. New South Wales, near Sydney, Wingham.
Hymenophore perennial, stratose, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 30 x 7 cm, with a few orbicular, scattered, outlying islands; hymenial surface cream, alutaceous, or pallid buff, resembling chamois leather, not creviced; margin at first thinning out, soon becoming cliff-like, or receding, adherent, concolorous or pallid tan when old. Context varying in thickness with age, 0.1-1.5 mm thick, tan or isabelline, composed of numerous (5-20) layers differentiated by bands of generative hyphae, parallel branches of skeletal hyphae, scattered crystals, or thinning of the tissues; basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae closely compacted, intermediate layer of erect branched skeletal hyphae embedding crystals which may be compacted into vertical lenses; skeletal hyphae with erect stems traversing the context, producing lateral branches which may be straight or curved, at the surface becoming entwined laterally and covering the hymenium, 3-4.5 µm diameter, walls 0.5-2 µm thick, aseptate, naked; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia absent. Hymenial layer composed of scattered groups of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia cylindrical, 20-32 x 5-6 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses scanty, subclavate, 12-22 x 3-4 µm. Spores globose or subglobose, some apiculate, 4.5-6 µm diameter, walls hyaline, smooth, 0.2 µm thick, nonamyloid.
DISTRIBUTION: North and South America, Europe, East and West Indies, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark and decorticated wood of dead branches.
Skeletal hyphae, which form the bulk of the context, are thick-walled, aseptate, and stain deeply. They arise as upright stems with lateral branches projecting at intervals, in whorls, binding the context into a compact tissue. Basidia are delicate, cylindrical, embedded among curved branches of the skeletal. hyphae, arise in small groups, and collapse as soon as spores mature. Old specimens are stratose and composed of several layers visible under a lens. In both macrostructure and microstructure the species resembles Scytinostroma duriusculum. Both are perennial, with similar branched skeletal hyphae, basidia, and spores, S. duriusculum differing in possessing gloeocystidia (Talbot, 1951, p. 51).
TYPE LOCALITY: Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Serpula himantioides (Fr.) P. Karst. 1884
CONIFERAE. Agathis australis: Auckland, Walkers Bush, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m. Dacrydium cupressinum: Wellington, Kelburn, 100 m.
Hymenophore resupinate; membranous, loosely attached, effused forming irregular areas to 10 x 5 cm; hymenial surface tan, bay, or ferruginous, at first even, becoming porose-reticulate with pores 1-2 per mm, edges entire or interrupted, folds to 0.5 mm tall; margin tan or ferruginous, fibrillose or as often with rhizomorphs. Context ferruginous, 0.2-0.5 mm thick, basal layer of hyaline and brown hyphae mostly parallel, intermediate layer of hyaline intertwined hyphae somewhat loosely arranged; generative hyphae when brown 5-9 µm diameter, when hyaline 3-5 µm, walls 0.5-1 µm thick, often collapsed, with one or two clamp connections at some septa. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 24-42 x 6-9 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 16-35 x 4-6 µm. Spores broadly elliptical, obovate, often flattened on one side, 8-12 x 5-7 µm, walls smooth, pallid ferruginous, 0.25 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, Ceylon, India, South Africa, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark, decorticated wood- or wood debris.
Through the courtesy of L. Harmsen, Denmark, who kindly forwarded specimens, I have been able to recognise S. himantioides among collections present in this region. The species differs from S. lacrymans, to which it was referred as a variety by W. B. Cooke (1957a, p, 207) by structure, thin-walled hyphae of the context, and narrower spores.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Serpula lacrymans (Wulfen) J. Schröt. 1888 [1889]
CONIFERAE. Agathis australis: Auckland City. Dacrydium cupressinum: Canterbury, Christchurch. Pinus radiata: Wellington, city. Podocarpus spicatus: Wellington, city; Wallaceville. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Mt. Albert; Mt. Eden; Sandringham.
Hymenophore pileate or more usually resupinate, when pileate pilei effused-reflexed, when resupinate indefinite in size and shape, membranous, loosely attached; hymenial surface ferruginous, irregular, sometimes plane, rugose, nodulose, or coarsely reticulate when pores are angular, 1-4 mm diameter, reticulations entire, to 1 mm tall, edges somewhat acute; margin indefinite, with abundant coarse rhizomorphs. Context at first white, drying grey or various shades of brown, 0.5-5 mm thick, basal layer duplex, of hyphae to 8 µm diameter, walls chestnut and so thickened that lumena are capillary, sparsely branched, septate with one or two clamp connections at septa, often with brief lateral, coralloid branches arising from them, intermediate layer of hyaline hyphae of two types (1) 7-8 µm diameter, walls 1-2.5 µm thick, or so thickened that lumena are capillary (2) 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, both freely branched, septate, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 100 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses, separated from the context by a dense intertwined layer of hyaline hyphae. Basidia clavate, 20-28 x 4-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 16-24 x 4-5 µm. Spores elliptical or slightly obovate, sometimes flattened on one side, 8-12.5 x 4.5-6 µm walls smooth, chestnut or ferruginous, 0.25 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Common in temperate and subtropical regions.
HABITAT: Effused on building timbers in confined areas, causing a destructive brown cubical rot, and from timber spreading to adjacent masonry, soil, etc.
Although only a few collections are stored in the herbarium, S. lacrymans is common throughout New Zealand, and causes a decay of building timber brought in contact with moisture, or inadequately ventilated. It is equally destructive to boxes and woodwork in glasshouses, cool frames, and the like. Specimens vary appreciably in appearance and size, and configuration of the hymenial surface, according to the conditions under which they have developed. Some may appear as thick, effused-reflexed or dimidiate pilei, most are resupinate often appearing as large sheets with rhizomorphs which may project for metres beyond margins of fructifications. The hymenial surface may be conspicuously porose-reticulate, gyrose when resembling certain species of Phlebia, or plane.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Serpula pinastri (Fr.) W.B. Cooke 1957
DECAYED WOOD. Auckland, Whakarewarewa, 400 m. SOIL IN GLASSHOUSE BOXES. Auckland, Mt. Albert, 50 m.
Hymenophore resupinate, annual, membranous, loosely attached, fragile when dry, forming irregular orbicular or linear areas to 4 x 3 cm; hymenial surface yellow or yellow-olive, ferruginous when dry, at first porose-reticulate with pores 0.5-1.5 mm diameter, becoming gyrose or irpiciform, with folds 1-3 mm tall; margin thinning out, 2-3 mm wide, white or cream, crenate, edges fibrillose. Context white, 100-600 µm thick, intermediate layer of mainly erect hyphae closely compacted and embedding numerous gloeocystidia in the upper parts of folds, basal layer of mainly parallel hyphae with few or many hyaline or coloured cordons 25-40 µm diameter; generative hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, walls 0.1 µm thick, hyaline or yellow in the base, with ring-like clamp connections. Gloeocystidia confined to the upper parts of the folds, freely developed, not projecting, cylindrical or subclavate, 20-55 x 5-8 µm, walls 0.1 µm thick, contents staining deeply. Hymenial layer to 35 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 22-28 x 8-9 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 16-22 x 3-5 µm. Spores oval or broadly elliptical, with rounded ends, apiculate, 5-6.5 x 3.5-4.5 µm, walls smooth, tinted golden yellow, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on rotten wood, wood debris, and soil.
Specific features are the frequently irpiciform or gyrose folds of the hymenial surface, broad sterile margins of lighter colour, loosely attached fructifications with the abhymenial surface fibrillose with coloured or hyaline cordons, and golden yellow, oval or broadly elliptical spores which possess rather thick walls staining deeply with aniline blue. Cordons are conspicuous and composed of closely compacted hyphae (15-30) with hyaline or yellow walls. Gloeocystidia are usually abundant and confined to folds of the hymenial layer. Of various shapes and sizes, they appear to be inflated portions of context hyphae, some clearly defined. They were noted also in European specimens examined in Kew herbarium. Hyphae of the four collections listed are of lighter colour than those of European specimens examined; but in old plants, or parts thereof, especially of cordons, walls are golden yellow. Spore walls also range in colour from hyaline to golden yellow. The habitat is also noteworthy; for two collections were taken from the surface of soil in boxes in glasshouses, two from rotten wood lying beneath houses.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Stereum affine Lév. 1844
COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Waiomu Valley, Thames, 35 m. CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Auckland, Bald Spur, Mt. Te Aroha, 350 m. MALVACEAE. Hoheria populnea: Auckland, Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakeie Ranges, 250 m. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m. PALMAE. Rhopalostylis sapida: Auckland, Laingholm, 35 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma australis: Auckland, Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 220 m; Moumoukai Hill Road, Hunua Ranges, 300 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Spragues Hill, Henderson, 75 m; Anawhata Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Swanson, 200 m; Huia, 200 m; Birkenhead Kauri Park, 120 m; Waikowhai Park, 200 m; Kauri Park, Birkdale, 120 m. Wellington, Dry River, Wairarapa; Weraroa, 25 m; Levin, 35 m. South Australia, Mt. Lofty. New South Wales, Pittwater.
Hymenophore pileate, annual, coriaceous, commonly solitary, often gregarious, rarely caespitose. Pilei usually flabelliform or spatulate, sometimes infundibuliform with one side split to the base, 2-4 cm tall, 8-20 mm wide; pileus surface bay, bright chestnut or sometimes ferruginous, even or radiately sulcate, concolorous or as often banded with darker zones either radiately or transversely; sometimes silky and with scattered surface hairs, more abundant in the darker zones and towards bases of pilei; margin thinning out, crenate, sometimes deeply incised; hymenial surface even, when fertile white and appearing farinose, creviced when old, radiately sulcate. Stems arising from bay, prominent mycelial discs, to 8 x 1 mm, finely velutinate, bay or umber. Context isabelline or wood colour, 0.2-0.6 mm thick, composed of radiately arranged parallel hyphae; with a coloured cortex; skeletal hyphae 4-4.5 µm diameter, lumena capillary; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arising from the base of the subhymenium, traversing the hymenium but not projecting, some lying among the context hyphae, cylindrical or ventricose-cylindrical, sometimes flexuous and moniliform, 40-96 x 8-12 µm. Hymenial layer to 160 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, gloeocystidia, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 16-25 x 5-6 µm, bearing 1-2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subcylindrical, 8-20 x 4-5 µm. Paraphysate hyphae scanty or abundant, cylindrical, 3 µm diameter, projecting to 10 µm, sometimes submoniliform. Spores oval or broadly elliptical, a few subglobose, 4-4.5 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: East Indies, South Africa, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Usually solitary on decorticated decayed wood lying upon the forest floor.
Specific characters are the scattered and scanty often moniliform abhymenial hairs, woody context, deep hymenial layer containing abundant long and narrow gloeocystidia, small oval or broadly elliptical spores, spatulate or flabelliform pilei attached to broad mycelial discs, and habitat. In several features the species varies appreciably. Depth of the hymenial layer, and consequent length of gloeocystidia, is affected by position, becoming deeper, and gloeocystidia larger, from apices to bases of pilei. Abhymenial hairs may be scanty or relatively plentiful, solitary or arranged in small tufts. Often submoniliform, they are usually arranged in bands which traverse pilei laterally. Pilei are usually flabelliform or spatulate; occasionally they may be infundibuliform or campanulate, with one side split. Stems are attached to broad mycelial discs; sometimes two or three arising from the same disc. Surfaces may be concolorous or show lateral bands of darker brown. Spores are usually oval or broadly elliptical, without apiculi, and measure 4-4.5 x 3-3.5 µm. One of the collections was named by Cooke as S.obliquum Berk. & Mont.; several others were misnamed by Lloyd as S. sowerbeii, S. elegans, and S. surinamense.
TYPE LOCALITY: Sumatra.
Stereum australe Lloyd 1913
UNKNOWN HOSTS. New South Wales, Pine Creek. Fiji, Suva.
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, pileate, sessile. Pilei commonly flabelliform or conchate, attached by a small umbo, occasionally applanate with lateral edges inrolled, solitary or crowded, 1.5-4 cm radius, 2-5 cm wide; pileus surface densely tomentose, or even, lanate when young, straw colour or dingy ochre, concentrically ridged and furrowed, sometimes concentrically zoned with concolorous hairs, becoming denuded in concentric areas exposing the chestnut cortex; hymenial surface at first chestnut, drying cinereous, reddish where bruised, concentrically furrowed, or even, at length deeply radiately creviced. Context isabelline, 0.3-0.8 mm thick, a dense layer of radiately arranged parallel hyphae, bordered by a coloured cortex of cemented parallel hyphae bearing the abhymenial hairs; skeletal hyphae to 6 µm diameter, walls 1-1.5 µm thick; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, without clamp connections. Conducting hyphae modified from skeletal hyphae, penetrating the hymenial layer but not projecting, inflated to 8 µm, walls 1-1.5 µm thick, contents orange. Hymenial layer to 85 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and conducting hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 16-24 x 4-4.5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical or subclavate, 12-20 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores elliptical, apiculate, 4-6 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North and South America, West Indies, Madagascar, South Africa, Fiji, Australia.
HABITAT: Solitary or crowded on bark of dead branches.
Specimens agree with authentic material from Madagascar examined in Kew herbarium. The species is close to S. fasciatum in general appearance, especially surface features, differing in colour of the hymenial surface, thicker context, broader spores, and especially, presence of conducting hyphae. The last are modified ends of skeletal hyphae containing orange contents which stain deeply. They simulate cystidioid hyphae, differing in contents and greater abundance. When fresh the hymenium if cut bleeds as in S. sanguinolentum. From the latter the species differs in possessing a dimitic hyphal system, whereas in most 'bleeders' the hyphal system is monomitic, conducting hyphae being modified from generative hyphae. Occasional acanthophyses were noted in the Madagascar collection, but are absent from specimens collected in this region.
TYPE LOCALITY: Florida, U.S.A.
Stereum bicolor (Pers.) Fr. 1838
UNKNOWN HOST. Victoria, Korumburra (Type collection of S. pannosum, in herb. Kew).
Hymenophore annual, membranous, fragile, pileate. Pilei flabelliform, conchate or occasionally effused-reflexed, 2-4 cm radius, 3-5 cm wide; pileus surface snuff brown or coffee-coloured, fibrillose with adpressed hairs, radially sulcate, concolorous or sometimes with bands of light and dark hairs; margin acute, inturned or plane, lobed; hymenial surface at first white, drying clay or wood colour; even, not creviced. Context brown, 0.6-1.2 mm thick, of loosely intertwined hyphae; cortex absent, abhymenial hairs arising directly from the context; generative hyphae 3-5 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, yellow-brown, clamp connections conspicuous. Gloeocystidia arising from the subhymenium, some projecting to 15 µm, fusiform, 62-95 x 5.5-9 µm, with oily contents. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 16-22 x 4-4.5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-18 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores elliptical or elliptic-obovate, 3.5-5 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, South Africa, Malaya, Australia.
HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of decayed branches.
Stereum bicolor is represented in this region by two collections (labelled type) of S. pannosum Cke: & Mass. ex "Victoria, Korumburra, Mrs Martin, Nos. 1067,1071" which match European specimens examined in Kew herbarium. The species may be identified by the coffee-coloured pileus surface and white or cream hymenial surface, loosely intertwined hyphae of the context with brown walls and conspicuous clamp connections, monomitic hyphal system, prominent gloeocystidia, and absence of a cortex. In the possession of a monomitic hyphal system and gloeocystidia it resembles S. aotearoa. Because of the arrangement of context hyphae the species is not a typical Stereum, and was accordingly made the type of Laxitextum by Lentz (1955, p. 18).
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Stereum caperatum (Berk. & Mont.) Berk. 1881
UNKNOWN HOSTS. Fiji, Waidalea River, Viti Levu Island. North Queensland, Stony Creek, near Cairns. South Australia, Penola State Forest. New South Wales, Bolaro Creek.
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, centrally stipitate. Pilei commonly infundibuliform, with plane or flaring margins, 8-12 x 5-9 cm; pileus surface cream, soon ochre with reddish-brown, radiate, acute ridges or peripherally chestnut to umber, ridges to 3 mm tall, acute, occasionally toothed, between ridges clothed with dense tomentum forming a layer to l mm thick; margin thinning out, naked, crenate or torn; hymenial surface decurrent, cream drying ochre, radiately fluted corresponding with surface ridges. Stems cylindrical or elliptical, sometimes fluted; 4-5 em long, 5-15 mm diameter, clothed with dense tan or ochre tomentum and attached by broad mycelial discs. Context white or pallid cream, 150-750 µm; thick, a dense layer of mainly parallel hyphae bordered by a cortex of cemented intertwined hyphae from which arise the abhymenial hairs; skeletal hyphae 3-4.5 µm diameter, lumena almost capillary; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter; walls 0.2 µm thick, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia mostly arising from the base of the subhymenium; extending to the surface but rarely projecting, fusiform or flexuous-cylindrical; sometimes inflated to 12 µm at bases, with narrow cylindrical apices, occasionally papillate, 40-65 x 5-7 µmsome arising in the context and extending to the hymenial surface, when flexuous-cylindrical, to 110 x 6 µm. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 24-30 x 6-7 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata stout, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 18-26 x 4-5 µm. Spores broadly elliptical, occasionally slightly flattened on one side, apiculate, 6.5-9 x 4.5-5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Southern North America, South America, West Indies, Fiji, Australia.
