Pileus 6-9 cm. diam., buff coloured, darker at centre, moist, smooth, thickly dotted with brownish-buff warts. Gills free, creamy-white, fairly crowded. Stipe 1-2 x 4-9 cm. white, satiny, or with some cottony fibrils, hollow; ring conspicuous, membranous; volva fused to a strongly bulbous base. Spores amyloid, subglobose, 8 x 10-9 x 12um. Faint acid smell.

rooting in Nothofagus litter at Lake Rotoiti, Nelson, 5.3.1955, Stevenson.

Pileus 6-9 cm. diam., luteofuscus centro tenebrosior, humidus, laevis, verrucis brunneis vel luteofuscis dense maculatus. Lamellae liberae, luteo- albae, mediocriter confertae. Stipes 1-2 x 4-9 cm., albus, nitidus vel fibrillis laneis, cavus; annulus conspicuus, membranaceus; volva basi valde bul- bosae juncta. Sporae amyloideae, subglobosae, 8 x 10- 9 x 12um. Odor exigue acidus

This species is near to A. citrina but differs in having larger spores, and also in having more concrete numerous warts on the cap, rather than a few soft pieces of residual membrane

Stevenson 970

The following description covers the New Zealand collections. Pileus 5-6 cm. diam., grey-fawn, viscid, darker at centre, somewhat mealy patches of volva stuck on surface. Gills free, creamy-white, rather crowded. Stipe 1-2 x 7-8 cm., white or grey tinted, velvety above, and silky floccose below the ring which is characteristically full and striate. Volva concrescent to swollen base of stipe. Spores amyloid, subglobose, 7-9um diam., or ovoid 8-9 x 6um.

under pine plantations, Otari, 29.7.1948, Stevenson, and at Day's Bay, 7.6.1952, Stevenson; under second growth scrub, Wellington, 1.7.1949, Stevenson; under Nothofagus, Nelson, 20.5.1956, Stevenson; near Wellington, 3.5.1958, Stevenson.

Specimens of these collections differ only slightly from many published descriptions and illustrations of this well known toadstool. According to Lange this species is very variable with differing habitat and weather.

This species often reaches large size in New Zealand, up to 25 cm. diam. and 30 cm. tall. Spores are 8-10 x 11-12um which agrees with the dimen- sions given by Bresadola and is a little larger than 9.5-10.5 x 7-8 which is given by Lange (1935). Colour and other features agree exactly with those of European specimens.

It is very abundant throughout the north island of New Zealand and the northern part of the south island where it is associated with the commonly planted exotic tree, Pinus radiata. However, although P. radiata plantations are numerous further south, A. muscaria is not found with them, its place apparently being taken by Boletus luteus. Besides being associated with Pinus this species has been collected also under Betula, under Spanish Chestnut, in a shrub garden and also once (Stevenson at Lake Rotoiti, Nelson) in Cyathodes scrub near Nothofagus; all these occurrences were far distant from any pine trees.

Pileus 3 cm. diam., moist, waxy, dark-brown, with a few dark-brown warts, striate at margin, flesh pale-grey but dark-brown immediately under the cuticle. Gills white, free, moderately crowded, long and short intercalated, all with conspicuous blackish-brown margins; spore-print copious, white. Stipe x 0.7 cm., tapered upwards, covered with greyish-brown fibrillous striations on whitish ground; fibrils cracking into blackish-brown scales all free above and attached below, both above and below the blackish-brown ring; slightly hollow above, and quite hollow and chambered towards the base. Volva white with ochraceous tints, blackish-brown round margin which is adpressed to the base of the stipe. Spores non-amyloid, spherical 9-10 um diam. Sterile edge of gill with basidioles containing dark pigment. No cystidia seen on gills or stipe scales though the latter contained some thick- walled dark hyphae.

under Nothofagus in Wairarapa, 27.6.1949, A. Crawford.

