On dead wood of (1) Beilschmiedia tawa Waiotapu, 17 June 1950, J. M. Dingley; (2) B. tawa, Thames, Kauaeranga Valley, 22 Oct. 1950, J. M. Dingley; (3) Cordyline australis. Hamilton, Claudelands Reserve, Nov. 1946, G. H. Cunningham (Poria cordylina HOLOTYPE, PDD. 5248).

Fructifications coriaceous, warm greyish when fresh, turning brown where bruised, drying smoky brown or fuscous, to 15 x 10 cm, 5-16 mm thick. Pores non-stratose, often obliquely inserted and incomplete, to 15 mm deep, irregularly angular or polygonal, (l)-2-4 per mm, dingy white when fresh, drying wood colour. Dissepiments thin equal, fimbriate. Context and trama composed of interwoven, thick-walled hyphae, solid or with narrow lumina, sparingly branched, strongly crystal incrusted, rarely septate, l.5-3.5 µm. diam., clamp connections absent. Thin-walled hyphae branched, septate, 1.5-2.5 µm diam., clamp connections present. Hymenium lining pores; probasidia obovate to pyriform, with basal clamp connections, 7.5-9-8 x 5.5-7 µm, becoming longitudinally cruciate-septate; sterigmata 5-10 µm. long. Basidiospores curved-cylindrical to allantoid, hyaline, smooth, apiculate, 5-7 x 2.2-3µm. Germination not observed.

Angiosperm and gymnosperm wood.

ILLUSTRATIONS. Teixeira & Rogers, Mycologia 47: 411, f. 1-7. 1955; Macrae, Mycologia 47: 813, f. 1. 814, f. 2-18. 1955.

New Zealand collections of Aporpium caryae are considerably darker in colour and more resinous in texture than specimens from other countries, as noted by Teixeira & Rogers. Microscopically they are indistinguishable. Teixeira & Rogers described the occasional occurrence of thin-walled cystidioles in the hymenium but Macrae (1955, p. 815) stated that cystidia were absent. No cystidia-like structures were observed in the above collections.
Macroscopically, A. caryae resembles a Poria and could easily be mistaken for a member of that genus were it not for the cruciate-septate basidia.

TYPE LOCALITY:
Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

On dead bark and wood of (1) Beilschmiedia tawa, Rotoehu State Forest, 22 May 1964, R. F. R. McNabb; (2) Cordyline australis, Raoul Island, Brodie's Inlet, 16 Jan. 1950, R. Cooper; (3) Corynocarpus laevigatus, Wellington, 7 April 1923, J. C. Neill; (4) Hymenanthera novae-zelandiae, South West King Island, Jan. 1950, G. T. S. Baylis; (5) Macropiper excelsum, South West King Island, 24 Jan. 1952, G. T. S. Baylis; (6) Melicytus ramiflorus, Auckland, Three Kings, July 1931, J. Hodgkins; (7) M. ramiflorus, Paparata, Oct. 1946, G. H. Cunningham; (8) M. ramiflorus, Orakei Bush, Aug. 1948, J. M. Dingley; (9) M. ramiflorus. Lake Papaitonga, 26 Aug. 1955, G. H. Cunningham; (10) M. ramiflorus, Little Barrier Island, 10 June 1956, F. J. Newhook; (II) M. ramiflorus, Anawhata, 10 May 1964, R. F. R. McNabb; (12) Myoporum laetum, Great King Island, 28 April 1946, E. G. Turbott & L. C. Bell; (13) Senecio stewartiae, Stewart Island, July1942, E. Willis; unknown hosts (14) Purewa, July 1897, T. F. Cheeseman; (15) Raoul Island, 1908, W. R. B. Oliver; (16) Lake Papaitonga, 4 Sept. 1919, G. H. Cunningham; (17) Feilding, April 1926, H. H. Allan; (18) Nihotupu, Nov. 1930, M. Hodgkins; (19) Waikoratu, 29 Jan. 1945, E. E. Chamberlain; (20) Waikoratu, 3 June 1946, E. E. Chamberlain; (21) North East King Island, 4 Jan. 1947, G. Buddle; (22) Kahuterawa River, Oct. 1950, G. H. Cunningham: (23) South West King Island, 24 Jan. 1952, G. T. S. Baylis; (24) Little Barrier Island, Aug. 1952. J. Trevarthen; (25) Waitomo, 17 Jan. 1953, J. D. Atkinson; (26) Pohangina Valley, 12 May 1956, G. H. Cunningham; (27) Waipoua State Forest, 22 April 1964, R. F. R. McNabb.
The following collections from New Zealand are filed at Kew under Hirneola polytricha. "New Zealand, Dr Lyall" (2 collections); "N.Z. Sinclair"; "Greymouth, N.Z.": "Middle Island, N.Z."; "N. Zealand, Capt. Ross, on stems of trees hanging over water"; "Cheeseman, Kermadec Fungi, Sunday Island, 1908, Coil. W. R. B. Oliver", and "Chatham Islands, F 61"