HABITAT: Solitary or sometimes caespitose on bark of dead branches.
From S. lamellatum the species is separated mainly by the absence of crystal-encrusted thick-walled 'cystidia' in the hymenial layer. Spores of collections listed are smaller than measurements given by Reid (1955, p. 635) for S. caperatum. He stated they were subcylindrical, 8-11 x 3-4 µm. Reid placed S. caperatum and S. lamellatum under Cymatoderma, a name which must replace Cladoderris Pers. ex Berk. for those who recognise the genus. Although Persoon (1826, p. 176) suggested the name for a specimen collected by Gaudischaud on Sarawak, he actually described it under Thelephora dendritica Pers. With a formal description Berkeley (1842, p. 152) validated Cladoderris, overlooking that earlier Junghuhn (1840, p. 290) had erected Cymatoderma with as type C. elegans Jungh. Typical specimens of Cymatoderma elegans agree closely with Stereum caperatum and C. lamellatum in microfeatures, differing mainly in shape and configuration of the hymenial surface, which is thrown into sharp, freely branched ribs with several (or none) papillae developing from, them. I am of the opinion that such features alone are insufficient upon which to base a genus and this belief is strengthened by similarity of microstructure. As the presence of a stem is scarcely of generic value, and as the hymenium of S. caperatum and S. lamellatum is either even like an ordinary stipitate Stereum; or exhibits channels corresponding with surface ridges, it is evident that this feature alone is insufficient and too variable upon which to maintain them under Cymatoderma. Gloeocystidia are commonly of the. type found in S. affine and most other stipitate species; so cannot in themselves be regarded as of generic value. Some arise more deeply in the context, are flexuous-cylindrical and penetrate to the surface of the hymenial layer; being then larger than those of the usual type. A few become inflated and thus foreshadow the larger 'cystidia' of S. lamellatum. From the cortex some generative hyphae grow out as abhymenial hairs, then becoming thick-walled and simulating skeletal hyphae, differing in that they bear occasional clamp connections. A similar condition was noted by Reid in S. lamellatum. Basidia are slow to.produce spores, which appear first towards the base of the fructification.
TYPE LOCALITY: Bahia, Brazil.
Stereum elegans sensu G. Cunn. 1963
BURIED WOOD. Auckland, Moturoa Island, Bay of Islands, 10 m; Titirangi, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m; Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 280 m; Piha Valley, 250 m; Kumeu Hills, 120 m; Swanson, 130 m; Laingholm, 60 m. South Australia, Mt. Lofty; National Park, Hindmarsh Valley, Kuitpo. New South Wales, Terrigal, Barrington Tops, Bullahdelah, Mt. Irvine. Victoria, Aramt, Craigie. Tasmania, Mt. Wellington.
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, gregarious or caespitose, seldom solitary. Pilei infundibuliform, or split on one side to the stem apex, sometimes flabelliform, often rosetted, with stems discrete but apices concrescent, 15-35 mm tall, 12-30 mm wide; pileus surface glabrous, bay or tobacco-brown, concolorous or with darker lateral zones, radiately plicate; hymenial surface grey when fertile, when sterile ochre or pallid brown, irregularly fluted, creviced longitudinally when old; margin thinning out, concolorous, crenate, often deeply lobed or incised, somewhat translucent. Stems 5-10 mm long, 1-4 mm wide, sometimes fused but usually single although several may arise from a common mycelial base, finely velutinate, concolorous. Context wood colour, 0.3-0.5 mm thick, of radiately arranged parallel compact hyphae; skeletal hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter, lumena capillary; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arising in the base of the subhymenium and traversing the hymenium, not projecting, flexuous-cylindrical or subventricose, to 90 x 8 µm. Hymenial layer to 80 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 25-40 x 5-6 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate or subcylindrical, 16-28 x 4-5 µm. Spores broadly elliptical or oval, apiculate, 5-6 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Central America, East Indies, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Growing from buried wood on the forest floor.
Since the type no longer exists, many workers have been confused as to the specific features of S. elegans . Judged from numerous specimens examined in Kew herbarium, these call for plants with rosetted pilei, several usually arising from discrete stems and becoming apically concrescent. Pilei are thin and brittle, often appearing translucent, and spores are broadly elliptical, apiculate, 5-6 x 3-3.5 µm. The habitat also is noteworthy, plants arising from decayed wood buried in humus. As pilei vary from solitary and flabelliform to campanulate concrescent forms, pileus features are not sufficient to enable species to be identified accurately. Identifications of early workers, based on these, cannot be regarded as trustworthy; consequently the distribution given is that of authentic specimens examined in Kew herbarium, or received from collectors. The species is close to S. affine, differing in pileus shape, habitat, and slightly larger apiculate spores. Flabelliform, specimens of both, if sterile, are difficult to separate. Welden (1954, p. 437) listed as a synonym S. flabellatum Pat.; a second is S. floriforme Bres., ex "Aireys Inlet, Victoria, Miss Berthon"; and S. sowerbeii Berk. is merely a small form without any constant differentiating features.
TYPE LOCALITY: British Guiana.
Stereum fasciatum (Schwein.) Fr. 1838
CONIFERAE. Podocarpus dacrydioides: Auckland, Papatoetoe Flat, 10 m; Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m. Podocarpus ferrugineus: Auckland, Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 60 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Otago, Lake Manapouri, 135 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Nelson, Hanmer State Forest, 400 m; Maitai Valley, 30 m. Otago, Lake Manapouri, 220 m. Nothofagus truncata: Auckland, Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 100 m. Nelson, Orwell Creek, Ahaura. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tarairi: Auckland, Western Hills, Whangarei, 120 m; Ngaiotonga Ranges, 200 m; Kawau Island; Waipoua Kauri Forest, 120 m; Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 350 m. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Little Barrier Island; Upper Piha Valley, 300 m; Purewa Bush, 35 m; Huia, 30 m; Kohukohunui Ridge, Hunua Ranges, 300 m; Claudelands Reserve, Hamilton, 35 m; Waikaretu, 120 m; Mt. Pirongia, 250 m; Waitomo, 70 m; Mt. Te Aroha, 1,500 m; Whakarewarewa, 400 m. Wellington, Weraroa, 25 m; Lake Papaitonga, 20 m; Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 85 m; Mt. Waiopehu, Tararua Ranges, 400 m. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 120 m; Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m. MYRSINACEAE. Myrsine australis: Auckland, Rangitoto Island. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Little Barrier Island; Hunua Falls, 120 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. Metrosideros robusta: Auckland, Lake Waikaremoana, 400 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum eugenioides: Auckland, Mt. Pihanga, 750 m. PROTEACEAE. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Rangitoto Island; Mt. Pihanga, 700 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Hokianga; Omahuta State Forest, 120 m; Little Barrier Island; Waikaretu, 120 m; Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m. Wellington, Kaiwarra, 100 m; Tiritea Stream, Tararua Ranges, 500 m. Canterbury, Oxford. Queensland, Kalbar; Bunya Mts.; Barron Falls; Imbil State Forest. New South Wales, Sydney; Kurrajong Mountains; Mosman; Milson Island; Lisarow; Wauchope; Melanganee; Bulli Pass; Mummulgum; National Park.
Hymenophore annual, or biennial, coriaceous, pileate, sessile. Pilei commonly flabelliform or umbonate and attached by a narrow base, caespitose-Imbricate when several develop from a common resupinate base, less often applanate and dimidiate, sometimes effused-reflexed with a prominent resupinate basal area, rarely cupulate or infundibuliform, occasionally wholly resupinate when irregularly orbicular, 1-14 cm radius, 1-10 cm wide; pileus surface at first clothed with tan or bay tomentum, soon sulcate and zoned either with light and dark brown hairs, or zones in which the chestnut cortex is exposed, sometimes almost naked near margins, points of attachment, or both, often radiately crenulate or fluted; margins acute, plane, crenate, sometimes deeply lobed and occasionally lacerated, concolorous; hymenial surface ochre or pallid chestnut, showing similar concentric and/or radiate markings as the surface, scantily creviced when old, or even. Context straw colour, 0.2-0.4 mm thick, a dense layer of radiately arranged parallel hyphae, with a dense coloured cortex beneath abhymenial hairs, some of which are encrusted with granules of mucilage or often cemented into groups; skeletal hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls 1.5-2 µm thick, hyaline or tinted yellow in areas beneath the hymenium; generative hyphae 3-4.5 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, without clamp connections. Cystidioid hyphae penetrating the hymeneal layer and projecting slightly, with apices expanded to 8 µm, walls 2 µm thick, contents granular, occasionally discoloured in herbarium specimens. Hymenial layer to 70 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and cystidioid hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 20-25 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate or cylindrical, 16-20 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores narrowly elliptical, obliquely apiculate, 5-6 x 2-2.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan.
HABITAT: Solitary or crowded on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches and trunks.
Following examination of collections in Kew herbarium and the abundant specimens available in Australia and New Zealand I am satisfied that S. fasciatum, S. lobatum, and S. ostrea are merely forms of one variable species. Types of S. perlatum ex Philippine Islands, S. concolor from Tasmania, and a Kew collection labelled S. leichkardtianum are also based on this one species. In the region are found specimens similar to those upon which Burt (1920b, pp. 155, 163) attempted to separate S. fasciatum from S. lobatum. According to latitude, altitude, and age they exhibit varying growth conditions, from flabelliform through effused-reflexed to resupinate, and degree of hairiness of the surface, ranging from tomentose to almost naked. Typical plants are large, lobed, and zoned with naked and tomentose concentric areas. Plants collected while young, or from mountain areas, may be smaller, more hirsute, often effused-reflexed and frequently resupinate. It is therefore not possible to maintain the two species on macrofeatures, and in microfeatures they are identical. In a previous paper (Cunningham, 1956b, p. 218) the species was described under the name of S. lobatum. It appears that the most likely epithet for the species is S. fasciatum, since this was the first applied valid name, so far as is at present known, and the type is extant.
TYPE LOCALITY: North Carolina.
Stereum frustulosum (Pers.) Fr.
UNKNOWN HOSTS. Queensland, Bunya Mountains. New South Wales, Nowra (herb. Kew).
Hymenophore resupinate, perennial, stratose, adherent, ligneus, effused forming linear areas to 10 x 4 cm; hymenial surface tan or cinnamon, even, at length either sparsely, transversely, deeply creviced, or broken into irregular tubercules each becoming free and developing as a separate colony; margin abrupt and cliff-like, or receding with each successive growth layer, polished, umber or chocolate, adherent. Context wood colour, to 3 mm thick, of many coloured zones (15-30) of erect hyphae with seams of loosely intertwined hyphae embedding crystals; skeletal hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls 1-2 µm thick, brown; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline, without clamp connections. Acanthophyses cylindrical, or clavate, 5-6 µm diameter, projecting, walls coloured save in the apical region, upper third bearing numerous digitate processes 1-2.5 µm long. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and acanthophyses. Basidia subclavate, 16-22 x 5-6.5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate or cylindrical, 12-16 x 4-4.5 µm. Spores obovate or pip-shaped, apiculate, 4-4.5 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, Australia.
HABITAT: Effused on decorticated dead wood associated with a pocket rot.
Lloyd (1920c, p. 1008) referred the collection from Queensland to S. annosum Berk. & Br. (syn. S. durum Burt, S. burtiasmus Lloyd, S. rhabarbarinum (Berk. & Br.) Wakef.). With this tropical species it agrees in the presence of acanthophyses and stratose context. It differs in the type of acanthophyses and in being resupinate. Specimens of S. annosum from Ceylon and Uganda examined in Kew herbarium are, pileate with effused-reflexed pilei, and acanthophyses are of different size and shape, and bear digitate processes throughout their length. Australian collections differ from typical specimens of S. frustulatum in that the resupinate fructifications are only tardily laterally creviced (Queensland specimen) or areolately creviced (New South Wales specimen), whereas European collections usually break into polygonal frustules which continue to grow after separation, so that each frustule ultimately becomes pulvinate like those of Corticium kauri. Acanthophyses are the same in both Australian and European collections, as are basidia and spores. Acanthophyses are similar to those present in S. illudens and S. subpileatum Berk. & Curt. (syn. S. insigne Bres., S. sepium Burt). They become cemented into a palisade in the hymenial layer, and persist to form the coloured zones so conspicuous in sections when examined under a lens. When fertile, the hymenial layer consists mainly of basidia and paraphyses, when sterile this layer is composed almost entirely of acanthophyses. Colenso (1886, p. 304) recorded the species from New Zealand, the record being based on two collections so named in Kew herbarium, ex "N.Z. Colenso, b. 252, b. 297". Labelled on the sheet by Lars Romell as S. rufum, they are collections of Acanthophysium berggreni and bear such a striking superficial resemblance to some collections of S. frustulatum that Lloyd (1925, p. 1336) also recorded the species from the Dominion, as his photograph (f. 3087) shows. The specimen from Nowra, New South Wales, was by E. M. Wakefield (1915, p. 370) recorded under the name of Stereum rhabarbarinum. Examination showed it to possess microfeatures of S. frustulatum, differing in that, although deeply creviced, the plant is continuous and not broken into frustules as in most European collections. Because of the arrangement of context hyphae the species is an anomalous Stereum and but for its dimitic hyphal system would be better placed under Acanthophysium.
TYPE LOCALITY: Sweden.
Stereum illudens Berk. 1845
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax arboreum: Wellington, Tongariro River, Kaimanawa Ranges, 600 m. CONIFERAE. Agathis australis: Auckland, Kawau Island. Dacrydium cupressinum: Auckland, Anawhata Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Rangemore Track, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Upper Piha Valley, 280 m; Spragues Hill, Henderson, 100 m; Mangere, 15 m; Waikaretu, 120 m; Cornwallis, 20 m; Mamaku Forest, 600 m; Rotorua, 400 m. Wellington, Weraroa, 25 m; Hutt Valley, 80 m; Kelburn, 120 m. Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island. Podocarpus ferrugineus: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 120 m. Podocarpus spicatus: Nelson, Stoke, 10 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Auckland, Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 700 m. EPACRIDACEAE. Cyathodes fasciculata: Auckland, Purewa Bush, 35 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m. Nothofagus fusca: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m. Nothofagus menziesii: Auckland, Lake Waikaremoana, 1,190 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 80 m. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus globulus: Auckland, Silverdale, 60 m; Titirangi, 250; Waitomo, 100 m; Whakarewarewa, 400 m. Taranaki, Inglewood, 230 m. Eucalyptus macrorhyncha: Victoria, Woodend, 700 m. Eucalyptus spp.: South Australia, Mt. Gambier. Western Australia, Narrogin. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Parahaki, Whangarei, 180 m; Western Hills, Whangarei, 120 m; Kawau Island, 10 m; Swanson, 120 m; Spragues Hill, Henderson, 100 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Kumeu, 100 m; Mt. Albert, 80 m; Mt. Te Aroha, 400 m; Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 500 m. Metrosideros robusta: Wellington, Wanganui, 10 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma lucida: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 160 m. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Carpodetus serratus: Auckland, Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 70 m. Quintinia serrata: Westland, Pukekura. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Queensland, Danbulla; South Australia, Long Gully, Augaston, Pt. McDonnell. Adelaide; Mt. Lofty; Quorn, Flinders Range; Clare; Kinchina; Myponga; Kuitpo; National Park; Kangaroo Island; Warren Reservoir; Encounter Bay. Victoria, Staughton Vale; Ararat. New South Wales, Sydney, Lisarow; Wahroonga National Park, Hill Top, The Rock; Kurrajong Mountains, Bumberry; Milson Island, Kew. Western Australia, Pemberton. Tasmania, Port Arthur, Browns River.
