SPECIMENS EXAMINED: NEW ZEALAND: AUCKLAND: Waitakere Ranges, Cascades Loop Tr., on dead frond Cyathea dealbata, P. R. Johnston D1 &G. J. Samuels, 9 Sep 1981, PDD 41794. GISBORNE: Urewera National Park, Lake Waikaremoana, Lake Ruapani Tr., on dead frond Dicksonia lanata, P. R. Johnston D454, 24 Nov 1988, PDD 56634. NORTHLAND: Russell Forest,Punaruku Rd, Hori Wehi Wehi Tr., on dead fronds Dicksonia sp., P. R. Johnston D1107 & L. Morin, 8 Aug 1994, PDD 63497. TAUPO: Pureora Forest, Mt Pureora, Link Tr., on dead frond Dicksonia squarrosa, P. R. Johnston D1423 & B. M. Spooner, 24 Aug 1999, PDD 70965. AUSTRALIA: VICTORIA: Wait-a-While Rd, near Beech Forest, on Dicksonia antarctica, K. & G.Beaton 260, 20 Sep 1964, MELU, holotype; Mt Torbrek, near Eildon, on Dicksonia antarctica, G. Weste & G. Beaton 260a, 3 May 1975, MELU. TASMANIA: south-west, Rutherfords Rd, SE side,N of St Johns Ck crossing, on Dicksonia sp., T. W. May & B. A. Fuhrer, 8 May 1996, MEL 2066941, PDD 71686.

DESCRIPTION: Apothecia developing on dead fronds, erumpent from beneath epidermis, with flap of host tissue pushed to one side at base of apothecium, arising from small patch of compact, hyaline tissue confined to upper few layers of host cells across base of apothecium. Apothecia 0.5-1 mm diam., sessile, disc pale yellowish, receptacle pale to dark brown, with a row of massive, tapering, pale, whitish appendages up to 0.8 mm long. Ectal excipulum twol ayered; outer layer up to 50 µm thick, of textura angularis to textura prismatica with elements oriented at high angle to receptacle surface, comprising brick-shaped to angular, 6-10-µm-diam. cells with walls thick, hyaline, encrusted with yellowbrown material on outermost cells, gelatinous; inner layer up to 50 µm thick near edge of disc, 10-15 µm at sides of receptacle, comprising long cylindric, 2.5-3-µm-diam. cells with walls thick, hyaline (outermost cells encrusted with yellow-brown material), gelatinous. Medullary excipulum comprising 65-µm-deep layer of cylindric, partly tangled cells oriented more or less perpendicular to host surface,4-6 µm diam., with walls slightly thickened, hyaline, slightly gelatinous. Excipular hairs arising from outer layer of ectal excipulum, up to 800 x 3 µm, cylindric with rounded apex, walls thick, smooth, hyaline, dextrinoid in Melzer's reagent (under interference contrast microscopy with amyloid appearance at some angles), numerous hairs aggregated into tight groups forming triangular, tapering appendages, 60-80 µm wide at base. Subhymenium comprising 2-4-µm-diam. hyphae with walls hyaline, thin, nongelatinous. Paraphyses 1.5 µm diam., apex slightly swollen to 2.5-3 µm diam., unbranched, extending 15-30 µm beyond asci, embedded in common hyaline gelatinous matrix. Asci 90-115(-130) x 5.5-7 µm, cylindric, tapering slightly to subtruncate apex, wall thickened at apex, apical pore sometimes amyloid, 8-spored, spores overlapping uniseriate or biseriate, spores extending 65-80 µm from ascus apex. Ascospores 10-14.5 x 3-3.5 µm, elliptic to fusoid, ends more or less acute, flattened one side, often slightly curved in side view, 0-1-septate, wall hyaline.

NOTES: H. dicksoniae is macroscopically similar to the other pale-coloured Hispidula spp., but can be distinguished by its narrower ascospores, and its substrate. Beaton & Weste (1977) placed this fungus in Cyathicula. They noted that they did so with "some hesitation", but that there was no other satisfactory genus for their fungus. Although some Cyathicula species have large, tooth-like appendages around the margin of the disc, these are simply extensions of the excipular tissue, and have the same anatomical structureas the highly gelatinised excipulum of this genus. The apothecial appendages of H. dicksoniae and the other Hispidula species comprise anatomically distinct hairs. Carpenter (1981) excluded H.dicksoniae from Cyathicula, compared its excipular structure with Hymenoscyphus, but otherwise made no attempt to recombine this species. An additional Tasmanian collection (Mt Field National Park, Lyrebird Nature Walk, on Dicksonia antarctica dead fronds, P. R. Johnston Tas 129 & A. K. Mills, 26 May 1988, HO, PDD 54963) from Dicksonia matches H. dicksoniae macroscopically, but has slightly wider asci (7-8.5 µm) and ascospores (4-4.5 µm). It could represent a distinct species, but until more material is available from Australia to enable assessment of variation between populations of these fungi, its identity remains doubtful

DESCRIPTION: Apothecia developing on fallen leaves or dead fern fronds, erumpent from host tissue, arising from small patches of compact, hyaline fungal tissue. Apothecia sessile, base of disc lying flattened against host substrate, up to about 1 mm diam., receptacle with narrow tapering appendages, up to about 1 mm long. Ectal excipulum 2-layered; outer layer confined to lower half of receptacle, comprising textura angularis to textura prismatica with elements oriented at high angle to surface of receptacle, cell walls hyaline (may be encrusted with dark material), thickened, gelatinous; inner layer extending to edge of disc, comprising cylindric to long cylindric cells with walls hyaline (may be encrusted with dark material), thickened, gelatinous. Medullary excipulum comprising cylindric cells with gelatinous walls, cells often oriented perpendicular to surface of host. Excipular hairs arise from outer excipular layer, cylindric, with few, thin septa, walls thick, smooth, hairs tightly aggregated into large, tapering, tooth-like appendages, often dextrinoid in Melzer's reagent. Asci cylindric, wall thickened at apex, apical pore amyloid or not. Ascospores elliptic to fusoid, 0-1-septate, hyaline to pale brown (septate and coloured usually after release from asci), wall smooth, thin.