Fructifications tough cartilaginous-gelatinous, superior surface mouse grey to olive brown when fresh, drying dark olive brown, inferior surface greyish brown, drying dull brownish black. Substipitate, gregarious or caespitose, pendent, inversely cupulate, becoming irregularly inversely cupulate with undulate margins, to 10 cm diam. Superior surface pilose, covered with thick-walled, hyaline hairs, 5-6 µm diam., up to 450 µm long, apically rounded or acute, aggregated into tufts. Internal hyphae hyaline, thin-walled, septate, 2.5-5 µm diam., clamp connections present; medulla readily distinguishable, composed of hyphae arranged parallel to the surface. Hymenium inferior, composed of dikaryophyses and basidia; dikaryophyses slender, branched, extending beyond the basidia, becoming strongly agglutinated and metamorphosed, forming a tough surface layer; basidia cylindrical-subclavate, becoming transverely 3-septate, 50-75 x 5.5-8 µm; sterigmata cylindrical, to 70 µm. long. Basidiospores white in mass, curved-cylindrical to allantoid, hyaline, thin-walled, obscurely apiculate, 12.5-18.5-(21) x 6-7µm. Germination by germ tubes or by repetition.

Angiosperm bark and wood.

Lowy, Mycologia 44: 674, f. 9A. 680, f. 12A. 683, f. 14B. 685, f. 15 (41-47). 1952.

The collections listed above differ in a number of microscopic details from Lowy's (1952, p. 673) description of Auricularia polytricha. The basidia are considerably longer and broader than described by Lowy (50-60 x 4-5 µm) as are the basidiospores (12-15 x 5-6 µm). Spore shape was not given but illustrations show cylindrical rather than curved-cylindrical to allantoid spores. In a later work, Lowy (1959, p. 843) described the spores as curved-cylindrical. The presence of clamp connections was not mentioned in either description.
A. polytricha was first recorded from New Zealand as Hirneola polytricha by Hooker (1867, p. 615) and subsequently by Cooke (1879, p. 57), Massee (1906, p. 47), Wakefield (1915, p. 373), and Lowy (1952, p. 663). It is the commonest auriculariaceous fungus in the country and may be collected at all times of the year. The fungus was of considerable economic importance at the turn of the century when large quantities of the dried fructifications were exported to China for food.
In addition to Auricularia polytricha. four other species of Auricularia or Hirneola have been recorded in New Zealand.
Auricularia hispidula (Berk.) Farl. was first recorded by Berkeley (in Hooker 1855, p. 187) as Exidiahispidula. and later by Hooker (1867, p. 615) and Massee (1906, p. 48) as Hirneola hispidula. The name is now generally considered a synonym of Auricularia polytricha and the following collections filed under Hirneola hispidula at Kew are all of that species. "N.Z., Colenso" (3 collections); "N.Z., Canterbury Province, Sinclair and v. Haast, 1860-61"; "N.Z., Dr Lyall", and "Grey River, N.Z., Julius Haast".
Auricularia mesenterica Pers. was recorded from New Zealand by Massee (1906, p. 46) and Lowy (1952, p. 661) but no collection data were given by either author. Auricularialobata Sommerf., which is regarded as a synonym of A. mesenterica, was recorded by Colenso (1893, p. 322). There are no specimens of either species at Kew and I have seen no collections of A. mesenterica from New Zealand.
Hirneola auricula-judae (Bull. ex Schw.) Berk. was recorded by Hooker (1867, p. 615), Kirk (1878, p. 456), and Massee (1906, p. 47). It is now considered a synonym of Auricularia auricula. Two collections filed under Hirneola auricula-judae at Kew, viz. "New Zealand, 1850" and "Grey-mouth, N.Z." are both of Auricularia polytricha.