Hymenophore annual or perennial, coriaceous, sessile. Pilei effused-reflexed, flabelliform, umbonate, or resupinate, often laterally connate with a broad resupinate base and reflexed margins, 1-3 cm radius, 1-15 cm wide; pileus surface chestnut or vandyke-brown with a greyish base, coarsely strigose-hirsute, concentrically sulcate and zoned with various shades of brown hairs, sometimes complicate with lateral margins infolded, frequently radiately sulcate; margins acute, plane, concolorous or darker, entire; hymenial surface showing irregular zoning and sulcate markings of the surface, even, plum, violaceous, or lead colour, or tinted heliotrope or violet, finally deeply creviced often around the centres of attachment. Context ferruginous or fuscous, sometimes stratose, 0.3-1 mm thick, commonly 0.3-0.5 mm, of radiately arranged parallel hyphae, with a coloured cortex beneath abhymenial hairs and a colour zone beneath the hymenial layer; skeletal hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls 1 µm thick, tinted yellow-brown, darker when old; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline, without clamp connections. Acanthophyses projecting slightly, fusiform or cylindrical with acuminate or rounded apices, 4-5 µm diameter, bearing on the apical region 5-15 digitate processes 0.5-4 µm long. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, acanthophyses, and cystidioid hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 24-30 x 5-6 µm bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 10-16 x 3.5-4 µm. Cystidioid hyphae traversing the hymenial layer, scarcely projecting, apices rounded or acuminate, to 8 µm diameter, walls 1-5 µm thick, in the base of the hymenium many inflated to 10-16 µm with walls thickened to 4 µm, contents inconspicuous. Spores elliptical or suballantoid, apiculate, 7-9 x 2.5-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated dead trunks and branches, often on upright power poles or worked timber.
Collections agree with the type in Kew herbarium, ex "Swan River, Western Australia, No. 158". The species may be identified by the pallid brown context with rich chestnut cortex, coarsely strigose hirsute surface and presence of acanthophyses and cystidioid hyphae in the hymenial layer. Collections vary, exhibiting three main growth forms: (1) large effused-reflexed or flabelliform plants often laterally connate, common on fallen trunks and branches; (2) small flabelliform or umbonate plants common on power poles, or upright stems of shrubs; and (3) resupinate forms common on worked timber such as handrails, boxing, and flooring, in which the fungus produces a destructive decay. In the first, acanthophyses are delicate, bearing spines which rarely exceed half a dozen in number and 0.5 µm in length; in the second, prominent, bearing numerous spines which may reach a length of 4 µm and exceed a dozen in number, in the third they may be delicate or well developed. Usually the surface is strigose-hirsute, chestnut, concentrically sulcate and zoned with several shades of brown hairs, the basal portion being less hirsute and often grey. Hairs may partly disappear, exposing zones of dark cortex, or be shed completely, when the surface appears polished and black. Colour of the hymenial surface also varies appreciably: when fresh it may be light pinkish-buff, plum, or tinted violet or heliotrope; old specimens usually weather to lead or ashy grey, and become deeply creviced, often more prominently around the point of attachment. Some plants are stratose, bearing from two to five layers with receding margins. Resupinate plants, common on worked timber, in appearance resemble resupinate specimens of S. fasciatum but differ in possessing acanthophyses.
TYPE LOCALITY: Swan River, Western Australia.
Stereum lamellatum (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Wakef. 1920
UNKNOWN HOSTS. Queensland, Dunk Island (herb. Kew); Toowoomba (herb. Kew); Moreton Bay (herb. Kew). New South Wales, Shoalhaven Rivet (herb. Kew); Kendall; Dorrigo; Lisarow; Bullahdelah; Bulli; Kangaroo Valley. Norfolk Island.
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, centrally stipitate. Pilei commonly infundibuliform, sometimes with one side partly suppressed, or 2-3 flabelliform pilei may merge to form rosetted clusters, 6-12 x 4-10 cm; pileus surface cream or wood colour, coarsely and radiately ridged, acute margins sometimes toothed, with between ridges a dense tomentum to 3 mm thick and lighter in colour; margins acute, plane or slightly inrolled, crenate and torn; hymenial surface decurrent, cream or buff, with radiate rounded ridges, which may be branched towards apices, bearing a few scattered papillae. Stems 3-5 cm tall, 5-15 mm diameter, occasionally shorter and often merged at the base into several, usually clothed with dense tomentum with a darker margin where the hymenium ends, attached by a prominent mycelial disc. Context white, to 1 mm thick, becoming progressively thinner from base to apex, of radiately arranged parallel hyphae, bordered by a cemented cortex of hyaline intertwined hyphae bearing abhymenial hairs; skeletal hyphae 3-4.5 µmdiameter, lumena almost capillary; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia either fusiform or somewhat lanceolate, arising from the subhymenium but scarcely projecting, when 32-60 x 6-12 µm, with thin walls, subglobose or oval when to 12 µm diameter or (as 'cystidia') broadly pyriform to conical, with inflated bases and acute apices, 32-48 x 12-24 µm, walls thickened to 3 µm, upper parts encrusted with coarse deciduous crystals. Hymenial layer to 130 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, gloeocystidia, and 'cystidia'. Basidia subclavate, 24-30 x 6-7 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, stout, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 18-22 x 6-7 µm. Spores broadly elliptical, 6-7.5 x 4-4.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Fiji, Australia, Norfolk Island.
HABITAT: Solitary or caespitose on bark of dead branches.
From S. caperatum the species may be separated by one feature alone, the presence of cystidial in the-hymenial layer. These organs differ markedly from metuloids of Peniophora for they are without pedicels, of different shape, and crystals which encrust parts are deciduous and disappear in aqueous-solutions of potassium hydroxide. Their appearance and the presence of many transitional stages between them and gloeocystidia indicate that they are old gloeocystidia in which walls have become thickened and partly covered with crystals. All stages between them and typical gloeocystidia may be seen in sections, and they are present also in rudimentary form in S. caperatum; although without crystals in that species. Study of a large series of specimens will no doubt show that the feature is not constant and that plants are merely forms of one variable species.
Pilei vary appreciably in shape, size, length of stems, and in surface features. Commonly infundibuliform, specimens examined may consist of two or several fused either at the base or margins; several pilei may become flabelliform then fuse at margins to form rosettes; or pilei may split on one side and only partly develop. One stem may support two pilei 1 or conversely several stems may develop but fuse in rosetted plants. Stems may be long and cylindrical, or short and tapering, be round, flattened, or often fluted, and are usually clothed, with coarse tomentum, although sometimes naked. The surface may bear few or many radiate lamellae with acuminate margins, their number, size, and colour varying in almost every -specimen examined: Between them develops a dense tomentum which maybe 3 mm deep, and vary in colour from cream to buff; or be suppressed, when the naked pileus appears reddish-brown.
TYPE LOCALITY. Fiji:
Stereum murrayi (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Burt 1920
CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 120 m; Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 200 m; Lake Waikareiti, 700 m. Phyllocladus alpinus: Canterbury, Hermitage, Mt. Cook, 850 m.
Hymenophore perennial, ceraceous-suberous, closely adherent, usually resupinate, rarely effusedreflexed, forming irregular areas 4-30 x 2-10 cm, with a few outlying islands; hymenial surface cream, drying pallid ochre or reddish-buff, somewhat tuberculate, finally creviced; margin white or cream, adherent, cliff like and bordered by a black line (in some North American specimens margins are reflexed, sulcate, naked, black, 3-10 mm radius). Context isabelline with darker base, 0.5-1.5 mm thick, composed of erect hyphae compacted into a pseudoparenchyma, embedding numerous vesicles and, in lower layers, masses of crystals; skeletal hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls 1 µm thick; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, with clamp connections. Vesicles arranged in irregular rows in context and hymenium, scarcely projecting in the current layer, collapsing and disappearing from lower zones, pyriform, obovate, fusiform, or subglobose, 16-24 x 10-16 µm, contents granular and with oil globules, in the hymenial layer some elongated with broad bases and narrow necks, to 65 x 12 µm. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a scanty palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and vesicles. Basidia subclavate, 20-24 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, some with acuminate apices, 14-22 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores elliptical, obovate, a few pip-shaped, apiculate, 4.5-5.5 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, West Indies, Western Europe, South Africa, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead trunks.
Commonly resupinate, the species would normally be regarded as a Corticium, since it possesses the microstructure of stratose species of that genus, save that the hyphal system is dimitic. In North America pileate forms have been collected, pilei being narrow and scarcely more than upturned margins with a hard, horny, naked black cortex. From S. purpureum, which also bears vesicles, it may be separated by the thick fructifications with ochre or buff hymenial surface, stratose context with numerous vesicles scattered throughout, and erect hyphae of the layers of the context. Vesicles are usually pyriform or obovate; beneath the hymenial layer arise a few which, fusiform or ventricose in shape, may attain a length of 65 µm, penetrate the hymenial layer and simulate gloeocystidia. In the base of the context, hyphae become discoloured and somewhat cemented; they produce the black line bordering the hymenium of resupinate specimens and form the cortex of pileate plants. The species was made the type of Cystostereum Pouzar (1959, p. 18).
TYPE LOCALITY: Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Stereum pergameneum Berk. & M.A. Curtis
COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Wellington, Ballance Reserve, 55 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 80-120 m; Upper Pohangina River, 200 m; Ballance Reserve, 60 m.
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, solitary, stipitate. Pilei infundibuliform or campanulate, sometimes split along one side when becoming flabelliform, 10-20 mm tall, 10-20 mm wide; pileus surface tan or chestnut, radiately sulcate, concolorous or with darker bands which are somewhat tomentose, with hairs more densely arranged above stems; hymenial surface when fertile grey, when sterile some shade of brown, scantily vertically creviced when old; margin thinning out, concolorous or lighter, dentate or often deeply incised. Stems to 10 x 2 mm, equal, bay, velutinate with prominent hairs, arising from well developed mycelial discs. Context white or isabelline, 0.25-0.4 mm thick, of radiately arranged parallel hyphae, with a coloured cortex bearing abhymenial hairs which may be brief or elongate, with rounded or moniliform apices and walls to 1 µm thick; skeletal hyphae to 4 µm diameter, lumena almost capillary; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arising from the context beneath the subhymenium, sometimes extending parallel with the hymenium, subventricose or flexuous-cylindrical, often moniliform, not or slightly projecting, to 120 x 12 µm. Hymenial layer to 80 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 20-30 x 5-6 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 16-26 x 4-5 µm. Spores broadly elliptical, apiculate, 5-6 x 3.5-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North, South, and Central America, West Indies, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Solitary or gregarious on decayed decorticated wood lying upon the forest floor.
Collections listed agree with authentic specimens examined in Kew herbarium. In microfeatures the species resembles S. affine and S. elegans, differing in that gloeocystidia are of greater diameter and possess thicker walls (0.5-1 µm). Spores are of the same size and shape as those of S. elegans, but larger than those of S. surinamense. Pileus hairs are more strongly developed than in S. affine and S. elegans, although of similar shape and diameter. They occur in zones on the pileus surface and irregularly above the stem. The latter is strongly velutinate as in S. affine and arises from a mycelial disc. S. ravenelii Berk. & Curt. is similar, differing mainly in the glabrous pileus, which may be a variable condition. About 30 species of small stipitate Stereums have been described. Most examined in Kew herbarium appear to be forms of half a dozen basic species, having been erected on slight differences in shape, size, or colour of pilei, colour of the hymenium, or upon the nature of the substratum. They may be divided into two groups, upon whether hyphal systems are monomitic (S. pusiolum)or dimitic (S. afffine, S. elegans, S. pergamenum, S. surinamense, S. thozetii),and within these a few may be delimited by spore size. Separation of the others can be made only upon variable macrofeatures, consequently most will have to be suppressed when a large series of specimens is studied critically.
TYPE LOCALITY: Alabama, U.S.A.
Stereum purpureum Pers. 1794
BETULACEAE. Betula alba: Nelson, Hanmer State Forest, 400 m. CONIFERAE. Cupressus macrocarpa: Auckland, Orewa, 30 m. FAGACEAE. Fagus sylvatica: Canterbury, Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Oturere River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,200 m; Mangatorutoru Valley, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,000 m. Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m. PAPILIONACEAE. Cytisus scoparius: Wellington, Kelburn, 120 m; Turangi, 400 m. Marlborough, Kaikoura, 10 m. Canterbury, Riccarton, 10 m. South Australia, Adelaide. Lupinus arboreus: Auckland, Piha, 30 m. Wellington, Feilding, 25 m. Robinia pseudoacacia: Auckland, Mt. Eden, 50 m. Ulex europaeus: Swanson, 270 m. PITTOSPORACEAE. Pittosporum crassifolium: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 35 m. ROSACEAE. Cotoneaster vulgaris: Auckland, Owairaka, 85 m. Crataegus oxyacantha: Auckland, Buried Village, Wairoa, 450 m. Cydonia oblonga: Hawke's Bay, Twyford, 10 m. Eriobotrya japonica: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 60 m. Prunus armeniaca: South Australia, Clarendon. Prunus cerasus: South Australia, Beaumont, Adelaide. Prunus domestica: Auckland, Te Aroha, 35 m. Canterbury, Christchurch. Prunus lusitanica: Canterbury, Christchurch, 15 m. Prunus persica: Wellington, Weraroa, 25 m. Pyrus communis: Auckland, Henderson, 20 m. Nelson, Motueka, 10 m. Pyrus malus: Auckland, Te Papa; Mt. Albert; Owairaka; Mt. Eden. Hawke's Bay, Havelock North; Twyford. Wellington, Turakina Valley, 60 m; Greytown, 30 m; Tiritea, 10 m. Nelson, Appleby, 35 m. Rubus idaeus: Wellington, Greytown; Feilding. Canterbury, Christchurch. SALICACEAE. Populus nigra var. italica: Auckland, Wellsford, 120 m; Thames, coast. Populus tremula: Wellington, Palmerston North. Salix fragilis: Auckland, Mt. Albert. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Escallonia vulgaris: Auckland, Mt. Albert, 35 m. Otago, Edendale.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, pileate, sessile. Pilei effused-reflexed or flabelliform, solitary or more usually laterally connate and imbricate, sometimes with a broad resupinate base and reflexed margins, occasionally resupinate, 3-10 mm radius, 3-15 mm wide, when connate forming linear areas to 20 cm long; pileus surface coarsely tomentose, concentrically sulcate and zoned, usually straw colour or tan, sometimes dingy grey, occasionally with denuded zones; margin thinning out, concolorous, entire, inturned; hymenial surface even, sometimes scantily rugulose, ochre, pallid plum or purple, occasionally creviced when old. Context white, 0.3-0.5 mm thick, a dense layer of radiately arranged parallel hyphae with a loosely intertwined zone beneath the hymenium containing vesicles, and a coloured cortex from which arise the abhymenial hairs; skeletal hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.5-1 µm thick; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, with clamp connections. Vesicles developing in a zone beneath the hymenial layer, arising from generative hyphae, pyriform, 12-18 µm diameter, carried on stout pedicels. Hymenial layer to 50 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and sometimes paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 16-24 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subelavate, 12-18 x 4-5 µm. Cystidioid hyphae absent. Paraphysate hyphae cylindrical, to 5 µm diameter, projecting to 35 µm. Spores elliptical, or with one side slightly flattened, obliquely apiculate, 5.5-8 x 2.5-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan.
HABITAT: Crowded and often imbricate upon living or dead trunks and branches.
Readily recognised by the zone of pyriform vesicles beneath the hymenial layer, coarsely tomentose small pilei, often connate and imbricate, dimitic hyphal system with clamp connections in the generative hyphae, and small elliptical, obliquely apiculate spores. Vesicles are readily seen in growing specimens, but in old material collapse and lose their contents or disappear, then leaving cavities in the context. Occasional vesicles are flexuous-cylindrical, traverse the hymenial layer, and simulate gloeocystidia. A coloured cortex is present beneath abhymenial hairs, as in S. hirsutum, but cystidioid hyphae are wanting. Paraphysate hyphae are present in some collections, absent from others, so are without specific significance. The hyphal system is dimitic. Skeletal hyphae, although of about the same diameter as generative, differ in that walls are thicker, septa scanty, and clamp connections wanting. Commonly some shade of purple, the hymenium often exhibits other colours, such as ochre, pallid plum, or grey. In some plants the context, and especially the hymenial layer, appears zoned, the condition probably representing periods of seasonal growth. S. purpureum induces a silver leaf disease of many cultivated fruits, in New Zealand being common on apples, apricots, cherries, gooseberries, peaches, pears, plums, and raspberries. Although usually found in introduced hosts, it is not confined to these since in the herbarium are collections from endemic New Zealand plants, two on branches of Nothofagus cliffortioides, a third on stems of Pittosporum tenuifolium. In most collections spores are 5.5-6 x 2.5-3 µm but in several specimens may reach a length of 8 µm. Large-spored forms are not associated with any other noteworthy feature. The species was made the type of Chondrostereum by Pouzar (1959, p. 17).