Pileus 3 cm. diam., humidus, cereus, atrofuscus, verrucis paucis fuscis ornatus, ad marginem striatus; car0 pallide cinerea sed atrofusca subcuticula. Lamellae albae, liberae, mediocriter confertae, longae et breves inter-calatae, omnes marginibus fuscis. Depositum sporarum abundans, album. Stipes 5 x 0.7 cm., obclavatus, albidus, striis fibrillosis cinereo-fuscis tectus; fibrillae et super et sub annulo fusco in squamas atrofuscas supra liberas infra adjunctas findentes; stipes supra paullum cavus, basin versus omnino cavus et in loculos divisus. Volva alba ochraceotincta, circa marginem basi stipitis adpressum atrofusca. Sporae haud amyloideae, globosae, 8-10um diam.; margo sterilis lamellae e basidiolis pigmento subnigro praeditis constans; cystidia in lamellis vel in stipitis squamis non visa, tametsi hae hyphas nonullas fuscas muris densis continerent

Stevenson 682.

Pileus 7 cm. diam., charcoal grey with patches of soft brownish scales, flesh white but stained grey under the cuticle. Gills free, white developing a faint yellow tinge, moderately crowded. Stem 1.5 x 7 cm. tapered upwards, solid, white above ample ring, dark-grey below. Volva whitish, concrescent over bulbous base. Spores amyloid, globose, 7-8um diam.

under Nothofagus solandri, Nelson 18.4.1954 & I I .5.1957, Stevenson; under Leptospermum etc., Cape Farewell, 29.3.1957, E. Kidson.

Pileus 7 cm. diam., carboni-cinereus, areas squamarum luteo-fuscarum gerens; caro alba at sub cuticula cinerea. Lamellae liberae, albae deinde exigue luteae, mediocriter confertae. Stipes 1.5 x 7 cm., obclavatus, solidus, supra annulum amplum albus, infra atrocinereus. Volva albida, super basim bulbosum concrescens. Sporae amyloideae, globosae, 7-8um diametro.

Stevenson 935

The characters of this variety are dark-grey colour of cap and stipe; grey gills with finely serrulate margins which in the New Zealand collection were also dark-grey on the serrulate edges. Gilbert gives exceptional variations for spore size, 10.4-14 x 17-18um. Spores of the New Zealand collection, which otherwise agrees with this variety, were 12um diam., corresponding with typical A. vaginata. The original publication of Cleland & Cheel has a colour plate with distinctly reddish colouration, not agreeing exactly with the description. The New Zealand form illustrated here is darker.

under Nothofagus solandri, Nelson, 5.3.1955, Stevenson.

This variety is distinguished by a brown coloured cap and stipe, spores globose 12-16um diam. The New Zealand collections had medium brown cap and stipe, spores globose, 12um diam.

under second growth scrub, Wellington, 3.5.1951, Stevenson; under Jvothofagus solandri, Taita, 18.3.1958, Stevenson; under N. solandri Muritai, 29.3.1958, Marie Taylor.

This variety is distinguished by a brown coloured cap and stipe, spores globose 12-16um diam. The New Zealand collections had medium brown cap and stipe, spores globose, 12um diam.

under second growth scrub, Wellington, 3.5.1951, Stevenson; under Jvothofagus solandri, Taita, 18.3.1958, Stevenson; under N. solandri Muritai, 29.3.1958, Marie Taylor.

Pileus 6-9 cm. diam., pale-fawn, moist, smooth, pellicle peeling; flesh white. Gills free, white, becoming pale yellow in older specimens, moderately crowded, long and short intercalated. Stipe 1-2 x 10-14 cm., pale fawn, floccose above ring, fibrillose below; ring of residual fibrils; veil of continuous cobwebby strands from cap edge to all lower parts of stipe. Spores arnyloid, globose, 7-8 x 8-~op. Pellicle of gelatinized hyphae. Strong sour smell.

under Nothofagus at Day's Bay, Wellington, 7.6.1952, Stevenson.

Pileus 6-9 cm. diam., pallide-hinnuleus, humidus, laevis; pellicula desquamans; car0 alba. Lamellae liberae, albae demum pallido-luteae, mediocriter confertae, longae et breves intercalatae. Stipes 1-2 x 10-14 cms., pallido-hinnuleus, super annulum floccosus, infra fibrillosus; annulus ex fibrillis residuis: velum e filis continuis tenuissimis a margine pilei ad omnes partes inferiores stipitis decurrentibus. Sporae amyloideae, globosae, 7-8 x 8-~op. Pellicula ex hyphis glutinosis. Odor valde acerbus.

The spores, amyloid in reaction and larger in size, distinguish this species from any of the previously described Limacellae

Stevenson 860.

