ICON: Horak (1973: 155).

DISTRIBUTION: NZ (N, W). - ?Jamaica (type of H. aurantius); ?Japan. 

ECOLOGY: Scattered; saprobic on soil under Leptospermum (and Nothofagus). April-July.

ICON.: Stevenson (1962: 282); Horak (1973: 122). 

TYPE: NZ: N, Lake Rotoiti, Westbay, under Leptospermum scoparium and Nothofagus solandri  var. cliffortioides, 29 iv 1968, Horak, PDD 27088.

ETYMOLOGY: griseus = grey; rufescens = reddening.

One of the most distinctive macroscopic characters of this taxon is the reddening context in the base of the stipe. For this reason, in the field Camarophyllus griseorufescens can be taken for Hygrophorus gloriae  whose pileus colour occasionally ranges from grey to soot brown. The two taxa differ, however, by the odour, and - even more significantly - by the size and the shape of the spores.

ETYMOLOGY: impurus = off white, dirty.

Macroscopically Camarophyllus impurus is similar in many respects to C. patinaecolor. The basidiomes of both taxa are characterised by white to off-white colours. C. impurus, however, does not exhibit greenish-blue tinges which is a typical feature of C. patinaecolor. Microscopically the identification of the two related taxa is readily established because - their spores differ clearly in size.

TYPE: NZ: NA, Waitakere Ranges, Mill Bay, under Leptospermum scoparium, 29 vi 1981, Horak, PDD  27226.

DISTRIBUTION: NZ (NA, W).

ECOLOGY: Rare; saprobic on soil among litter in Nothofagus-Leptospermum forests. June.

TYPE: NZ: W, Muritai, under Nothofagus sp., 2 v:, 1958, Stevenson, K 1352. 

Spores 5-6.5 x 4-5 um, subglobose to ovoid, apiculus distinct -Basidia 30-50 x 4-6 um, 4-spored. - cystidia absent. - Pileipellis a cutis of interwoven, cylindrical hyphae (3-7 um diam.), membrane not gelatinised, minutely encrusted with pigment; clamp connections present (Pl. 1, Fig. 5).

DISTRIBUTION: NZ (NA, N, WL, SL).

Spores 5.5-7 x 4-4.5 um, ovoid, smooth, hyaline, inamyloid. - Basidia 30-40 x 5-6 um, 4-spored, rarely with 2 sterigmata, with clamp connection at basal septum. - Cheilo- and pleurocystidia absent - Pileipellis an ixocutis of densely interwoven, 2 cylindrical hyphae (1-4 um diam.), membrane  strongly gelatinised, hyaline, with grey plasmatic pigment, septa usually lacking clamp connections.

ECOLOGY: Rare; saprobic on soil among litter in  mixed broadleaved-conifer forest (Weinmannia, Metrosideros, Dacrydium, Dicksonia). March.

ETYMOLOGY: fumosus = sooty; griseus = grey.

The strongly gelatinised pileus and stipe clearly  indicate that this grey to sooty coloured species has its taxonomical position in Gliophorus. Its identification is easy because G. fumosogriseus is the only New Zealand Gliophorus with adnate-emarginate lamellae in combination with fuliginous colours on the basidiomes.

TYPE: NZ: WL, Copland River Valley, Karangarua, 7 iii 1983, Horak, PDD 27229.

DISTRIBUTION: NZ: (WL, SL).

ICON.: Horak(1973: 176); Taylor(1970: back cover, as “H. viridis”); Taylor (1981:No.42, as "H. viridis").

TYPE: NZ: WL, Ngahere, Red Jack Valley, under Dacrydium cupressinum, Metrosideros umbellata, Quintinia sp., 21 iii 1968, Horak, PDD 27096.

ICON.: Stevenson (1962: pl.8, fig.1: 3 basidiomes on right side, as "H. viridis"); Horak (1973: 178); Taylor (1981: no. 44, as "G. versicolor").

Spores 7-9 x 5-5.5 um, ellipsoid. - Basidia 40-60 x -8 um, 4-spored. -Cystidia absent -Pileipellis an ixocutis of repent to suberect cylindrical hyphae (1-4 um diam.), membranes strongly gelatinised, with plasmatic pigment; clamp connections present (Pl. 1, Fig. 6).

DISTRIBUTION: NZ (NA,LBI).

ECOLOGY: Rare; saprobic on soil among moss and litter in broadleaved forests, June.

Pileus -15 mm, hemisphaericus dein subumbo - natocomexus, purpureus dein lilacinoroseus, glutinosus, striatus. Lamellae emarginatoadnatae, albidae. Stipes 10-50 x 1.5-3 mm, cylindricus vel subincrassatus, pileo concolor, ad basim luteus, glutinosus. Odor nullus. Sporae  5 5-6.5 x 3 -4 um, ellpsoideae. Ad terram in silvis,  Novazelandia Holotypus PDD 27228.