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Stereum pusiolum Berk. & M.A. Curtis
ON SOIL. Auckland, Northcote Kauri Park, 120 m; Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Cutty Grass Road, Waitakere Ranges; 300 m; Huia Filters, 200 m; Oratia, 180 m; Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 200 m; Atkinson Park, Titirangi, 250 m; Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m; Konini Stream, Moumoukai Valley, 130 m; Purewa Bush, 30 m; Clevedon, 50 m; Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 400 m.
Hymenophore stipitate, annual, coriaceous, seldom solitary, usually gregarious. Pilei spatulate, cuneiform, narrowly flabelliform, sometimes rosetted or as often torn into few or several lobes, 5-17 mm tall, 1-15 mm wide; pileus surface radiately sulcate, sometimes toothed along ridges and margins, or bearing subsidiary pilei, silky or glabrous, isabelline, straw colour with bay margins, or concolorous; margins acute, dentate, or lacerate; hymenial surface sulcate, even, where fertile drab-brown or pallid fuscous, with a broad sterile bay margin. Stems arising from a mycelial bulb, 1-5 mm long, 0.5-1 mm thick, naked, concolorous with the hymenium. Context 0.4-0.8 mm thick, wood colour or light brown, composed of radiately arranged parallel hyphae; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arising from the base of the subhymenium, scarcely projecting, flexuous-cylindrical or cylindric-clavate, former to 80 x 8 µm, latter to 30 x 12 µm, when young filled with refractive, granular, pallid brown contents, giving to the zone a discoloured appearance. Hymenial layer to 70 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 26-45 x 7-9 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 16-30 x 5-6 µm. Spores subglobose or pip-shaped, apiculate, 4.5-6 x 4-4.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: West Indies, Central America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Growing on soil, usually gregarious.
Collections agree in microfeatures with type specimens examined in Kew herbarium. These consist of eight small plants, ex "Cuba, C. Wright, No. 510" and are smaller than typical collections from New Zealand. Plants vary in size, shape, and colour. They are constant as to habitat, contrasting colours of surface and hymenium, monomitic hyphal system with clamp connections in generative hyphae, small subglobose spores, and presence of gloeocystidia with coloured contents. Welden (1954, p. 431) thought the species so closely resembled S. radicans (Berk.) Burt that it might be regarded as a variety. Judging from Lloyd's descriptions and figures, it is probable that S. cuneoforme Lloyd, S. grandi Lloyd, and S. multifidum Lloyd are synonyms.
TYPE LOCALITY: Cuba.
Stereum rugosum Pers. 1794
UNKNOWN HOSTS. South Australia, Tanunda (herb. Kew). New South Wales, Sydney.
Hymenophore biennial, sometimes perennial, coriaceous, commonly resupinate, forming orbicular or linear areas 5-8 x 3-5 cm, or pileate when effused-reflexed with narrow upturned margins, radius seldom exceeding 5 mm; pileus surface chestnut or umber, finely tomentose, radiately striate in old specimens; margin acute, crenate, concolorous or lighter; hymenial surface grey with lighter margins, becoming chestnut where bruised, irregularly rugulose, drying dingy brown, finally deeply irregularly creviced; margin lighter in colour, fibrillose. Context wood colour, 0.5-1 mm thick, composed of one or several zones in the hymenial layer and a dense layer of parallel hyphae radiately arranged, bordered by a yellow cortex of cemented intertwined hyphae bearing abhymenial hairs; generative hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, walls 1 µm thick, without clamp connections. Conducting hyphae arising in the upper part of the context, penetrating the hymenial layer where slightly inflated to 8 µm, contents when fresh yellow with numerous oil globules. Hymenial layer of one or several zones each 50-120 µm deep, upper composed of a palisade of basidia; paraphyses, and conducting hyphae. Basidia clavate, 16-24 x 5-6 µm bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate or as often cylindrical, 16-24 x 3-4 µm, many with acute apices. Spores allantoid, 7-10 x 3-4 µm walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, Australia.
HABITAT: Commonly resupinate upon bark of dead branches.
Although close to S. sanguinolentum , typical plants may be separated by the thick, layered hymenial region, commonly resupinate fructifications with rugulose and cinereous hymenial surface only tardily and irregularly creviced. Crystals are embedded in the tissues at the base of the subhymenium of each layer and may be abundant or scanty but are always present.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Stereum sanguinolentum (Alb. & Schwein.) Fr. 1838
CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Auckland, Upper Piha Valley, 300 m. Pinus austriaca: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m. Pinus radiata: Auckland, Putaruru, 450 m; Atiamuri, 450 m; Oratia, 20 m. South Australia, Adelaide. Pseudotsuga taxifolia: Auckland, Pinedale, 450 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. New South Wales, Sydney, Kurrajong Mountains, Neutral Bay, Sydney.
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, solitary, caespitose, or imbricate. Pilei effused-reflexed with broad resupinate bases, or almost resupinate with reflexed margins, loosely attached, 5-10 mm radius, 5-30 mm wide, or when laterally connate to 10 x 2.5 cm; pileus surface straw colour or bay, radiately zoned with darker bands, sulcate and striate, covered with appressed tomentum, somewhat strigose near the base; hymenial surface at first even, wood colour or ochre, becoming ferruginous, pallid umber or sometimes plum when old, finally deeply radiately, sometimes.areolately creviced. Context white, then isabelline, to 0.5 mm thick, of radiately arranged parallel hyphae with a coloured cortex beneath the abhymenial hairs and sometimes also coloured beneath the hymenium; generative hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls 0.5-1 µm thick, without clamp connections. Conducting hyphae arising in the context and extending through the hymenial layer, scarcely projecting, 80-200 x 4-6 µm, walls 0.5 µm thick, contents granular and discoloured. Hymenial layer to 90 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and conducting hyphae. Basidia subclavate , 25-32 x 4-5.5 µm, bearing 2 spores; sterigmata slender, erect to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 18-26 x 4-4.5 µm. Spores cylindrical or allantoid, with rounded ends, 6-8 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great. Britain, North America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark of dead branches and trunks of conifers.
Pilei are mostly effused-reflexed with broad resupinate bases, and sometimes arise from borer holes in the substratum. Conspicuous conducting hyphae are present in the context and hymenial layer. They exude a reddish fluid when the surface of living specimens is cut or bruised. Spores are narrowly cylindrical with rounded ends, or as often allantoid. In the collection from Dacrydium cupressinum they are somewhat larger (to 10 x 4 µm), than those from other hosts listed, but agree with authentic European specimens in other particulars. The species was made the type of Haematostereum Pouzar (1959, p. 13).
TYPE LOCALITY: North Carolina, U.S.A.
Stereum spectabile Klotzsch 1843
UNKNOWN HOSTS. New South Wales, Sydney; Mosman; Beecroft; Lisarow.
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, pileate, sessile. Pilei effused-reflexed, sometimes umbonate, imbricate, 2-8 mm radius, 5-30 mm wide; pileus surface cinnamon or vandyke-brown, fibrillose, hairs imbricate, arranged in concentric light and dark brown zones, sometimes radially striate, often complicate and radiately sulcate; margin acute, slightly inturned, lobed, concolorous or lighter; hymenial surface even, bay or tan, often with a greyish tint. Context tan, to 160 µm thick, of densely arranged parallel hyphae, cortex yellow-brown, of compact intertwined partly cemented hyphae, abhymenial hairs to 5 µm diameter, walls 1-1.5 µm thick, generative hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls 0.5-1 µm thick, without clamp connections. Acanthophyses clavate, to 5 µm diameter, projecting, bearing upon the upper third numerous crowded, hyaline, digitate processes 1-2 µm long. Conducting hyphae arising in the upper part of the context and traversing the hymenial layer, slightly inflated at distal ends, granular contents discoloured. Hymenial layer to 35 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, acanthophyses, and conducting hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 16-20 x 4-4.5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-16 x 3-3.5 µm. Spores obovate or pip-shaped, 5-7 x 4-5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Philippine Islands, Japan, Australia.
>HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Recognised by the monomitic hyphal system, pigmented conducting hyphae, hyaline acanthophyses, small size, silky surface, thin context, and presence of a coloured cortex. Collections examined are the type of Stereum radiato-fissum ex "Queensland, Thozet, No. 277" which Bresadola on the type sheet and later (1916, p. 232) referred to S. spectabile Kl.; "N.S.W., Mosman, J. B. Cleland, May 1917" referred by Lloyd to S. radiato-fissum; "N.S.W., Sydney, J. B. Cleland, March 1915" the type of S. obscurum Lloyd, which Lloyd held to be a variety of S. spadiceum, "N.S.W., Lisarow, J. B. Cleland, June 1916" which Lloyd misnamed S. bellum Kze., and a collection ex "N.S.W., Beecroft, Mrs M. Blackwell, March 1955". The species is a 'bleeder' with monomitic hyphal system and well developed conducting hyphae containing granular, contents which discolour in dried specimens and stain deeply in. sections. According to J. B. Cleland, the surface also turns red when bruised, a feature of most species with conducting hyphae. Acanthophyses resemble those of S. illudens.
TYPE LOCALITY: Philippine Islands.
Stereum strigosozonatum (Schwein.) G. Cunn. 1956
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m. Nothofagus fusca: Wellington, Wiltons Bush, 100 m; Days Bay, 120 m; Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m; Orwell Creek, Ahaura, Totara Flat. MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus sideroxylon: Victoria, Tinamba. Eucalyptus spp.: New South Wales, Sydney; Milson Island, Berry Hill Top, Lisarow, Mosman, Mt. Wilson. South Australia, National Park; Kangaroo Island. Victoria, Sherbrooke Forest. Western Australia, Pemberton. PROTEACEAE. Banksia spp.: New South Wales, Perlean; National Park.
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous-ceraceous, pileate, sessile. Pilei commonly effused-reflexed with broad resupinate bases, applanate, dimidiate, frequently laterally connate and often imbricated, sometimes resupinate, 5-30 mm radius, 5-25 mm broad, or when connate expanded laterally to 15 cm; pileus surface coarsely tomentose, tomentum at first chestnut, soon concentrically sulcate and zoned with bands of different colours, in old specimens bases grey with margins chestnut, finally becoming grey or dingy brown; margin thinning out, entire, inturned, concolorous; hymenial surface at first chestnut and even, with zones corresponding with those of the surface, becoming black and polished, remaining so or ultimately becoming tuberculate. Context glistening, chestnut or fuscous, 0.2-0.5 mm thick, composed of mainly radiately arranged parallel hyphae sometimes embedded in mucilage; cortex densely compacted, chestnut, abhymenial hairs chestnut, walls 1 µm thick; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2-0.5 µm thick, with conspicuous clamp connections. Paraphysate hyphae arising, from the subhymenium and projecting to 20 µm, branched, hyaline, freely septate, collapsing. Hymemal layer to 80 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 30-50 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 20-30 x 3-4 µm. Spores elliptical, 6-8 x 3.5-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North and South America, South Africa, India, Malaya, Fiji, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark of dead trunks and branches.
Specific features are the densely tomentose, concentrically zoned, chestnut pilei, polished black hymenium, chestnut context, monomitic hyphal system with clamp connections in the generative hyphae, and branched paraphysate hyphae of the hymenial layer. At first the hymenium is even and, if plants are collected when young, it remains smooth although changing in colour from chestnut to black. As plants become fertile the hymenium may become finely tuberculate, or remain even, both conditions being present in collections listed. Context tissues appear to be gelatinised because of the brown and glistening appearance of sections, but in reality are composed of somewhat loosely arranged mainly parallel hyphae sometimes embedded in gelatinous matter. A coloured cortex is present, as in S. hirsutum and related species. Bresadola (1916, p. 231) referred the species to Auricularia rugosissima (Lev.) Bres. They resemble one another in surface features but differ profoundly in microstructure. He later (1925, p. 480) referred it to Auricularia strigoso-zonata (Schw.) Bres. This treatment probably arose through Bresadola mistaking for basidia, paraphysate hyphae of the hymenial layer, which to the casual observer may resemble germinating basidia of Auricularia. Basidia are holobasidia, however, and bear four sterigmata carrying elliptical spores, as is shown in Fig. 120. This is not easy to ascertain unless adequate sections are prepared, for at an early stage paraphysate hyphae collapse and form an amorphous gelatinous layer upon the hymenial surface. Through this, developing basidia are forced, sometimes becoming distorted in transit, and produce spores above the gelatinous surface. Paraphysate hyphae may be seen readily in immature portions of developing plants, and sometimes fragments of branches persist on the surface of mature specimens. The species exhibits all the features of a Stereum, save that in occasional specimens the hymenial layer becomes tuberculate, or tuberculate-striate; consequently it is referred to this genus, and not to Phlebia, with which it has little resemblance. The species was made the type of Phaeophlebia by W. B. Cooke (1956, p. 401).
TYPE LOCALITY: North Carolina, U.S.A.
Stereum surinamense Lév. 1844
UNKNOWN HOSTS. Fiji. Suva. Samoa, Apia.
Hymenophore pileate, annual, coriaceous, usually solitary, sometimes one or two fusing at margins but distinct below. Pilei centrally stipitate, infundibuliform, sometimes campanulate, 5-45 mm tall, 15-30 mm wide; pileus surface glabrous or with a few hairs towards the base, chestnut to umber, usually with alternating light and dark brown colour bands, concentrically arranged, frequently radiately zoned or grooved and occasionally radially striate; hymenial surface decurrent, concolorous with the surface, reflecting surface zones, with or without a delicate, bloom, even or longitudinally fissured when dry; margin lighter in colour, bay or tan, thinning out, erect or revolute, entire or crenate. Stems cylindrical or tapering, arising from broad mycelial discs, to 15 x 2 mm, dark brown or black, naked or delicately velutinate. Context wood colour, 200-450 µm thick, increasing in thickness from apex to base, a dense layer of radiately arranged parallel hyphae bordered by a narrow cortex usually, coloured brown and composed of parallel cemented hyphae; abhymenial hairs wanting; skeletal hyphae 4-5 µm diameter, lumena capillary; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arising in the upper part of the context and subhymenium, flexuous-cylindrical or more often ventricose with inflated bases, penetrating the hymenium to its surface, 40-65 x 6-10 µm, sometimes inserted at an angle. Hymenial layer to 70 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 16-20 x 4-4.5 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 3 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-15 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores broadly elliptical, 3-3.5 x 2-2.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: South America, West Indies, Fiji, Cook Islands.
HABITAT: Solitary or gregarious upon bark of dead fallen branches.
Fructifications are usually solitary and infundibuliform or campanulate, pileus surfaces are glabrous, concentrically zoned with bands of light and dark brown, and hymenial surfaces are even. The narrow, tinted cortex is without abhymenial hairs. Stems are velutinate and attached to the substratum by broad mycelial discs. Gloeocystidia are ventricose-flexuous and conspicuous. Spores are the smallest of those seen in stipitate species, and readily overlooked unless sections are examined with an oil immersion objective.
TYPE LOCALITY: Surinam, South America.
Stereum thozetii Berk. 1881
ON SOIL. Queensland, Rockhampton (Type collection, herb. Kew).
Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, commonly solitary. Pilei infundibuliform, 10-15 mm radius, 10-15 mm tall; pileus surface concentrically zoned with colour bands of bay, chestnut or tobaccobrown, sometimes grooved slightly, glabrous or pruinose; margin acute, usually incurved, pruinose, concolorous, entire. Stems to 5 x 2 mm, smooth, pallid brown. Context wood colour, 200-350 µm thick, without a cortex or abhymenial hairs, of densely arranged parallel hyphae; skeletal hyphae to 4 µm diameter, walls 1-1.5 µm thick; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µmthick, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia arising in the base of the subhymenium and traversing the hymenial layer, flexuous-cylindrical, 48-120 x 6-10 µm; sometimes inflated at bases. Hymenial layer to 120 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate or subcylindrical, 22-30 x 4.5-6 µm bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-25 x 4-4.5 µm. Spores broadly elliptical, apiculate, 7-9 x 4.5-6 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Australia, South Africa.
HABITAT: Usually solitary on the ground among grass.
Separated from other species with central stems and dimitic hyphal systems by the large spores, absence of a coloured cortex, and glabrous exterior. Only the type has been recognised from this region, although there is a second collection in Kew herbarium ex "Australia, R. Brown" filed under the cover of S. nitidulum which resembles the type but is sterile. The description has been drawn from the type, which consists of three specimens. Lloyd (1923, p. 1226) recorded the species from Tasmania. Part of this collection, now in the herbarium of J.B. Cleland, when examined was found to consist of specimens of S. elegans.
TYPE LOCALITY: Rockhampton, Queensland.