This species, recorded by Colenso (1892), has not been collected by the writer

Pileus 1.5-2.5 cm. diam., convex, moist matt surface, dark pink-fawn to greenish-brown at centre, paler in colour and striate at edge, cuticle of woven hyphae. Gills free, deep, fairly crowded, pale-pink. Stipe 1-2.5 cm. x 2-3 mm., curved or straight, silky-smooth, yellow-fawn. Spores 6-8 x 7-9p, print pink. No cystidia.

on fallen rotting wood, Jubilee Park, Wellington 5.6.1948, Stevenson; Keith George Park, 10.4.1949, Stevenson.

Pileus 1.5-2.5 cm. diam., convexus, humidus, impolitus, centro obscure roseo-hinnuleus vel viridi-umbrinus, margine pallidiore striatoque ; epicutis ex hyphis intertextis composita. Lamellae liberae, latae, mediocriter confertae, roseolae. Stipes 1-2.5 cm. x 2-3 mm., erectus vel curvatus, laevis, sericeus, fulvus. Sporae 6-8 x 7-9um, in cumulo roseae. Cystidia nulla.

Stevenson 474.

Pileus 2-5 cm. diam., nearly plane, glutinous, fawn coloured with brown pitlike markings under the gluten, minutely striate at edge. Gills free, very crowded, fawn becoming dark-pink. Stipe 3 cm. x 2-5 mm. tapering upwards, white with silky floccose scales. Spores 5 x 811, somewhat thick walled, print pink. Cuticle consisting of colourless hyphal endings with patches of inflated cells containing brown pigment.

rooting amongst mosses, Levin, 18.6.1949, Stevenson.

Pileus 2-5 cm. diam., planus, glutinosus, hinnuleus, sub glutine brunneo- scrobiculatus, margine minute stricto. Lamellae liberae, confertissimae, ex hinnuleo obscure roseae. Stipes 3 cm. x 2-5 mm., sursum angustatus, albus, squamulis sericeo-fibrillosis ornatus. Sporae 5 x 8um, crassiuscule tunicatae, in cumulo roseae. Epicutis pilei ex hyphis terminalibus hyalinis composita, hinc inde plagulis cellularum tumidarum intus umbrino-tinctarum.

Stevenson 656

Pileus 4-5 cm. diam., nearly plane, purple-brown overlain with pink- fawn cottony fibrils, flesh purple-brown under the surface, otherwise whitish. Gills free, moderately crowded, dull-pink. Stipe 4 cm. x 5-10 mm., swollen at base, silky-fibrillose, whitish, hollow. Spores 3.5 x 8um, print pink. No cystidia. Cells of epicutis 10-20 x 10-12um mostly with dark contents; fibrils of cap consisting of thick-walled hyphae, 5um diam., with walls 1um thick, all with clamp connections, mostly dark-brown in colour, many covered thickly with tubercles about 1um long.

in forest litter, Maungatua, 18.4.1953, Stevenson

Pileus 4-5 cm. diam., fere planus, purpureo-umbrinus, fibrillis gossypinis roseo-hinnuleis tectus; caro sub epicute purpurea umbrina, ceterum albida. Lamellae liberae, mediocriter confertae, obscure roseae. Stipes 4 cm. x 5-10 mm., basi inflatus, sericeo-fibrillosus albidus, cavus. Sporae 3.5 x 8um, in cumulo roseae. Cystidia nulla. Cellulae epicutis 10-20 x 10-12um, plerumque intus fuscidulae; hyphae fibrillarum pilei crasse tunicatae, 5p diam., tunicis 1um crassis, septato-nodosae, plerumque obscure umbrinae, et saepe tuberculis 1um longis dense tectae.