TYPE LOCALITY:
Jamaica.

On dead bark and wood of (1) Aristotelia serrata Rotorua, Earthquake Flat, 29 June 1952, G. H. Cunningham; (2) Carpodetus serratus. Waitakere Ranges, 7 July 1951, J. M. Dingley; (3) Coprosma robusta, Titirangi, 20 May 1950, J. M. Dingley; (4) Neopanax arboreum, Mt Egmont, Feb. 1952, G. H. Cunningham; (5) Pinus radiata, Atiamuri, Nov. 1953, J. M. Dingley; (6) P. torreyana. Whakarewarewa State Forest, 21 May 1964, R. F. R. McNabb; (7) Pittosporum umbellatum. Little Barrier Island, 9 June 1956, F. J. Newhook; (8) Salix sp., Karamea, 19 Jan. 1964, R. F. R. McNabb; (9) Sophora microphylla, Remuera, 13 May 1952, K. P. Lamb; (10) Weinmannia racemosa. Lake Wilkie, 19 Tan. 1957, J. M. Dingley; (11) W. racemosa. Karamea, 20 Jan. 1964, R. F. R. McNabb; unknown hosts (12) Winton, S. Berggren no. 111 (Exidia tenax HOLOTYPE. K); (13) Puerua, Sept. 1924, H. K. Dalrymple; (14) Purewa, Sept. 1931, M. Hodgkins; (15) Huia, Nov. 1945, G. H. Cunningham; (16) Orakei Bush, Sept. 1948, D. W. McKenzie; (17) Stewart Island, 1960, G. Cone no. 98; (18) Canterbury, Price's Bush, 13 May 1963, J. M. Dingley; (19) Thames, Kauaeranga Valley, 4 Sept. 1963, S. J. Hughes; (20) Cascade Kauri Park, 18 Sept. 1963, J. M. Dingley; (21) Waitakere Ranges, 3 Oct. 1963, J. M. Dingley; (22) Waipoua State Forest 22 April 1964 R F R McNabb.

Fructifications tough-gelatinous, hyaline when young, becoming blackish brown at maturity, drying dull black. At first pustulate, anastomosing and becoming broadly effused, forming areas up to 18 cm in the longest dimension, surface sparsely or closely covered with sterile, wart-like papillae. Internal hyphae thin-walled, hyaline, l.5-5 µm diam., clamp connections present. Hymenium composed of dikaryophyses and basidia; dikaryophyses extending beyond the basidia, apices interwoven to form a tough, brown, agglutinated surface layer; probasidia obovate or elliptical, 10-18.5 x 8-15 µm, becoming longitudinally cruciate-septate; sterigmata cylindrical, to 30 µm long. Basidiospores allantoid, hyaline, apiculate, 10-16.5 x 4-5.5 µm

Angiosperm, rarely gymnosperm bark and wood.

Coker, J. Elisha Mitchell sci. Soc. 35: pl. 36. pl. 55, f. 5, 6, 9. 1920; Bresadola, Iconographia Mycologica 23: pl. 1112. 1932.