Stromatoscypha fimbriata (Pers.) Donk 1951
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Murchison, 170 m.
Subiculum annual, membranous, forming small white irregular areas 0.5-3 cm across, 150-300 µm thick, of loosely intertwined hyphae freely branched, septate, walls hyaline, some crystal encrusted. Pilei crowded, sometimes confluent, cupulate, sessile within rudimentary loculi in the subiculum, margins alone showing, 150-300 µm tall, to 400 µm diameter; pileus exterior clothed with tomentum, white, discoloured where tomentum has been removed, hairs of similar type to those of the subiculum. Context dingy brown, at length fuscous, to 25 µm thick, of densely arranged parallel hyphae; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline. Hymenial layer to 20 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 12-16 x 4.5-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, to 3 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate or clavate, 8-14 x 4-4.5 µm. Spores elliptical with rounded ends, some flattened on one side when obliquely apiculate, 4-5 x a-2.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North and South America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Crowded on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Although pilei of this collection are somewhat smaller, they agree with European specimens examined in Kew herbarium. For additional synonyms see Donk (1959, p. 81).
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Stromatoscypha huia (G. Cunn.) G. Cunn. 1963
MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Huia, 20 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 4392.
Subiculum annual, membranous, white, loosely attached, to 160 µ. thick, effused forming small and sharply defined orbicular or linear areas 1-15 mm long, of closely intertwined hyphae. Pilei aggregated in groups of few (4-6) opening many (30-80) in scattered areas, seated in loculi, depressed globose, 250-600 µ diameter, opening tardily by a narrow naked pore; exterior covered with felted white tomentum, becoming naked, even, almost black; hymenial surface even, white or cream, concave; loculi filled with loosely intertwined freely branched hyphae bordered by a more compact intertwined zone. Context fuscous, to 70 µ thick, composed of parallel densely arranged hyphae pseudoparenchymatous in the base; generative hyphae 2-4 µ diameter, walls 0.25 µ thick, hyaline, fuscous near the periphery. Hymenial layer to 40 µ deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 24-32 x 6-7 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, to 6 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 18-26 x 5-6 µ. Spores oblong with rounded ends, apiculate, 7-9 x 5-6.5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Huia, Auckland.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Crowded on bark of dead stems.
Pilei are crowded in groups in the felted subiculum. Each is embedded in a distinct locule, defined by a compact wall and filled with loosely intertwined hyphae. As pilei mature, the apical portion becomes partly denuded of tomentum, and ruptures by a narrow pore. Attached to the walls are densely arranged abhymenial hairs which are freely branched, almost dendrophytic, and encrusted with masses of crystals. They are ultimately shed near apices, but elsewhere remain, and serve to retain each pileus within its locule
Stromatoscypha poriiformis (Pers.) G. Cunn. 1963
MYRTACEAE. Metrosideros perforata: Otago, Ryans Creek, Stewart Island. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma arborea: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Titirangi, 250 m; Mountain Road, Henderson Valley, 200 m; Brooklyn, Manakau Harbour.
Subiculum annual, effused, forming small membranous orbicular areas 1-2 cm diameter, 100-150 µm thick, of loosely intertwined hyaline hyphae embedding masses of crystals; margin thinning out, white, arachnoid. Pilei densely crowded, seldom confluent, cupulate, 200-350 µm diameter, 150-300 µm tall, lower half embedded in locules; pileus exterior grey, delicately tomentose, sometimes naked, hairs hyaline; margin mainly erect, sometimes inturned, grey, tomentose with simple hairs; hymenial surface even, grey, concave. Context white, 30-50 µm thick, of radiately arranged parallel hyphae; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline, finely crystal encrusted. Hymenial layer to 25 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 12-16 x 5-7 µm bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 6 µm long. Spores globose or subglobose, apiculate, 5.5-7 x 5.5-6 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.25 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North and South America, South Africa, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Crowded on bark of decayed branches.
Pilei are densely crowded in small groups immersed in a grey subiculum resembling, as Burt (1924, p. 23) observed, a cinereous crustaceous lichen bearing numerous small apothecia. They are seated in the subiculum in rudimentary loculi which are not well developed as in S. huia.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Thelephora congesta Berk. 1872 [1873]
ON SOIL. Northern Territory, Bickerton Island, Gulf of Carpentaria. Queensland, Brisbane; Gainsford (herb. Kew). South Australia, no locality. New South Wales, Neutral Bay; Waterfall Gully; Nowra; Sydney. Victoria, Yarra Yarra Plains, (Type collection, herb. Kew).
Hymenophore annual; membranous, centrally stipitate, composed of numerous (15-26) erect branches arising from a simple stem attached to a broad mycelial base, to 4 cm tall, 3 cm across, stems to 10 mm long and 5 mm wide; main branches chocolate; terete, 1-2 mm diameter, some slightly flattened, becoming once, twice, or thrice branched either dichotomously or irregularly, terminating in usually bifid tips grey or ochre in colour; hymenial surface amphigenous below, inferior on upper branches, even, chocolate. Context of numerous cordons of loosely arranged parallel hyphae with intertwined hyphae between; generative hyphae 4.5-5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, tinted brown, freely branched at a wide angle, septate, with numerous often proliferating clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 160 µm deep, of 1-3 layers, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 30-40 x 7-8 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses clavate, 12-22 x 5-6 µm. Spores broadly oblong or oval, 8-10 x 7-8 µm, walls sinuate, finely sparsely verruculose, tinted ferruginous, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Australia.
HABITAT: Solitary or gregarious on the ground.
When well developed, plants possess a freely branched pileus attached to a stout short.stem arising from a bulbous mycelial base. Primary branches are stout, and bear secondary branches which in turn may branch once or twice, either dichotomously or irregularly, tips being of lighter colour and broadened slightly. The hymenium is amphigenous on stems and main branches, inferior above, the surface being rich chocolate and even. Basidia develop in corymbose clusters each surrounded by several paraphyses. Cordons are abundant in tissues of the stem, lying parallel with one another and separated by loosely intertwined hyphae. Some hyphae of which cordons are composed may be lactiferous as they contain deeply staining contents. Variability in size and shape of plants is considerable, almost every specimen examined differing in size, number of branches and type of branching. Although three species with this form of fructification have been described from Australia, examination of the types of Thelephora congesta and 'Stereum' simulans ex "Brisbane, F. M. Bailey" have shown them to be based on plants of the same species. Thelephora archeri Berk. has been shown by Reid (1956, p. 536) to be an heterobasidiomycete which he referred to Pseudotremellodon pusio (Berk.) Reid. Even the generic position has been in doubt. Both Bresadola and Lloyd referred Thelephora congesta and Stereum simulans to Lachnocladium , and Lloyd (1919, p. 15) listed Thelephora archeri and Lachnocladium congestum under Dendrocladium.

FIG. 126. Stereum scutellatum. Showing the monomitic hyphal system, abhymenial hairs, cortex, conducting hyphae and (b) elliptical spores. (a) Spores of S. sanguinolentum.
TYPE LOCALITY: Yarra Yarra Plains, Victoria, Australia.
Thelephora griseozonata Cooke 1891
ON HUMUS. Canterbury, Balmoral State Forest, 350 m.
Hymenophore commonly rosetted, formed from several erect flabelliform pilei fused at margins, attached by a central base; margins entire, or torn, but not lobed; exterior surfaces of pilei scabrid, exhibiting several concentric, ferruginous, grey, chestnut, or umber colour zones sometimes demarked by raised strigose tufts on the periphery of zones; hymenial surface umber, finely tuberculate. Microfeatures as in T. terrestris.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Encrusting humus under pines.
Specimens were collected in a plantation of Pinus ponderosa and match the type in Kew herbarium, ex "Aitken, South Carolina, H. W. Ravenel". The species is merely a well marked form of T. terrestris, identical in microfeatures, differing in shape and surface features of pilei and different habitat. The most marked character is that dorsal surfaces of the pilei are concentrically zoned with bands of grey and brown, a second that margins of pilei are fused to form erect infundibuliform rosettes.
TYPE LOCALITY: South Carolina, U.S.A.
Thelephora terrestris Fr. 1821
ON HUMUS. Auckland, Rangitoto Island; Kawau Island; Avondale; Riverhead; Mt. Maunganui; Tokoroa; Whakarewarewa. Hawke's Bay, Napier. Wellington, Tangimoana; Weraroa; Ngaio; Tinakori Hills. Nelson, Appleby; Totara Flat. Canterbury, Ashburton; Hammer State Forest. South Australia, Snuggery; Mt. Burr; National Park; Hanson; Williamstown; Mt. Gambier; Kalangadoo; Kuitpo; Clarendon. Western Australia, Mundaring.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, humicolous, sometimes encrusting living or dead plants, forming pilei of diverse shapes and sizes. Pilei applanate, flabelliform, sometimes merged to form erect rosettes, 1-10 cm tall and broad; surface ferruginous or umber, covered with strigose tufts which are concolorous or darker and sometimes imbricated hymenial surface ferruginous or umber, often vinaceous, radiately striate, even or finely tuberculate; margins crenate, sometimes freely lobed or toothed, bluntly rounded or torn, concolorous. Context 1-5 mm thick, ferruginous, basal layer forming the greater part of the fructification, of loose parallel hyphae associated with parallel strands of closely compacted hyphae; generative hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls 0.2-0.5 µm thick, pallid yellow brown, naked, freely branched often at a wide angle, septate, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 90 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 32-45 x 8-10 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 22-35 x 6-8 µm. Spores subglobose or irregularly oval, 8-10 µm diameter, or 8-11 x 7-9 µm, walls sinuate, finely sparsely verruculose, pallid ferruginous, 0.5 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan.
HABITAT: Encrusting humus under pines.
Although only a few collections are listed, the species may be found in any plantation of Pinus radiata. It has evidently been introduced with seeds or plants, since it is not found in any other habitat. There is no evidence showing that the fungus forms a mycorrhiza with pines; nor is the species a plant parasite, though known occasionally to kill pine seedlings by growing around stems and smothering them. In macrofeatures the species varies so considerably that it is difficult to draw an accurate description of the fructifications. Commonly plants grow over pine needles, humus, and soil under pines, the mycelium encrusting the surface over an area of many square metres. From the mycelium pilei arise. Usually flabelliform, they may merge to form erect rosettes, or sometimes campanulate pilei.

T. crustosa was erected on a form with small flabelliform fructifications. Pilei may remain entire; or more commonly become torn into few or several lobes, T. laciniata being a name applied to specimens displaying the latter condition. Colour may range from ferruginous to dark umber, or umber with a vinaceous tinge; the pileus surface may be clothed with coarse strigose tufts, slender down-pressed bundles of hairs, or remain almost smooth. The hymenial surface may be even, or, as often tuberculate or radially striate. Most conditions may be found in one ample collection, showing that these are merely variable growth conditions. Spores are subglobose or more often oval, walls bearing 3-5 rounded lobes, giving them a sinuate appearance. Spore walls are covered with short, scanty, broad-based verruculae, which may be hyaline or tinted brown like the spore wall.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Tomentella bombycina (Karst.) G. Cunn.
MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus sp.: New South Wales, Beecroft.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, loosely attached, effused forming irregular areas to 5 x 3 cm; hymenial surface ferruginous, sepia, or chocolate, velutinate, tardily creviced, sometimes granulose; margin thinning out, concolorous, fibrillose. Context ferruginous, to 250 µm thick, basal layer narrow, of mainly repent hyphae; intermediate layer of mainly erect hyphae corymbose beneath the hymenial layer; generative hyphae 4-5 µm diameter in basal hyphae, to 7 µm and slightly inflated in hyphae of the intermediate layer, walls 0.2 µm thick, pallid ferruginous, with clamp connections. Septocystidia scattered or in irregular fascicles, some projecting to 60 µm, cylindrical with rounded, slightly inflated apices, septate, 75-180 x 8-12 µm, walls ferruginous, 0.5 µm thick. Hymenial layer to 130 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and septocystidia. Basidia clavate, 28-40 x 7-9 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses clavate, 18-25 x 5-6 µm, arranged in clusters. Spores irregularly subglobose, or oblong, 9-12 x 8-12 µm, walls strongly sinuate, coarsely sparsely echinulate, fuscous, 0.5 µm thick, spines to 2.5 µm long.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, Australia.
HABITAT: Decayed bark and decorticated wood.
Identified readily by the conspicuous septocystidia, large spores with sinuate and coarsely spined walls, and velutinate, often granulose surface of the dark hymenial layer. Septocystidia are cylindrical with slightly rounded and inflated apices, transversely septate with, usually, clamp connections at septa, may project to 60 µm, and are either solitary and scattered or arranged in irregular clusters.
TYPE LOCALITY: Finland.
Tomentella castanea (Bourdot & Galzin) Donk 1933
CONIFERAE. Cupressus lawsoniana: Westland, Rimu State Forest. Pinus radiata: Auckland, Domain, 70 m. Nelson, Appleby, 30 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming small irregularly orbicular or linear areas 1-5 cm across; hymenial surface tan or chestnut, sometimes with a vinaceous tinge, finely punctate under a lens, especially towards the centre; margin fibrillose, thinning out, concolorous, adherenµm Context pallid tan, 100-400 µm thick, basal layer a narrow zone of mainly parallel hyphae tinted brown, intermediate layer of mainly erect hyaline hyphae; generative hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, branched, freely septate, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 60 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 30-45 x 6-8 µm,bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 18-28 x 4-6 µm. Spores globose or oval, 7-9 x 6-8 µm, walls sinuate, sparsely and finely verruculose, tinted umber, 0.25 µm thick, spines to 0.75 µm long.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Separated from T. fusca by the lighter colour, adherent colonies, hyaline hyphae of the intermediate layer and smaller spores. Collections agree with a specimen from Europe examined in Kew, herbarium, named by Bourdot T. fusca subsp. castanea. I have followed Donk in considering the plant as a species, rather than a subspecies of T. fusca, under which it was placed by Bourdot & Galzin.
TYPE LOCALITY: France.
Tomentella epiphylla (Schwein.) G. Cunn. 1939
UNKNOWN HOST: New South Wales, Garie Beach.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, loosely attached, effused forming small irregular areas 2-4 x 1-2 cm; hymenial surface umber or sepia, granulose, not creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, loosely attached, fibrillose, sometimes with scattered rhizomorphs. Context sepia, to 400 µm thick, a loose weft of intertwined hyphae becoming erect beneath the hymenium, with in the base numerous cordons to 50 µm diameter, composed of 20-35 parallel compacted hyphae; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter in the subhymenium, in the base of the context to 8 µm, walls 0.2 µm, thick, some roughened slightly, ferruginous, tinted beneath the hymenium, freely branched at a wide angle, septate, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 55 µm deep, of loosely arranged corymbs of basidia, paraphyses, and occasional paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 35-46 x 5-7 bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses clavate, 20-35 x 5-6 µm. Paraphysate hyphae projecting to 50 µm, cylindrical, septate, to 5 µm diameter. Spores subglobose or oblong elliptical, 8-10 x 7-9 µm, walls strongly sinuate, coarsely sparsely echinulate, tinted brown, 0.2 µm thick, spines to 2 µm long.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, Great Britain, Europe, Australia.
HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Specimens agree with collections of 'Hypochnus granulosus' examined in Kew herbarium. The species may be recognised by the granulose surface, rather stout basal hyphae, presence of large cordons near the base, strongly sinuate coarsely echinulate spore walls, and dark colour of the context. Basidia and paraphyses are grouped in corymbs, forming a loose palisade and giving to the surface its granulose appearance. Cordons are conspicuous and may be seen with the aid of a hand lens when the upper layer is dissected away. Because of their presence the species was placed by Bourdot & Galzin (1928, p. 507) under the section 'Chordulatae', containing in addition T. rubiginosa (Bres.) Maire (with two subspecies T. gresicola B. & G. and T. hasicola B. & G.), T. coriaria (Peck) Bourd. & Galz., and T. botryoides (Schw.) Bourd. & Galz. Burt at first used the name Hypochnus granulosus for the species; later, following examination of the type of Hydnum epiphyllum, he held (1926b, p. 320) that the correct specific epithet was Hypochnus epiphyllus.
TYPE LOCALITY: Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Tomentella fusca (Pers.) J. Schröt. 1888 [1889]
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m; Murchison, 170 m. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 120 m. PAPILIONACEAE. Ulex europaeus: Nelson, Appleby, 35 m.