Stevenson 881

Pileus 3-3.5 cm. diam., convex, yellow-fawn overlain by a dark-brown velvety, fibrillose network; flesh pale yellow-fawn. Gills free, crowded, pink with whitish margins. Stipe 4 cm. x 3-4 mm., silky-fibrillose, pale yellow, grey tinge at top, bulbous base surrounded by white mycelium. Spores 5 x 6um, print pink. Pleurocystidia not very numerous, pyriform with or without pinhead; balloon cystidia on gill edge 15 x 50um; hyphal endings of pileus 20 x 60-70um, colourless, overlain by a partial palisade of large hyphal endings up to 150 x 25um with dark-brown contents, which constitute the dark velvety fibrils.

on standing dead ribbonwood, Nelson, 15.1 1. 1958, D. & L. Read; on fallen tawa, Levin, 5.9.1955, Stevenson

Pileus 3-3.5 cm. diam., convexus, fulvus, fibrilloso-reticulatus, fibrillis velutinis obscure umbrinis; caro pallide fulva. Lamellae liberae, confertae, roseolae, marginibus albidis. Stipes 4 cm. x 3-4 mm., sericeo-fibrillosus, luteolus, sursum griseo-tinctus, basi bulbosus, mycelio albido circumdatus. Sporae 5 x 6um, in cumulo roseae. Pleurocystidia sparsa, pyriformia, interdum minute capitata; cheilocystidia vesiculosa 15 x 50um ; hyphae terminales epicutis hyalinae, 20 x 60-70um, hyphis obscuris fibrillarum intus fuscidulis ad 150 x 25um obtectae.

Stevenson 1009

Pileus 4-7 cm. diam., convex, sometimes depressed at the centre, yellow- fawn to fawn, more or less covered with brown or black velvety fibrils; flesh fawn or blue-tinted. Gills free, rather crowded, creamy-fawn at first becoming deep-pink. Stipe 4-6 cm. x 4-10 mm., silky-striate, fawn to brown with grey or blue tints, with strongly bulbous base. Spores oblong-ovoid, 5 x 6um to 6 x 7um, print deep-pink. Pleurocystidia of metuloid type 15-25 x 35-40um, balloon-shaped cheilocystidia on gill edges; hyphal endings of cuticle 70-140 x 5-15um with dark-brown contents.

on fallen wood in broad-leaved forest, Levin, 14.5.1958 and 25.5.1952, Stevenson; & Waikanae, 1.4.1949 and 1. 1. 1951, Stevenson

Pileus 4-7 cm. diam., convexus, interdum centro depressus, e flavido hinnuleus, plus minusve fibrillis velutinosis umbrinis vel nigris tectus; caro hinnulea vel cyaneo-tincta. Larnellae liberae, aliquantum confertae, primo cremeo-hinnuleae dein obscure roseae. Stipes 4-6 cm. x 4-10 mm., sericeo- striatus, ex hinnuleo umbrinus, griseo- vel cyaneo-tinctus, basi valde bulbosus. Sporae oblongo-ovoideae, 5 x 6um vel 6 x 7um, in cumulo obscure roseae. Pleurogstidia metuloidiformia, 15-25 x 35-40um; cheilocystidia vesiculosa; hyphae terminales epicutis pilei 70-140 x 5-15um, intus obscure umbrinae.

Typus : Stevenson 845

Pileus 2-4 cm. diam., convex becoming plane, fawn to dark-brown, very moist to almost glutinous, sometimes convoluted at the centre at first, drying fibrillose; flesh bluish. Gills free, thin, crowded, pale-fawn at first, becoming brick-coloured. Stipe 2-4 cm. x 2-4 mm., bulbous at base, silky striate, bluish-fawn, flesh bluish. Spores 6-7 x 8-10um, print brick-coloured. Pleurocystidia of metuloid type 20-25 x 50-70um; hyphal endings of pileus with brown pigment, some ornamented.

on fallen rotting wood, Eves Valley, Nelson, 1. 1 .5. 1 957, Stevenson; Taita, Wellington, 18.3.1958, Stevenson; Catchpole, Wellington, 3.5.1958, Stevenson; Wellington, 25.8.1958, Veronica Fell.

Pileus 2-4 cm. diam., e convexo planus, hinnuleus vel obscure umbrinus, ex humido fere glutinosus, interdum centro primo convolutus, sicco fibril- losus; car0 subcyanea. Latnellae liberae, tenues, confertae, primo pallide hinnuleae dein testaceae. Stipes 2-4 cm. x 2-4 mm., basi bulbosus, cyaneo- hinnuleus, carne cyanea. Sporae 6-7 x 8-10um, ovoideae, in cumulo testaceae. Pleurocystidia metuloidiformia 20-25 x 50-70um; hyphae terminales epicutis pilei intus umbrinae, interdum tuberculis ornatae

Stevenson 1224