ETYMOLOGY: ostrinus = purple.

The present knowledge of G. ostrinus is based upon a single collection with numerous basidiomes found in the ecologically unique rainforest near the top of Mt Hauturu on Little Barrier Island. Its slender and fragile basidiomes recall G. lilacinoides (Horak) in habit and colour. However, the two closely related taxa can be distinguished in particular by their spore size and the distinctive colour changes caused both by ageing and/or leaching of the basidiomes. Another distinguishing feature is the morphology of the terminal cells in the ixocutis. In G. ostrinus the terminal cells on the gelatinised hyphae are not differentiated at the tips whereas in G. lilacinoides the terminal cells are constantly found to be subfusoid. In addition, the separation of these two similar agarics is readily accomplished by comparing the size and shape of thc spores.

TYPE: NZ: NA, LBI, near summit of Mt Hauturu, in moss forest, 12 vi 1981, Horak, PDD 27228.

Spores 6-7.5 x 3.4-4 um, ellipsoid.- Basidia 34-40 x 4 -6 um, 4-spored. - Cheilocystidia composed of erect, branched hyphae (2-5 um diam.) with strongly gelatinised membranes, forming the gelatinous thread at edges. -Pileipellis an ixocutis of repent to interwoven, cylindrical, gelatinised hyphae (1-5 um diam.), with rounded, occasionally irregularly branched or forked tips; clamp connections present (Pl. 1, Fig. 6).

ECOLOGY: Scattered; saprobic on soil among litter or on very rotten wood in Nothofagus and broadleaved conifer forests, occasionally also on decayed trunks of tree fems. May-June.

Pileus -20 mm, hemispherical, convex becoming  expanded with depressed centre; scarlet to tomato  red; glutinous, conspicuously striate at margin, glabrous. -Lamellae 12-16 (1-3) adnexed to adnate, white with reddish tinge, turning reddish orange  with age, edges entire, concolorous, without glutinous thread. - Stipe 10-35 x 1-2 mm, cylindrical, equal;  concolorous with pileus or orange with reddish tinge; glutinous, gabrous, fistulose, single. - Context red orange, yellowish towards base of stipe. - Odour and taste not distinctive. - Chemical reactions on  pileus: KOH - yellow.

Spores 8-10.5 x 5-7 um, ovoid. - Basidia 32- 35 x 7-10 um, 4-spored. - Cystidia absent - Pileipellis an ixocutis of repent to interwoven, cylindrical hyphae (4-10 um diam.), membranes gelatinised, with encrusting and/or plasmatic pigment; clamp connections present (Pl. 1, Fig. 6).

DISTRIBUTI0N: NZ, N), South America (Chile).

As suggested in Horak (1971: 456) Omphalina sulfurea Stev. belongs to Gliophorus and the revision of the original material demonstrated that G. bichromus Horak must be considered as a later synonym.

The macroscopic features of the European Hygrocybe luteolaeta Arnolds (1986 a) and the North American Hygrophorus nitidus (Berk. & Br.) (cf. description in Hesler & Smith, 1963) are strongly reminiscent of this New Zealand taxon. These two extra limital species, however, are readily distinguished by the size and shape of the spores.

TYPE: NZ: W, Levin, 26 vi 1948, Stevenson, K 338.

ICON.: Horak (1973: 165); Taylor (1981: no. 43, ?).

ICON.: Horak (1973: 133).

The re-examination of the type material demonstrated that clamp connections are actually present at the basidial septa and thus Humidicutis conspicua unmistakeably belongs to Humidicutis.

The brilliant orange lamellae and the general habit of the basidiomes are strongly reminiscent of the common North American H. marginata (Peck) Sing. which represents the type species of the genus Humidicutis. These two closely related taxa, however, are readily separated both by their ecology and distribution pattern and the size of the spores.

Originally this fragile and delicately coloured species was considered to belong to Hygrocybe (Horak 1973: 148). The re-examination of the type material revealed, however, that clamp connections are generally absent at the septa of the hyphae but present at the base of the basidia. As a consequence the transfer of H. luteovirens to Humidicutis is proposed.

To date, only two representatives of Humidicutis with distinctive green coloured basidiomes are reported from New Zealand viz. H. luteovirens (Horak) and H. multicolor (Berk. & Br.) Horak. In the field the latter taxon, at first sight, can be readily taken for H. luteovirens (Horak) which, however, lacks the conspicuous blue colour in the cortex of pileus and stipe.

SPECIMENS: NZ: NA, Waitakere Ranges, Mill Bay, ZT 1018. -W, Wellington, Botanical Garden, K 587. - WL, Ngahere, Nelson Creek, Kopara, ZT 69/188.

The original description of Humidicutis multicolor; is based upon specimens collected in Sri Lanka. According to Pegler (1986: 52) the type material of this mul6coloured agaric is lost and hence its taxonomic identity and interpretation remain unsettled.