Hymenophore annual, sometimes biennial, membranous, loosely attached, effused forming irregularly orbicular or elliptical areas to 10 x 7 cm; hymenial surface ferruginous, dark umber or chocolate, often with a vinaceous tinge, even, slightly punctate under a lens, not creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, arachnoid, loosely attached. Context ferruginous, 400-650 µm thick, basal layer of mainly parallel hyphae, intermediate layer well developed, of mainly erect hyphae; generative hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, clear brown, branched at a wide angle, freely septate save in the basal hyphae where septa are widely spaced, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 80 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 40-56 x 8-10 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, to 10 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 25-48 x 5-7 µm. Spores globose, subglobose, obovate, or oval, 9-12 x 8-10 µm (a few to 14 x 10 µm), apiculate, walls sinuate, sparsely coarsely aculeate, ferruginous, 0.25-0.5 µm thick, spines to 1.5 µm long.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Spores are slightly larger than those of authentic European specimens examined, but in other features collections agree. Specific features are the dark colour of the hymenial surface which is often chocolate and tinted vinaceous, loose attachment of fructifications, absence of cordons, and coarsely aculeate, sinuate spore walls of a colour similar to the context hyphae. Spores bear a prominent apiculus, which may be obscured by the coarse aculeae.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Tomentella pilosa (Burt) Bourdot & Galzin 1924
Pumice Boulders: Wellington, Desert Road, Mt. Tongariro, 1,100 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, loosely attached, effused forming irregular areas 4-10 x 2-5 cm, with a few scattered orbicular outlying islands; hymenial surface umber with broad fawn margins, at first somewhat porose, becoming even or slightly tomentose, not creviced; margin thinning out, to 5 mm broad, fawn, adherent. Context ferruginous, to 200 µm thick, basal layer containing numerous cordons 10-25 µm diameter of 5-10 hyphae closely compacted, intermediate layer of loosely intertwined mainly ascending hyphae; generative hyphae 3-5-4 µm, diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, pallid yellow-brown, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia clavate, 16-28 x 4-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, arcuate, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-18 x 4-5 µm. Paraphysate hyphae projecting to 60 µm, clavate, 52-96 x 6-8 µm, apices inflated to 12 µm, with one or two transverse septa each with a clamp connection. Spores oval or irregularly subglobose, angled, apiculate, 7-9 x 6-7 µm, walls strongly sinuate, finely irregularly verruculose, yellow-brown, 0.2 µm thick, spines to 0.5 µm long.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, France, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Lower surfaces of pumice boulders lying upon the ground.
Cordons are abundant in the base, and composed of few or many thin-walled hyphae firmly compacted. Paraphysate hyphae ('cystidia' of Burt; 'cystidioles' of Bourdot & Galzin) project for as much as 60 µm, and possess one or two transverse septa each with a clamp connection. Walls are hyaline, 0.25 µm thick, and even or bear a few mucilage granules.
TYPE LOCALITY: Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Tomentella punicea (Alb. & Schwein.) J. Schröt. 1888 [1889]
CONIFERAE. Podocarpus hallii: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 950 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming small irregular areas 0.5-2 cm across; surface delicately porose-punctate under a lens, pruinose, not creviced, brick-red, drying pinkish-buff or reddish-brown; margin thinning out, arachnoid, adherent, concolorous or pallid. Context chestnut, to 220 µm thick, intermediate layer of mainly erect hyaline hyphae, basal layer of a few repent hyphae tinted brown; generative hyphae 3-5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, branched, freely septate, with clamp connections. Hymemal layer to 65 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 40-56 x 8-11 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, to 7 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 30-42 x 7-9 µm. Spores subglobose, broadly oval, or ovate, 7-10 x 6-8 µm, walls sinuate, coarsely aculeate, delicately tinted brown, 0.25 µm thick, spines to 2 µm long.
HABITAT: Decayed decorticated wood.
TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.
Consisting of several small elliptical colonies coloured brick-red or chestnut, this scanty collection agrees with authentic specimens examined in Kew herbarium. Pigment granules are soluble in solutions of potassium hydroxide, stain with aniline blue, and in sections are seen to be crowded in hyphae, basidia, paraphyses, and spores. Walls of spores are lightly tinted brown, sinuate, and coarsely aculeate.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North Africa, New Zealand.
Tomentella viridis (Berk.) G. Cunn. 1963
UNKNOWN HOSTS. Tasmania, type collection of Thelephora viridis (herb. Kew); type collection of Hypochnus chlorinus (herb. Kew). New South Wales, Garie Beach.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, fragile, loosely attached, effused forming small irregular areas to 6 x 1.5 cm; hymenial surface finely granulose, yellow-green, ferruginous when dry, sparsely creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, loosely attached, fibrillose. Context tinted yellow, to 120 µm thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae to 5 µm diameter, walls tinted, intermediate layer of mainly erect hyphae 3 µm diameter; generative hyphae 3-4.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, some bearing yellow granules of mucilage, hyaline, beneath the hymenium, tinted yellow in the base, branched, septate, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 35 µm deep, a loose palisade of clusters of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia clavate, 16-20 x 4.5-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 12-16 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores globose or subglobose, apiculate, 4.5-6 µm diameter, walls not sinuate, golden-yellow, finely sparsely verruculose, 0.2 µm thick, spines to 0.5 µm long.
DISTRIBUTION: Tasmania, Australia.
HABITAT: Bark and decorticated dead branches.
T. viridis may be recognised readily by the yellow-green granulose surface, delicate context, small basidia, and small subglobose spores. Context hyphae of the base are 4.5-5 µm diameter with walls tinted yellow, 2.5-3 µm diameter and hyaline in the bulk of the context. A few in the base bear irregular granules of yellow mucilage. Spores are globose or subglobose, walls are golden yellow, not sinuate, and covered with scanty verrucae about 0.5 µm long. Only the three collections listed are known. On the type sheet of 'Thelephora' viridis is placed a specimen from New Zealand which is part of the type of Coniophora viridis.
TYPE LOCALITY: Tasmania.
Trechispora coronifera (Höhn. & Litsch.) D.P. Rogers & H.S. Jacks. 1943
FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m.
Hymenophore annual, pelliculose, adherent, effused forming irregular linear areas to 10 x 2 cm; hymenial surface bluish-white, resembling hoar frost when fresh, even or granulose, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, to 40 µm thick, a basal layer of parallel cemented hyphae, without an intermediate layer; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm, diameter, to 7 µm in a few inflated basal hyphae, walls 0.1 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia scattered, projecting for the greater part of their length, cylindrical or tapering slightly, 28-80 x 5-8 µm, walls hyaline; 0.25 µm thick, contents yellow when fresh. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, of scattered basidia, paraphyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia when immature obovate or oblong, when mature each with inflated and long narrow body, urniform at apices, 10-16 x 4.5-6 µm, bearing 4-6 (8) spores; sterigmata arcuate; slender, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses scanty, cylindrical, 8-12 x 4-5 µm. Spores suballantold or obovate, 4.5-5 x 2.5-3 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe; Great Britain, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
From delicate species of Corticium, Trechispora coronifera may be separated by the thin context of irregular hyphae, small projecting gloeocystidia and urniform basidia, bearing four or six, sometimes eight spores. Gloeocystidia vary appreciably in size and shape, contain yellow contents when, fresh, and soon collapse. An intermediate layer is wanting, the hymenial layer, arising directly from the basal layer of compacted, freely septate hyphae.
TYPE LOCALITY: Austria.
Tubulicrinis callosus G. Cunn. 1963
FAGACEAE: Nothofagus fusca: Murchison, 140 m; Orwell Creek, Ahaura, 120 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No 17432.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 10 x 4 cm; hymenial surface white, soon cream, verruculose, tuberculate, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, to 35 µ thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of scanty erect hyphae embedding numerous stellate crystals; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, naked, with clamp connections. Cystidia projecting for the greater part of their length, arising from the base of the hymenial layer, cylindrical or irregularly so, 90-120 x 7-9 µ, walls naked, to 2 µ thick at bases, tapering gradually to apices. Hymenial layer to 20 µ thick, a scattered palisade of basidia, paraphyses, cystidia, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 10-12 x 4-4.5 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 6-10 x 3.5-4 µ. Paraphysate hyphae arising from the hymenial layer when projecting for the greater part of their length, 30-70 x 4-6 µ, apices inflated to 12 µ. Spores globose or subglobose, a few oval, some apiculate, 5-6 µ diameter, or 6.5 x 5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Ahaura, Nelson, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead trunks and branches.
Hymenophorum membranaceum, adnatum, effusum; superficie alba deinde cremea, verruculosa vel tuberculata, non rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae fibulatae, 3-3.5 µ diam. Cystidia cylindricalia, 90-120 x 7-9 µ, apicibus rotundis, basis radicatis, parietibus nudis, ex basi ad apicem fastigata. Basidia subclavata, 10-12 x 4-4.5 µ, 2-4 sporis. Sporae globosae vel subglobosae, 5-6 µ diam., parietibus levibus, hyalinis. On dead bark of Nothofagus fusca, Ahaura, Nelson, N.Z.
Specific features are the subglobose or globose smooth spores, long cylindrical cystidia with naked walls becoming progressively thinner towards apices, and large capitate paraphysate hyphae some bearing acicular crystals. Cystidia resemble those of T. subalutacea, capitate paraphysate hyphae those of T. rimicola.
Tubulicrinis cinctus G. Cunn. 1963
CONIFERAE. Dacrydium cupressinum: Westland, Weheka, 200 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 17428.
Hymenophore annual, arachnoid, adherent, effused forming irregular colonies to 4 x 2.5 cm; hymenial surface white, or cream, velutinate, not creviced; margin thinning out, white, arachnoid, adherent. Context to 50 µ thick, white, basal layer composed of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer a compact zone of mainly erect hyphae; generative hyphae 4-6 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, naked, with clamp connections. Cystidia arising from the base of the context, projecting for the greater part of their length, cylindrical, 56-90 x 6-8 µ, apices inflated to 10 µ, walls smooth save beneath inflated regions there bearing a band of coarse crystals, lumena capillary, save in inflated apical regions. Hymenial layer a scanty palisade of basidia, paraphyses, cystidia, and a few paraphysate hyphae. Basidia clavate, 12-16 x 5.5-6 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 4 µ long. Paraphyses clavate, 10-14 x 4-5 µ. Paraphysate hyphae arising from the context, projecting slightly, stems to 12 x 3 µ, capitate apices 4-5 µ diameter. Spores elliptical, 4-4.5 x 3-3.5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Weheka, Westland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Hymenophorum araneum, adnatum, effusum; superficie alba vel cremea, velutinata, non rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae fibulatae, 4-6 µ diam. Cystidia cylindricalia, 56-90 x 6-8 µ, apicibus ad 10 µ inflatis, cervice crassis crystalis cincta. Basidia clavata, 12-16 x 5.5-6 µ, 4 sporis. Sporae ellipticae, 4-4.5 x 3-3.5 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. On dead bark of Dacrydium cupressinum, Weheka, Westland, N.Z.
Cystidia are cylindrical, apices inflated, with girdling bands of crystals at bases of inflated areas. Five species with inflated apices to the cystidia have been named, T. accedens (B. & G.) Donk, `Peniophora' juniperina Bourd. & Galz., T. regifica (Jacks. & Deardn.) Donk, T. sceptrifera (Jacks. & Were.) Donk and T. thermometra. T. cincta agrees most closely with T. regifica and T. sceptrifera. It differs from the latter by the shape of the cystidia, and from T. regifica by the smaller cystidia with bands of girdling crystals, and smaller spores.
Tubulicrinis filicicola G. Cunn. 1963
FILICALES. Cyathea dealbata: Auckland, Mountain Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 17426.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas 7-9 x 3-4 cm; hymenial surface straw colour, drying pallid ochre, velutinate, deeply areolately creviced; margin thinning out, fibrillose, cream, adherent. Context cream, 90-160 µ thick, basal layer of mainly parallel hyphae, intermediate layer a dense zone of erect hyphae soon partly collapsed and cemented; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µ diameter, walls 0.1 µ thick, with clamp connections. Cystidia irregular in shape and size, subulate with radicate bases and acuminate sometimes bifid apices, projecting to 30 µ, often geniculated, basal roots one or several, sometimes freely branched and almost dendriform, 55-75 x 6-10 µ, lumena capillary, walls smooth, enmeshed in hyphal sheaths. Hymenial layer to 20 µ deep, a scanty palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and cystidia. Basidia cylindrical or cucurbitiform with slightly inflated bases, 12-16 x 5-6 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 7 µ long. Paraphyses cylindrical or obovate, 12-15 x 3.5-4 µ. Spores allantoid, with acuminate ends, 6-8 x 2-2.5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Waitakere Ranges, Auckland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on trunks of tree ferns.
Hymenophorum membranaceum, adnatum, effusum; superficie straminea, pallide ochracea siccante, velutinata, alte areolato rimosa. Hyphae generatoriae fibulatae, 2-2.5 µ diam. Cystidia subulata, basis radicatis, saepe geniculata, 55-75 x 6-10 µ, lumenibus capillatis, in vaginis hypharum implicatis. Basidia cylindricalia, 12-16 x 5-7 µ, 4 sporis. Sporae allantoides, 6-8 x 2-2.5 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. On dead pendent stipes of Cyathea dealbata, Waitakere Ranges, Auckland, N.Z.
Cystidia stain deeply with aniline blue, but are not amyloid. They are irregular both in size and shape and crowded into irregular rows in the hymenial layer and context. Most are subulate, some bifid near apices, others bear a lateral branch about midway, others again are flexuous or the apical part is geniculated. Roots vary in numbers and shape, some being freely branched so that they appear almost dendriform. When branched portions are detached accidentally in preparing sections they appear like dendriform structures among the context hyphae. The habitat is unusual, the collection being taken from hard black residual bases of dead stipes forming the exterior of a tree fern trunk.
Tubulicrinis gladiolus (G. Cunn.) G. Cunn. 1963
ANACARDIACEAE. Plectomirtha baylisana: Auckland, Great King Island. ARALIACEAE. Neopanax simplex: Wellington, Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley, 50 m. COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Taneatua Reserve, 20 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 11484. CONIFERAE. Cupressus macrocarpa: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 75 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Wellington, Blyth Track, Ohakune, 700 m. MONIMIACEAE. Hedycarya arborea: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 500 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m.
Hymenophore annual, sometimes biennial, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular linear areas 12-15 x 3-5 cm; hymenial surface dingy white or pallid cream, velutinate, not creviced; margin thinning out, membranous, adherent but sometimes tending to lift. Context white, 50-130 µ thick, basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer scanty, of densely compacted hyphae collapsed when old, many crystal encrusted; generative hyphae 2.5-4 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, some encrusted, with clamp connections. Cystidia arising from the base of the intermediate layer, projecting for the greater part of their length, subulate, 120-210 x 12-16 µ, bases rounded and inflated, apices long-acuminate, thick-walled, rugulose-roughened or etched, sometimes bearing a few crystals and enmeshed within sheaths of delicate hyphae. Hymenial layer to 35 µ deep, an irregular palisade of basidia, paraphyses, paraphysate hyphae, and cystidia. Basidia subclavate or subcylindrical, 20-25 x 7-9 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; stengmata arcuate, to 8 µ long. Paraphyses scanty, subclavate, 12-18 x 6-7 µ. Paraphysate hyphae abundant, projecting to 18 µ, 2-3 µ diameter, each bearing a cap of acicular crystals. Spores globose, subglobose, oval, or sometimes broadly elliptical, strongly apiculate, 7-11 x 6-9 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Taneatua Reserve, Auckland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
T. gladiola and T. hastata possess similar cystidia. These are subulate, project far beyond the delicate context, walls are thickened, become partly disorganised in solutions of potassium hydroxide, and are rugulose-roughened as if etched. Frequently they are enmeshed in hyphal sheaths.