Exidia glandulosa is the commonest tremellaceous fungus in New Zealand, occurring on a wide range of hosts. It is not usual to find it on coniferous wood although it has been occasionally recorded on this substrate from Europe and North America.
In addition to E. glandulosa, which was first recorded from New Zealand by Colenso (1886, p. 306), a number of other Exidia species have been recorded from the country. E. albida Bref. was recorded by Massee (1906, p. 42) but no collection data were given. A specimen at Kew (Colenso no. bl5) filed under E. albida is a Tremella. It is too immature to permit specific identification but is possibly T. fuciformis Berk. Exidia nucleata (Schw.) Burt was recorded as Naematelia nucleata by both Colenso (1886. p. 306) and Massee (1906, p. 43). No collection data were given but two collections at Kew (Colenso, nos b93, b794) which macroscopically resemble Exidia nucleata proved to be the imperfect fungus Pleurocolla compressa (Ell. & Everh.) Diehl.
Lloyd (1925, p. 1356) described Exidia novo-zealandica from a Canterbury specimen. The type has not been examined but the description suggests that it is E. glandulosa.
E. glandulosa is characterised by dark, tough-gelatinous fructifications with sterile, wart-like papillae.

TYPE LOCALITY.:
Europe.

On dead bark and wood of (1) Lophomyrtus bullata, Hamilton, Claudelands Reserve, Jan. 1954, G. H. Cunningham; (2) Metrosideros excelsa, Coromandel, Dec. 1946, J. M. Dingley; (3) Nothofagus fusca, Ahaura, Orwel Creek, 26 April 1955, J. M. Dingley (2 collections); (4) N. menziesii, Queenstown, 3 Dec. 1919, G. H. Cunningham (ISOTYPE, PDD 542); (5) N. solandri var. cliffortioides, Lake Rotoiti, 26 April 1956, S. D. & P. J. Brook.

Fructifications arid, indeterminate, pallid cream when fresh, changing little on drying, effused, forming irregular areas up to 6 cm in extent, 0.5-l mm thick, surface pulverulent or pruinose, creviced when old. In section composed of two poorly differentiated regions, lower region coin-posed of ascending hyphae with slightly thickened walls, 4-5.5 µm diam.; upper region composed of coiled, compactly arranged hyphae, 2-5-3.5 µm diam., spirally coiled apically; hyphae of both regions sparingly septate, clamp connections present. Probasidia arising laterally from intercalary primordial cells, thin-walled, clavate, straight or curved, often constricted in one to several places, 50-80 x 7-12 µm. Metabasidia arising from base of probasidia or from upper portion of primordial cells, subclavate, transversely 3-septate, 35-55 x 8-10-5µm.; sterigmata to 10 µm long. Basidiospores ovoid, slightly flattened on one side, hyaline, apiculus truncated, 10-16 x 7-9.5 µm. Germination by repetition.

Angiosperm bark and wood.

Couch, Mycologia 41: 436, f. 15-23. 1949.

Helicogloea alba was first described by Burt as a species of Septobasidium but was excluded from that genus by Couch (1938, p. 295) on the grounds that it was not associated with scale insects on living plants.
As pointed out by Couch Helicogloea alba agrees with the description of H. contorta Baker in many respects, but the two species apparently differ in texture. H. contorta is described as floccose whereas the texture of H. alba is corticioid. Macroscopically, H. alba closely resembles Scytinostroma portentosum (Berk. & Curt.) Donk.

TYPE LOCALITY:
New Zealand.

On dead bark of (1) Weinmania racemosa, Nelson, Oparara River, 23 Jan. 1964, R. F. R. McNabb; (2) unknown host, Oparara, 20 Jan. 1964, R. F. R. McNabb.