In the present species concept the type of H multicolor is not considered a synonym of the sympatric Ceylonese Camarophyllus caesius (Berk & Br.) as suggested by Pegler (1986). The three New Zealand collections referred to H. multicolor are in complete agreement with material gathered and published under this name from Tierra del Fuego (Horak 1979: 57).

ICON.: Stevenson (1962: 337); Horak (1973: 131).

All characters observed on the North American Hygrophorus purus Peck essentially agree with those described for H. mavis Stev. which in New Zealand is widely distributed both in Nothofagus and broadleaved-conifer forests.

The revision of authentic North American material kept in the Hesler collections (MICH) demonstrated that both the macroscopic and the microscopic data for Hygrophorus purus Peck are obviously erroneous (Hesler & Smith 1963: 214). The surface of pileus and stipe lacks gelatinised hyphae and therefore this fungus is misplaced in subsect. Psittacini. Clamp connections are absent or very rare on septa of the pileipellis but occur regularly at the base of the basidia. Hence the macroscopic and microscopic features clearly fit the generic circumscription of Humidicutis (Singer) Singer (Horak 1968: 281), and accordingly its transfer to this taxon is proposed.

ETYMOLOGY: blandus = attractive.

The yellow-orange basidiomes with no trace of red colours and the decurrent lamellae relate Hygrocybe  blanda  to both H. firma and H. cerinolutea. Microscopically, however, the identification of H. blanda is readily achieved. The spores of this taxon measure only 5.5-7 um and thus are much smaller than those reported for the latter two species. Also the size of the basidia significantly separates H. blanda from its similar-looking relatives.

In New Zealand H. firma is readily confused with either H. miniceps (Stev.) Horak, H. procera (Stev.) Horak, or H. rubrocarnosa (Stev.) Horak as these four taxa share not only basidiomes corresponding in. shape, size, and.colours but also localities in ecologically similar situations. Microscopically H. firma is distinguished, however, by its dimorphous basidia and spores.

The pantropical H.firma was originally reported from Sri Lanka (Berkeley &: Broome 1871; Pegler 1986). In SE Asia the taxon is also recorded from Malaysia where Corner (1936) demonstrated the extraordinary variation of its macroscopical and microscopical features by recognising not less than 17 varieties (for discussion cf. Pegler 1988).

The first New Zealand collection of H. firma was made by Stevenson; the material, however, was erroneously referred to as H. pseudococcineus Hongo (1955) which also represents an Hygrocybe with dimorphous spores and basidia.

ICON.: Stevenson (1962: 377); Horak (1973: 147).

ICON.: Stevenson (1962: 378); Horak (1973: 140).

This species is readly recognised by its brilliant red colour, the ± triangular lamellae and the scurfy pileus, composed of rather large, non gelatinised hyphae (Amolds,1977). New Zealand and Australian records of H. miniata have already been reported in the last century by Cooke (1879), Colenso (1890), and Massee (1898). It is likely that H. coccineus (Fr.) Fr. ss. Massee (1898) and Stevenson (1962) also represent the same taxon.

In some of the New Zealand collections of H. miniata reported here with the colour of the gills was observed to vary from whitish (cf. H. helobius. Arnolds 1974) or red-orange to scarlet. Since this often age-dependent colour change is noted also on basidiomes within the same population this character obviously has no significant taxonomic value.

hollow, single or caespitose. - Context red-orange in pileus, yellow in stipe. - Odour and taste not distinctive. - Chemical reactions on pileus: KOH, HCI, and NH₃ - negative.

Spores 11-17 x 7-10 um, distinctly amygdaliform. –Basidia 55-75 x 8-12 um, 4-(rarely 2-) spored. - Cystidia absent. - Pileipellis a trichoderm of cylindrical, suberect hyphae (8-14 um diam.), membrane not gelatinised, with encrusting or plasmatic pigment, clamp connections present (Pl.1, Fig. 1).

ICON.: Cleland (1934: 173); Stevenson (1962: 82).

H. elsae Stevenson, Kew Bull. 16: 375 (1962) =  Cantharellus elsae (Stev.) Horak, N.Z.Journ Bot.9: 420 (1971).

ICON.: Stevenson (1962: 382); Horak (1973: 161).

ETYMOLOGY: segregatus = separated, isolated.

This new taxon is characterised by its slender yellow basidiomes. The base of the stipe slowly turns apricot or orange. Hygrophorus segregatus shares this feature with H. salmonipes (Stev.) and therefore in the field these two taxa are readily confused. Microscopically, however, these similar-looking agarics are distinguished at once by the size of the spores.

The type material is in poor condition and no spores have been recovered. - Basidia 50-60 x 5-6 um, 4-spored. - Pileipellis a cutis of repent-suberect cylindrical hyphae (2-8 um diam.), in KOH with dark brown plasmatic and/or encrusting pigment, membranes not gelatinised. Clamp connections not observed.

The material probably represents a species of Hydropus (cf. Singer, 1981).