Tubulicrinis gracillimus (D.P. Rogers & H.S. Jacks.) G. Cunn. 1963
ARALIACEAE. Neopanax simplex: Wellington, Mangatorutoru Stream, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,000 m. CONIFERAE. Libocedrus bidwilli Wellington, Mangatorutoru Stream, Mt. Ruapehu, 950 m; Pangarara River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,300 m. Podocarpus hallii: Wellington, Mt. Tongariro, 950 m. CORNACEAE. Griselinia lucida: Wellington, Silica Springs Track, Mt. Ruapehu, 1,000 m. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Auckland, Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 100 m; Te Whaiti, 500 m. Wellington, Mt. Hauhangatahi, 750 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Upper Waikato River, Kaimanawa Ranges, 600 m. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Murchison, 140 m. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 130 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma foetidissima: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 950 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. New South Wales, Sydney. South Australia, Adelaide.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused, forming linear areas to 12 x 3 cm; hymenial surface cream, pruinose, deeply areolately creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, 80-150 µm thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of densely arranged mainly erect hyphae among which, at the base, are few or many thick-walled hyphae; generative hyphae 2.5-4 µmdiameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Cystidia arising from the basal layer and projecting to 65 µm, naked, cylindrical, 65-144 x 8-12 µm, lumena capillary, apices thin-walled and rounded. Hymenial layer to 25 µm, deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and cystidia. Basidia subclavate, 12-16 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 6-10 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores cylindrical or allantoid, with rounded ends, 6-8 x 1.5-2 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North America, Europe, Great Britain, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Cystidia are cylindrical, with walls so thickened, save at apices, that lumena are capillary. Apices remain thin-walled, so that cystidia simulate inverted miniature thermometers. Cystidia arise in the context as deeply staining, thin-walled organs, resembling gloeocystidia. Shortly their walls become thickened from within until lumena are almost obliterated. Spores are similar in shape to those of T. subalutacea, but smaller. The intermediate tissue consists mainly of erect sparsely branched hyphae with, near the base, intertwined convoluted thick-walled hyphae of the same diameter. The latter are extensions of basal roots of the cystidia, may be abundant or scanty, and sometimes occupy one-third of the base of the context. As the name Peniophora glebulosa (Fr. ex Bres.) Sacc. & Syd. cannot be employed for the species, being a nomen confusum, Rogers & Jackson applied to the cystidiate species of the complex, with a validating description, the herbarium name used by Ellis & Everhart.
TYPE LOCALITY: New Jersey, U.S.A.
Tubulicrinis hastatus G. Cunn. 1963
CORNACEAE. Griselinia lucida: Auckland, Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 250 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 11442
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming numerous small elliptical colonies in bark crevices, 1-5 x 0.5-1.5 cm; hymenial surface white, velutinate, scantily creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, to 60 µ thick, basal layer delicate, of a few parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of scanty, mainly erect, short-celled hyphae; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, often encrusted, freely septate, with clamp connections. Cystidia arising from the base of the intermediate layer and projecting for the greater part of their length, subulate with slightly inflated bases and long-acuminate apices, 110-190 x 10-14 µ, thick-walled, rugulose-roughened or etched, sometimes bearing a few crystals and enmeshed in delicate hyphal sheaths. Hymenial layer to 20 µ deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and cystidia. Basidia subclavate, 12-16 x 5-6 µ, bearing 4 spores, soon collapsing; sterigmata slender, to 4 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 8-12 x 4-5 µ. Spores broadly elliptical, ovate, obovate, sometimes flattened on one side, 5-6 x 4-5 µ, walls finely verruculose, hyaline, 0.5 µ, thick, soon collapsing.
TYPE LOCALITY: Glen Esk Valley, Auckland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Close to T. gladiola, differing in the smaller basidia, smaller elliptical spores with finely verruculose walls, and absence of paraphysate hyphae.
Tubulicrinis praeteritus (Jacks.) G. Cunn. 1963
CORNACEAE. Griselinia lucida: Auckland, Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 300 m.
Hymenophore annual, arachnoid, pelliculose, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 7 x 5 cm; hymenial surface white or bluish-grey, even, vernicose, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, basal layer a delicate zone of parallel hyphae soon collapsing, intermediate layer absent; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.1 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Cystidia projecting for the greater part of their length, cylindrical or tapering slightly from bases to apices which are sometimes slightly expanded, somewhat flexuous and often collapsed, 50-72 x 8-12 µm, walls naked, 0.25-0.5 µm thick, of equal thickness from base to apex. Hymenial layer a shallow zone of scattered basidia, paraphyses, cystidia, and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate or cylindrical, 14-18 x 7-8 µm, bearing 3-4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, 10-14 x 5-6 µm. Paraphysate hyphae scanty, capitate, 12-14 x 4 µm, apices slightly expanded to 6 µm. Spores obovate, oval, subglobose, or globose, 7-12 µm diameter, or 8-12 x 8-10 µm, walls moderately verruculose, hyaline, 0.5 µm thick, spines 0.5-1 µm long.
DISTRIBUTION: Canada, Eastern United States, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Decorticated wood of dead branches.
The New Zealand collection agrees with the excellent type description, differing only in that cystidia are slightly broader and spores slightly larger. T. praeterita most closely resembles T. rimicola in structure of the context, manner in which basidia and cystidia arise, verruculose spores, and presence of capitate paraphysate hyphae. It differs in that spores are larger and of different shape, with more prominent verrucae and thicker walls, and in the stout shorter cystidia and thinner context.
TYPE LOCALITY: Ontario, Canada.
Tubulicrinis rimicola (P. Karst.) G. Cunn. 1963
COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 300 m; Lake Okataina, 450 m. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Aristotelia serrata: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 400 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 450 m; Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. PANDANACEAE. Freycinetia banksii: Auckland, Whangapoua Saddle, Coromandel Peninsula, 500 m. PROTEACEAE. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 500 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma robusta: Wellington, Turakina Valley, 75 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Hawke's Bay, Waipatiki Beach. Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m.
Hymenophore annual, probably perennial, ceraceous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas 7-10 x 3-5 cm; hymenial surface dingy grey, pallid ochre or light reddish-brown, pruinose, polished when .old, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context dingy brown and glistening in section, 40-150 µm thick, basal layer of densely compacted, gelatinised, parallel hyphae sometimes arranged in 2-3 obscure zones, intermediate layer wanting; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, without clamp connections. Cystidia arising from superficial basal hyphae, projecting for almost their entire length, naked, cylindrical with inflated bases and often collapsed sometimes strangulated attenuated apices, 70-110 x 5-8 µm. Hymenial layer a shallow zone of scattered basidia, paraphyses, and cystidia. Basidia clavate, 14-24 x 7-9 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, 4-6 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate or cylindrical, 12-16 x 3.5-4 µm. Paraphysate hyphae cylindrical with capitate apices, stems 12-16 x 2-5 µm, apices inflated to 4 µm. Spores broadly elliptical, oval, obovate, a few subglobose, laterally apiculate, 7-9 x 5-6 µm, walls delicately but distinctly verruculose, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North and South America, South Africa, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
When fresh, fructifications are somewhat gelatinous, farinose from projecting cystidia, and tinted greyish-blue; when dry they become firm and horny, often appearing varnished and in sections glistening. T. rimicola offers difficulties in its interpretation. It evidently belongs to Tubulicrinis since cystidia are naked and develop directly from basal hyphae, not upon pedicels. An intermediate tissue is wanting, the hymenium arising from surface hyphae of the basal layer. The latter, at first delicate and composed of a few repent hyphae, becomes extensive as plants develop, in some collections appearing obscurely stratose and embedding collapsed cystidia. Finally hyphae of the basal layer, save near the fertile area, become gelatinised, collapsed, and almost amorphous. Spores are delicately but distinctly verruculose, size and abundance of verrucae varying in different collections. Cystidia are relatively thick-walled at bases, walls becoming progressively thinner towards apices, and in that region soon collapse. Capitate paraphysate hyphae are present in the hymenial layer and may be abundant or scanty in different collections.
TYPE LOCALITY: Finland.
Tubulicrinis rimicola sensu G. Cunn. 1963
COMPOSITAE. Brachyglottis repanda: Auckland, Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, 300 m; Lake Okataina, 450 m. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Aristotelia serrata: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 400 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Lake Okataina, 450 m; Lake Rotoehu, 400 m. PANDANACEAE. Freycinetia banksii: Auckland, Whangapoua Saddle, Coromandel Peninsula, 500 m. PROTEACEAE. Knightia excelsa: Auckland, Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 500 m. RUBIACEAE. Coprosma robusta: Wellington, Turakina Valley, 75 m. VIOLACEAE. Melicytus ramiflorus: Hawke's Bay, Waipatiki Beach. Wellington, Lake Papaitonga, 20 m.
Hymenophore annual, probably perennial, ceraceous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas 7-10 x 3-5 cm; hymenial surface dingy grey, pallid ochre or light reddish-brown, pruinose, polished when old; not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context dingy brown and glistening in section, 40-150 µ thick, basal layer of densely compacted, gelatinised, parallel hyphae sometimes arranged in 2-3 obscure zones, intermediate layer wanting; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, naked, without clamp connections. Cystidia arising from superficial basal hyphae, projecting for almost their entire length, naked, cylindrical with inflated bases and often collapsed sometimes strangulated attenuated apices, 70-110 x 5-8 µ. Hymenial layer a shallow zone of scattered basidia, paraphyses, and cystidia. Basidia clavate, 14-24 x 7-9 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly arcuate, 4-6 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate or cylindrical, 12-16 x 3.5-4 µ. Paraphysate hyphae cylindrical with capitate apices, stems 12-16 x 2.5 µ, apices inflated to 4 µ. Spores broadly elliptical, oval, obovate, a few subglobose, laterally apiculate, 7-9 x 5-6 µ, walls delicately but distinctly verruculose, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Finland.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North and South America, South Africa, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
When fresh, fructifications are somewhat gelatinous, farinose from projecting cystidia, and tinted greyish-blue; when dry they become firm and horny, often appearing varnished and in sections glistening. T. rimicola offers difficulties in its interpretation. It evidently belongs to Tubulicrinis since cystidia are naked and develop directly from basal hyphae, not upon pedicels. An intermediate tissue is wanting, the hymenium arising from surface hyphae of the basal layer. The latter, at first delicate and composed of a few repent hyphae, becomes extensive as plants develop, in some, collections appearing obscurely stratose and embedding collapsed cystidia. Finally hyphae of the basal layer, save near the fertile area, become gelatinised, collapsed, and almost amorphous. Spores are delicately but distinctly verruculose, size and abundance of verrucae varying in different collections.
Tubulicrinis subalutaceus (P. Karst.) G. Cunn. 1963
CONIFERAE. Dacrydium colensoi: Wellington, Horopito, 450 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Titirangi, 250 m. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Aristotelia serrata: Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island. LORANTHACEAE. Elytranthe tetrapetala: Canterbury, Punch Bowl, Arthurs Pass, 850 m. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 350 m; Waikowhai, 20 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 12 x 4 cm; hymenial surface dingy white or pallid ochre, granular, farinose, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, 50-150 µm thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of loosely arranged mainly ascending hyphae more freely branched in the subhymenium; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, hyaline, naked, with clamp connections, Cystidia arising from the base of the intermediate layer, projecting to 65 µm, cylindrical or slightly expanded from bases to apices, 80-130 x 6-8 µm, walls naked, thickened basally to 2.5 µm, becoming thinner towards the often collapsed apices. Hymenial layer to 20 µm deep, a scanty palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and cystidia. Basidia subclavate, 10-18 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, to 5 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 8-12 x 3-4 µm. Spores cylindrical or allantoid, with rounded ends, 6-9 x 2-2.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick; often adhering in fours.
DISTRIBUTION: Europe, Great Britain, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.
Cystidia are expanded slightly from bases to apices, and walls become thickened progressively from apices to bases. In several collections they are arranged in clusters in small spines, so that the species might be sought under Odontia of the Hydnaceae; but in other particulars are identical with even collections listed. Spores are allantoid, some cylindrical, and in shape resemble those of T. gracillima.
TYPE LOCALITY: Mustiala, Finland.
Tubulicrinis thermometrus (G. Cunn.) G. Cunn. 1963
MYRTACEAE. Metrosideros robusta: Auckland, Hicks Bay, 100 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 11483.
Hymenophore a tenuous greyish film barely visible upon the substratum, annual, arachnoid, adherent, to 5 x 2 cm; hymenial surface dingy white, delicately pruinose, arachnoid; margin arachnoid, white, adherent. Context a tenuous layer 10-18 µ, thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, soon collapsed, intermediate layer wanting; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, naked, with clamp connections. Cystidia arising in the base of the context and projecting for the greater part of their length, cylindrical or slightly attenuated towards the rounded and inflated apices, 45-64 x 4-6 µ, bases forked, lumena capillary, save at apices where expanded and bulbous, walls naked or as often enmeshed in delicate hyphal sheaths. Hymenial layer composed of scattered basidia, paraphyses, and cystidia. Basidia clavate, 6-8 x 4-5 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, to 4 µ long. Paraphyses clavate, 4-6 x 3-4 µ. Spores globose, apiculate, 3.5-4 µ diameter, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Hicks Bay, Auckland, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on decayed decorticated fallen trunks.
Cystidia project for almost their entire length, and are cylindrical or slightly tapering with inflated apices; walls, save at apices, are so thickened that lumena are capillary, and are destroyed with aqueous solutions of potassium hydroxide. They become enmeshed in hyphal sheaths. Apices are thin-walled and inflated so that cystidia, like those of T. gracillima, resemble miniature inverted thermometers. Basidia are small, clavate, and develop directly, from hyphae of the basal layer. Fructifications appear as delicate white or greyish arachnoid films upon the surface of fallen decayed trunks; visible to the eye when fresh, in the herbarium fructifications can be seen only with the aid of a dissecting microscope.
The species resembles T. accedens (B. & G.) Donk in shape of the cystidia, but differs in the smaller basidia, globose spores and more delicate fructifications.
Tubulicrinis thermometrus (G. Cunn.) M.P. Christ. 1960
MYRTACEAE. Metrosideros robusta: Auckland, Hicks Bay, 100 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 11483.
Hymenophore a tenuous greyish film barely visible upon the substratum, annual, arachnoid, adherent, to 5 x 2 cm; hymenial surface dingy white, delicately pruinose, arachnoid; margin arachnoid, white, adherent. Context a tenuous layer 10-18 µm thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, soon collapsed, intermediate layer wanting; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Cystidia arising in the base of the context and projecting for the greater part of their length, cylindrical or slightly attenuated towards the rounded and inflated apices, 45-64 x 4-6 µm, bases forked, lumena capillary, save at apices where expanded and bulbous, walls naked or as often enmeshed in delicate hyphal sheaths. Hymenial layer composed of scattered basidia, paraphyses, and cystidia. Basidia clavate, 6-8 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses clavate, 4-6 x 3-4 µm. Spores globose, apiculate, 3.5-4 µm diameter, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on decayed decorticated fallen trunks.
Cystidia project for almost their entire length, and are cylindrical or slightly tapering with inflated apices; walls, save at apices, are so thickened that lumena are capillary, and are destroyed with aqueous solutions of potassium hydroxide. They become enmeshed in hyphal sheaths. Apices are thin-walled and inflated so that cystidia, like those of T. gracillima, resemble miniature inverted thermometers. Basidia are small, clavate, and develop directly from hyphae of the basal layer. Fructifications appear as delicate white or greyish arachnoid films upon the surface of fallen decayed trunks; visible to the eye when fresh, in the herbarium fructifications can be seen only with the aid of a dissecting microscope. The species resembles T. accedens (B. & G.) Donk in shape of the cystidia, but differs in the smaller basidia, globose spores and more delicate fructifications.
TYPE LOCALITY: Hicks Bay, Auckland, New Zealand.
Tubulicrinis umbraculus (G. Cunn.) G. Cunn. 1963
MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum ericoides: Auckland, Great King Island. WINTERACEAE. Pseudowintera colorata: Otago, Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 13660.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular colonies, 1-4 x 0.5-2 cm; hymenial surface cream, even although at first often porose, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, 30-50 µ thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer of scanty mainly erect hyphae; generative hyphae 4-5 µ diameter, walls 0.5 µ thick, naked, often inflated between septa, with clamp connections. Cystidia arising from the basal layer or subhymenium and projecting to 50 µ, cylindrical, 35-70 x 10-12 µ, tapering to apices where each is capped with a crystalline body to 8 µ diameter, resembling a miniature parasol, with radiating ridges terminating in acute spines, walls naked, thickened to 3 µ. Hymenial layer to 20 µ deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, and cystidia. Basidia subclavate, 10-14 x 5-6 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 8-10 x 3.5-4 µ. Spores elliptical, sometimes flattened on one side, or obovate, apiculate, 5-6 x 3-3.5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick.
TYPE LOCALITY: Stewart Island, Otago, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark or decorticated dead branches.
Cystidia project for the greater part of their length, are moderately thick-walled, taper from bases, and bear upon apices caps of fused crystals which resemble miniature parasols. The exterior of each cap is ribbed and ribs terminate in acute down-pointed spines. But one other species with such a feature has been described, T. hamata (Jacks.) Donk, which differs in the larger basidia and differently shaped spores. Walls of cystidia are naked and are destroyed with solutions of potassium hydroxide although the apical `caps remain inaltered.
Tubulicrinis vermicularis (Wakef.) G. Cunn. 1963
FILICALES. Cyathea medullaris: Auckland, Kauri Park, Birkdale, 100 m; Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 500 m. Cyathea smithii: Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 900 m.