Fructifications soft-gelatinous, indeterminate, greyish hyaline when fresh, drying to a dusky, varnish-like film, effused, forming areas up to 10 cm in extent, surface tuberculate or corrugated. Internal hyphae septate, often constricted at septa, walls slightly thickened, to 8 µm. diam., clamp connections absent. Probasidia arising laterally from terminal primordial cells, thin-walled, saccate, oblong-ovoid, 20-32 x 7.5-11.5 µm. Metabasidia arising terminally from primordial cells, narrow then enlarged distally, transversely 3-septate, 67-105 x 7.5-9 µm, sterigmata to 10 µm long. Basidiospores curved-cylindrical to ovate-ellipsoid, hyaline, bluntly apiculate, 14-18.5 x 7-9 µm. Germination by repetition.

Angiosperm bark and wood.

ILLUSTRATIONS. Baker, Ann. Mo. bot. Gdn 23: pls. 7-12, f. 1-71. 1936; Olive, Mycologia 40: 589, f. 8-20. 1948.

Helicogloea lagerheimii is the most variable species in the genus. Baker (1936, p. 97) gave the range in spore size as 8-18 x 4-9 µm., and later (Baker 1946, p. 631) as 8-25 x 4-13 µm. Olive (1948, p. 588) described a collection with spores 22.6-29.6 x 8.7-12.2 µm., thus extending the range even further.
Production of additional basidia by proliferation of the subterminal cells is a common occurrence in the New Zealand material.

TYPE LOCALITY:
Ecuador.

On living leaves of (1) Lonicera japonica. Upper Hutt, 4 May 1953, A. J. Healey.

Fructifications, hypophyllous, arid, indeterminate, white, causing yellowish areas on the upper surface, originating from hyphae which emerge from the stomata and ultimately form a continuous layer of intertwined, hyaline, thin-walled hyphae. Probasidia terminal, thin-walled, soon collapsing. Meta-basidia cylindrical, straight or flexuous usually bent more or less parallel to the leaf surface, transversely 3-septate, to 50 x 5µm; sterigmata to 9 µm long. Basidiospores ovate-cylindrical, hyaline, apiculate, 8.5-11 x 5-6 µm. Germination by repetition, less commonly by germ tubes. Resting spores not seen.

Parasitic on leaves of Lonicera.

Gould, Iowa St. Coil. J. Sci. 19: 304, f. 1, 2. 305, f. 3,4. 306, f. 5-14. 310, f. 15-24. 311, f. 25-38. 313, f. 39-47. 1945; Martin. Stud. nat. Hist. la Univ. 19, (3): 110, f. 29. 1952.

Verrucose resting spores produced after the basidia on the same fructification have not been seen. Martin (1952, p. 90) commented that basidiospores from the type collection were slightly smaller than described by Gould. The range in basidiospore size in the above specimen agrees closely with that given by Martin.
Herpobasidium deformans was recorded from New Zealand, without description, by Brien & Dingley (1955, p. 30). The species has probably been introduced with its host.

TYPE LOCALITY:
Iowa, U.S.A.

On dead wood of (1) Dysoxylon spectabile, Titirangi, Wood's Bay, July 1948, J. M. Dingley; (2) Podocarpus dacrydioides. Huia, 12 July 1953, J. M. Dingley; (3) unknown host. Lake Papaitonga, 18 Aug. 1919, G. H. Cunningham.

 

Angiosperm or occasionally gymnosperm wood.

Brefeld, Unters. Gesamtgeb. Mykol. 7: pls. 1, 2, 3. 1888; Lloyd, Mycol. Notes 75, pl. 341, f. 3231-32. 1925: Shear & Dodge, J. agric. Res. 30: 410, f. A-Q. 1925.

This distinctive little species could easily be mistaken for a Myxomycete. When young, the pileus is covered by a thin peridium which peels off at maturity, exposing a mass of tortuous hyphae and spores.
A second species, Pilacre divisa, was described from New Zealand by Berkeley (in Hooker 1855, p. 197). The type could not be located but the description suggests that it may well be Phleogena faginea. The species was recorded from New Zealand by Lloyd (1925, p. 1360) as Pilacre faginea.