Hymenophore annual, arachnoid, adherent, effused forming small linear or irregular areas 2-8 x 0.5-1 cm; hymenial surface white, even, finely velutinate, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, white, adherent. Context white, 15-25 µm thick, basal layer compact, of mainly parallel hyphae often embedding lenses of crystals, intermediate layer wanting; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Cystidia arising from the surface of the basal layer, projecting for the greater part of their length, subulate, 44-80 x 8-12 µm, apices bluntly acuminate, bases forked, apical regions of some at first encrusted with coarse crystals, becoming smooth when cystidia are enmeshed in hyphal sheaths. Hymenial layer an irregular palisade of scattered basidia, paraphyses, and cystidia. Basidia subclavate, 10-16 x 5-6 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate or as often obclavate, 10-12 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores lunate with acuminate ends, 9-11 x 3.5-4 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick; sometimes adhering in fours, or pairs.
DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on dead pendent stipes of tree ferns.
Separated from T. vermifera by the smaller cystidia and basidia, lunate spores, and effused fructifications confined to dead pendent stipes of tree ferns. Some cystidia are at first encrusted apically with coarse deciduous crystals, then simulating metuloids; these soon disappear, to be replaced by hyphal sheaths. Spores are lunate and may adhere in pairs or fours. Lenses of crystals are often embedded in the context, hyphae of which collapse and become gelatinised. Collections match the type of 'Peniophora' vermicularis in Kew herbarium, ex "N.Z., Whakarewarewa, W. N. Cheesman, on a fern petiole."
TYPE LOCALITY: Whakarewarewa, Auckland, New Zealand.
Tubulicrinis vermifera (Bourdot) G. Cunn. 1963
ARALIACEAE. Pseudopanax crassifolium: Auckland, Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 200 m. COMPOSITAE. Olearia furfuracea: Auckland, Rangitoto Island. Senecio reinoldii: Otago, Ulva Islet, Stewart Island. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Elaeocarpus dentatus: Auckland, Huia, 35 m. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Kauri Park, Birkdale, 130m; Waitakere Ranges, 280m. MYRTACEAE. Metrosideros umbellata: Auckland, Te Araroa, 200 m. PASSIFLORACEAE. Tetrapathaea tetrandra: Auckland, Huia, 35 m. VERBENACEAE. Vitex lucens: Auckland, Huia, 100 m; Whekatahi Stream, Piha, 35 m.
Hymenophore annual, sometimes biennial, cretaceous, adherent, forming small elliptical or orbicular colonies 5-10 mm long, or linear areas 0.5-5 x 0.5-1.5 cm; hymenial surface white or pallid cream, velutinate, not creviced; margin abrupt, white, ceraceous, adherent. Context white, 50-300 µm thick, basal layer scanty, of parallel hyphae embedding masses of crystals, intermediate layer wanting; generative hyphae 2-2.5µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Cystidia arising from the base of the context, projecting for the greater part of their length, thick-walled, naked, or enmeshed in delicate hyphal sheaths, subulate, 80-135 x 10-16 µm, apices acuminate, bases inflated, forked. Hymenial layer to 20 µm deep, a scanty interrupted palisade of basidia, paraphyses, paraphysate hyphae, and cystidia. Basidia subclavate, 25-35 x 6-7 µm, bearing 1-2-4 spores; sterigmata stout, arcuate, often spread laterally, to 10 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, scanty, 15-20 x 4-5 µm. Paraphysate hyphae cylindrical or branched, 2-2.5 µm diameter, projecting to 15 µm. Spores flexuous-naviculate, bases rounded and apiculate, apices long-acuminate and geniculated, 18-26 x 5.5-6 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Western Europe, North America, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Maculiform on bark of dead or living stems.
Both T. vermifera and T. vermicularis possess subulate cystidia projecting for the greater part of their length, unusual spores, and are without an intermediate layer. Cystidia are thick-walled, readily etched with solutions of potassium hydroxide, and possess strongly radicate bases. At maturity they are enmeshed in sheaths of delicate, freely branched hyphae, branches of which may grow above their apices. Those of T. vermifera are otherwise naked; but in T. vermicularis many cystidia are at first encrusted with crystals which later are shed and replaced with hyphal sheaths. T. vermifera may be identified readily by the small, somewhat maculiform fructifications, large subulate cystidia, large irregular basidia, and peculiar spores. Basidia may bear one, two, or four spores, many of the sterigmata developing almost laterally. Spores are flexuous-naviculate, with proximal ends bluntly acuminate and apiculate, the distal tapering and flexuous. New Zealand collections differ from those of European specimens in the more irregular basidia and, especially, copious development of masses of crystals in the context. In some of the collections listed the context is stratose, composed of two or three vague layers.
TYPE LOCALITY: Aveyron, France.
Vararia investiens (Schwein.) P. Karst. 1898
MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus globulus. Nelson, Appleby, 35 m. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Moturoa, Bay of Islands, 20 m; Paratai, Whangarei, 150 m; Rangitoto Island; Waikowhai, 20 m; Swanson, 100 m; Mt: Te Aroha, 400 m. PROTEACEAE. Hakea acicularis: Auckland, Campbells Bay, 35 m. SCROPHULARIACEAE. Hebe salicifolia: Auckland, Rangitoto Island. VERBENACEAE. Vitex lucens: Auckland, Thumb Track, Little Barrier Island. UNKNOWN HOSTS. South Australia, Bakers Gully, Clarendon. New South Wales, Sydney; Hornsby; National Park.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming linear areas to 10 x 3 cm, with numerous irregular outlying islands; hymenial surface ochre, resembling new chamois leather, often prumose, finely irregularly tuberculate, or even, not creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, fibrillose, adherent. Context 60-150 µm thick, yellow ochre, basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of branched and intertwined hyphae embedding masses of dichophyses; generative hyphae 3.5-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia scanty, confined to the hymenial region, fusiform, 24-35 x 5-6 µm, sometimes slightly projecting, walls occasionally encrusted in part with gelatinous granules. Dichophyses yellow-brown, arranged in several vague layers, repeatedly branched, sometimes dichotomously, ends acuminate. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a scanty palisade of basidia, paraphyses, gloeocystidia, and dichophyses. Basidia cylindrical or ventricose-cylindrical, 16-24 x 5-7 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 8 µm long. Paraphyses scanty, subclavate, 10-18 x 4-5 µm. Spores fusiform, or clavate-fusiform with bluntly rounded apices and long acuminate bases, 9-11 x 3-4 µm, walls hyaline, smooth, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: North and South America, Europe, West Indies,. Japan, Australia, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches.
Identified readily by the yellow-ochre colour of the hymenial surface, which resembles new chamois leather, and masses of yellow-brown dichophyses in the context and hymenial layer. Spores, present in only two of the collections listed, in shape resemble those of V. fusispora (Fig. 54). Collections have somewhat larger and more densely branched dichophyses than those of specimens examined in Kew herbarium, but in other features agree closely.
TYPE LOCALITY: Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Vararia ochroleuca sensu G. Cunn. 1955
CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Westland, Pukekura, 50 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Horopito, 500 m. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Orwell Creek, Ahaura. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 150 m. FILICALES. Dicksonia squarrosa: Auckland, Waiomu Valley, Thames, 100 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 200 m. RUTACEAE. Phebalium nudum: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 200 m. SAXIFRAGACEAE. Quintinia serrata: Westland, Pukekura, 35 m.
Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent; effused forming irregular areas to 5: x 3 cm; hymenial surface cream or pallid ochre, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, fibrillose, concolorous, adherent. Context white, to 90 µm thick, basal layer narrow, of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer scanty, of intertwined hyphae associated with numerous dichophyses and scattered masses of crystals; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia scanty, confined to the hymenial region, projecting 10-25 µm, fusiform with long acuminate apices, or aculeate, 32-60 x 5-7 µm. Dichophyses scattered in the context and massed in the hymenial layer, 2-3 times dichotomously branched, terminating in ;long, aculeate, curved or straight ends. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, gloeocystidia, and dichophyses. Basidia cylindrical or ventricose-cylindrical, 12-24 x 4-6 µm, projecting to 10 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses scanty, mainly obclavate or fusiform, 8-14 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores commonly subglobose, some broadly obovate, apiculate, 3.5-4 x 3-3.5 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm, thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Western Europe, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark of dead branches and trunks.
Separated from other species by the small spores, small ventricose-cylindrical basidia, aculeate or fusiform scanty gloeocystidia confined to the hymenial layer, and narrow hyphae. Spores vary appreciably in shape; most are subglobose with apiculi, others broadly obovate with rounded or abruptly acuminate apices (Fig. 56, a). Collections listed agree with a specimen examined in Kew herbarium, ex "Dermo, France" differing mainly in the presence of abundant crystals in the base of the context.
TYPE LOCALITY: Aveyron, France.
Vararia rhodospora (Wakef.) G. Cunn. 1953 [1952]
CONIFERAE. Agathis australis: Auckland, Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m. CORIARIACEAE. Coriaria arborea: Auckland, Rangitoto Island. CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Westland, Lake Little, 30 m. ELAEOCARPACEAE. Aristotelia serrata: Auckland, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington. Kaimanawa Ranges, 900 m. Nothofagus cunninghamii: Victoria, Tarra Valley. LILIACEAE. Cordyline sp.: Auckland, south-west King Island. MALVACEAE. Hoheria lyallii: Westland, Alecs Knob, Waiho, 700 m. MIMOSACEAE. Acacia sp.: South Australia, Beaumont, Adelaide. MYRSINACEAE. Myrsine salicina: Auckland, Ruatewhenua, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m. MYRTACEAE. Leptospermum scoparium: Auckland, Swanson, 100 m. UNKNOWN. HOST. Western Australia, Pemberton.
Hymenophore perennial, stratose, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 15 x 5 cm, with numerous orbicular outlying islands; hymenial surface cream, alutaceous, or pallid ochre, even, not creviced; margin at first thinning out, when concolorous, adherent, in old specimens becoming cliff like or receding and tobacco-brown. Context ferruginous when old, 0.1-1.5 mm thick, composed of 1-9 obscure layers, basal layer narrow, of parallel cemented hyphae, intermediate layer of scanty erect hyphae, compound dichophyses and embedded crystals and spores; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Gloeocystidia abundant in the hymenial layer, scattered and soon collapsed in the context, subclavate or fusiform, some projecting slightly, 32-85 x 6-8 µm. Dichophyses with stems arising from the base and traversing the context, producing at intervals lateral branches bearing dendriform branchlets with acute apices, some walls tinted near the base. Hymenial layer to 40 µm deep, a scanty palisade of basidia; paraphyses, gloeocystidia, and dichophyses: Basidia cylindrical, 22-32 x 5-6 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, delicate, 6-8 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, scanty, 12-22 x 4-5 µm. Spores globose or subglobose, 6-8.5 µm, walls delicately and closely warted, hyaline, 0.5-1 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Australia, Japan, New Zealand.
HABITAT: Effused on bark and decorticated wood of dead branches.
Spores are scattered freely both on the hymenial surface and among context hyphae. Walls of those on the surface are hyaline and contents are orange, whereas some in the lower layers of the context may be tinted. In size and numbers verrucae differ appreciably, in the collection from Leptospermum scoparium being scarcely visible under a magnification of x 600, whereas in specimens from Cordyline verrucae are about 0.5 µm long. Each compound dichophysis consists of a central stem which, arising from the base, traverses the context to the surface of the hymenium. At intervals lateral branches are produced, sometimes in whorls, bearing dendriform branches similar to the dichophyses of preceding species. In some collections walls of basal portions of the dichophyses are pallid yellow, the remainder being hyaline; in others they are hyaline throughout. All stain deeply with aniline blue. Collections match the type of 'Asterostromella' rhodospora in Kew herbarium, ex "Queensland, Nambour, Blackball Range". The species shows a general resemblance to Vararia pallescens (Schw.) R. & J. and V. peniophoroides (Burt) R. & J. From the former it may be separated by the different dichophyses and larger spores with coarser verrucae; from the latter by the different gloeocystidia and dichophyses, although spores are similar. Asterostroma epigaeum Lloyd from Japan was found to be of the same species.
TYPE LOCALITY: Blackball Range, Queensland.
Veluticeps setosa G. Cunn. 1963
MYRTACEAE. Tristania conferta: Queensland, Cunninghams Gap, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 17463.
Hymenophore apparently resupinate, coriaceous, adherent; effused forming irregular areas to 12 x 8 cm; hymeneal surface ferruginous or umber, velutinate, coarsely and deeply irregularly creviced; margin thinning out, definite, ferruginous, loosely attached. Context ferruginous, to 1 mm thick, a dense layer of parallel hyphae bordered by a cortex of parallel dark brown hyphae from which arise masses of short abhymenial hairs; skeletal hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, lumena almost capillary, ferruginous or reddish-brown, encrusted with granules of brown mucilage; generative hyphae 3-4 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, tinted or hyaline; collapsing, with clamp connections. Fascicles projecting to 160 µm, arising from the base of the subhymenium, 30-50 µm diameter, composed of 6-14 skeletal hyphae with rounded sometimes inflated apices, reddish-brown save at apices where lighter in colour, to 8 µm diameter, delicately verruculose, lumena capillary. Pseudosetae forming the bulk of the subhymenium, arranged in a dense palisade of 2-4 coloured zones, to 5 µm diameter, with rounded sometimes inflated apices, chestnut. Hymenial layer to 180 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia, paraphyses, fascicles, pseudosetae, and a deep subhymenium. Basidia clavate, 24-32 x 6-8 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses rather scanty, subclavate, 18-25 x 5-6 µm. Spores fusiform or narrowly obovate, with rounded or acuminate apices, apiculate, 16-18 x 5-6 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Australia.
HABITAT: Decorticated dead branches.
Although part of the type from which the description has been drawn is resupinate, the presence of abundant abhymenial hairs suggests the species may be pileate and effused-reflexed as in V. berkeleyi. Specific features are the coriaceous hymenophore composed of a deep subhymenium of erect hyphae, deep intermediate tissue of parallel hyphae bordered by a dense, more deeply coloured cortex, fascicles arising from the base of the subhymenium, pseudosetae, and somewhat large spores. As in Duportella fulva the hymenium develops at an early stage, so that in the collection at hand basidia have been found only near margins, being collapsed over the greater part of the fructification. The pseudosetae and clamp connections in generative hyphae link the species with Duportella. The type collection was kindly donated by Mr W. Pont of the Queensland Department of Agriculture.
TYPE LOCALITY: Queensland.
Veluticeps tabacina (Cooke) Burt 1920 [1919]
MYRTACEAE. Eucalyptus spp.: New South Wales, Moona, Walcha (Type collection, herb. Kew); Darling Downs, No. 1095, filed under Hydnum delicatulum (herb. Kew).
Hymenophore pileate, annual, ceraceous. Pilei cupulate or disciform, attached by a narrow base, elliptical or orbicular, 1-2 mm diameter, solitary or crowded; pileus exterior tomentose, ferruginous above, black below; hymenial surface plane or concave, pallid cream or tan, not creviced. Context tan, to 600 µm thick, of erect hyphae arising from a coloured cortex, pierced by fascicles and embedding masses of crystals; cortex to 130 µm thick, of densely intertwined ferruginous hyphae which are olivaceous below; walls coated with brown mucilage granules; generative hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, hyaline, without clamp connections. Fascicles arising from the base and projecting to 80 µm, to 50 µm diameter, composed of 20-80 hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, closely compacted, walls ferruginous, 1.5-2 µm thick, coated with coloured mucilage granules. Hymenial layer to 120 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 55-72 x 7-9 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 6 µm long. Paraphyses cylindrical, some with acute apices, 40-65 x 6-7 µm. Spores narrowly obovate or suballantoid, with rounded apices and acuminate bases, apiculate, 20-24 x 8-10 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick.
DISTRIBUTION: Australia.
HABITAT: Crowded on bark of dead branches.
In appearance fructifications resemble small and crowded apothecia of a discomycete. The species was placed under Veluticeps by Burt because of the conspicuous brown fascicles and basidia, but could well be made the type of a separate genus, since in other features it has little in common with the type species of Veluticeps. Fascicles project to 80 µm, arise in the base of the context, are composed of many hyphae compacted together, with walls coloured and encrusted with granules of brown mucilage. They may be crowded, but are usually scattered, only half a dozen or so being present in a median section. Basidia are crowded in the compact hymenium and irregular in shape and size. The prominent cortex is composed of densely compacted, loosely intertwined hyphae similar to generative hyphae of the context, but with walls thickened and coloured, brown in the upper part, olivaceous below.
TYPE LOCALITY: Walcha, New South Wales, Australia.

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