TYPE LOCALITY:
Europe.

On dead wood of (1) Agathis australis, Puketi State Forest, June 1948, J. M. Dingley; (2) Cupressus macrocarpa, Oratia, Sept. 1948, D. W. McKenzie; (3) Podocarpus totara, Weraroa, 12 July 1919, G. H. Cunningham (Auricula tatarae ISOTYPE, PDD 225); unknown hosts (4) York Bay, 9 Aug. 1922, G. H. Cunningham; (5) Weraroa, 1 May 1923, G. H. Cunningham & J. C. Neill; (6) Waitakere Ranges, Oct. 1930, M. Hodgkins; (7) unknown locality, 1930, M. Hodgkins; (8) Moumoukai Valley, 14 July 1947, J. M. Dingley

Fructifications gelatinous, translucent, creamy white when fresh, becoming light brown with age, abhymenial surface drying dull black, hymenium mustard. Short stipitate with a dimidiate or petaloid pileus, entire basidiocarp 2-7 cm broad, to 7 cm high. Superior surface sterile, minutely papillate, often wrinkled. Internal hyphae hyaline, thin-walled, to 9 µm diam., clamp connections present. Hymenium inferior, borne on numerous conical spines up to 4 mm long, composed of basidia and dikaryophyses; probasidia subglobose, 11-15.5 x 9-12 µm, becoming 2- or 4-celled by longitudinal septation; sterigmata to7.5 µm long. Basidiospores globose to subglobose, hyaline, smooth, apiculate, 5.5-8.3 µm diam. Germination not observed.

Gymnosperm, rarely angiosperm wood.

Lloyd, Mycol. Notes 14. 147, f. 70. 1903: Coker, J. Elisha Mitchell sci. Soc. 35: pl. 43. pi. 59, f. 4. 1920; Breasdola, Iconographia Mycologica 23: t. 1115, 1116. 1932.

The isotype of Auricula totarae is in all respects typical of Pseudohydnum gelatinosum. Lloyd placed the species with Phlebia reflexa in a new and invalid genus, which he called Auricula, although he commented that they were not related. Lowy (1952, p. 689) examined the holotype and stated that it was an Exidia, but erroneously listed the species under Auricular id.
Pseudohydnum gelatinosum is readily recognisable by the translucent, creamy white fructifications with spines on the inferior surface. The species was recorded from New Zealand as Tremellodon gelatinosus by Cooke (1879, p. 56).

TYPE LOCALITY:
Europe.

In basidiocarps of (1) Heterotextus sp., Stewan Island, T. Kirk no. 375.

Growing within fructifications of Heterotextus. Hyphae thin-walled with numerous, irregularly shaped haustorial branches, clamp connections present. Probasidia subglobose to pyriform, with basal clamp connections, 10-15.5 x 8-12 µm, becoming 2- or 4-celled by vertical or oblique septation. Basidiospores subglobose to obovate, hyaline, apiculate, 6-9.5 x 4-6.5 µm. Germination by repetition. Conidia present, elliptical, thin-walled, hyaline, smooth, 4-8 x 2-4 µm. Conidiophores phialide-like, with basal clamp connections, occasionally occurring on the same hyphae as the basidia.

Parasitic within fructifications of dacrymycetaceous fungi.

Olive, T. Elisha Mitchell sci. Soc. 62: pl. 13, f. 1-15. 1946. (as Tremella sp.); Olive, Mycologia 38: 539, f. 12-25. 1946.

Tremella obscura produces no fructifications of its own and occurs as an internal parasite within basidiocarps of dacrymycetaceous fungi. The form of the host remains unchanged and there are no external signs of parasitism
The species appears to be confined to dacrymycetaceous hosts. It has been reported from the United States on Dacrymyces spp. and Dacryomitra. stipitata, and from Denmark on Dacrymyces deliquescens. The present collection on Heterotextus extends the host range to a third genus of the family.

TYPE LOCALITY:
Georgia, U.S.A.