DIAGNOSIS: Apothecia erumpentia, sessilia, appendicibus pilaceis usque ad 1 mm longas. Excipulum bistratis; stratum exterior limitatum ad basim receptaculi, e textura angularis vel textura prismatica compositus, cellulis depositis ad angulum altum, cellulae parietibus hyalinis, gelatinosis, interdum materia fusca incrustatis; stratum interior cellulis cylindricis vellongi cylindricis, cellulae parietibus hyalinis, gelatinosis. Appendices compositae arctae aggregatae pili cylindrici angusti. Asci J- vel J+; ascosporae ellipticae vel fusiformes, 0-1-septatae, hyalinae vel brunneae dilute.

ETYMOLOGY: hispidus, with coarse, erect hairs or bristles; refers to the macroscopically distinctive excipular appendages comprising aggregated groups of hairs, the diminutive reflecting the sizeof these fungi.
NOTES: This genus has been placed in the Hyaloscyphaceae because of its excipular hairs. Within this family Echinula Graddon is similar in having apothecia ornamented with tooth-like appendages made up of tightly aggregated hairs (Graddon 1977). Echinula is monotypic, the only known species being confined to Rubus leaves in the United Kingdom. The genus differs from the Australasian fungi in having much smaller apothecia (0.1-0.2 mm diam.), and an ectal excipulum comprising a single layer of angular cells with nongelatinous walls (Scotland, Argyll, Isle of Mull, Aros, on Rubus leaves, M. C. Clark, May 1974, Holotype of E. asteriadiformis, K M41270!; England, Warwickshire, Temple Balsall, on Rubus leaves, M. C. Clark, 18 Jul 1971, K M47708!). The excipular hairs do not show the dextrinoid reaction typical of those of the pale Hispidulaspecies. In all Hispidula species with pale excipular appendages, the hairs making up the appendages give a dextrinoid reaction in Melzer's reagent. When the hairs are viewed under an interference contrast light source, the reaction appears amyloid at some angles. The thick-walled, dextrinoid hairs may suggest a relationship between these fungi and genera such as Hyalopeziza, Hyaloscypha, and Unguicularia, several species of which have similar hairs (Huhtinen 1989; Korf & Kohn 1980; Raitviir & Huhtinen 1997). The shape of the excipular cells and their thickened walls is similar to the "textura prismatica incrassata" described by Huhtinen (1989) for some Hyaloscypha spp. However, the orientation of the excipular cells in Hispidula differs, and the very long, aggregated hairs of Hispidula are quite distinct to any species described to date from these other genera. Most Hispidula species have apothecia that are variable in colour, from pale yellowish to dark brown, even in single collections. When the apothecia are dark, the outermost cells of the excipulum are encrusted with yellow-brown material. This encrusting material is soluble in lactic acid. The one species with dark red apothecia has similar encrusting material on the outside of the excipulum, but also has red pigment and red crystallike inclusions in the gelatinous cell walls. This red pigment is soluble in 3% KOH.

TYPE SPECIES: Hispidula pounamu P.R.Johnst.

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED: NEW ZEALAND: BAY OF PLENTY: Mt Te Aroha, summit, on fallen leaves Dracophyllum traversii, P. R.Johnston D1461, 30 Apr 1988, PDD 70967. BULLER: Paparoa Range, Mt Ryall, Croesus Tr.,seaward side near treeline, on fallen leaves D.traversii, P. R. Johnston D1007, 7 May 1994, PDD 70964. MID CANTERBURY: Arthur's Pass NationalPark, Scotts Tr., on fallen leaves D. traversii,P. R. Johnston D1459.1, 9 Feb 1989, PDD 70966. NELSON: Abel Tasman National Park, vic. Cobb Reservoir, track from Mytton Hut to treeline, on fallen leaves D. traversii, P. R. Johnston D973, 4 May 1994, PDD 70961; Graham Range, Graham River Valley Rd, track from Flora Carpark to Mt Arthur Hut, on fallen leaves D. traversii, P. R. Johnston D 996, 6 May 1994, PDD 70963; Graham Range, Graham River Valley Rd, track from Flora Carpark to Mt Arthur Hut, on fallen leaves D.traversii, P. R. Johnston D 995, 6 May 1994, PDD 70962; vic. Westport, Denniston Plateau Walkway, on fallen leaves D. traversii, P. R. Johnston D604 & E. M. Gibellini, 25 May 1989, PDD 58176.

DESCRIPTION: Apothecia developing on upper and lower surface of fallen leaves, typically near base of leaf. Apothecia erumpent from beneath epidermis, arising from small patch of compact, hyaline tissue comprising cylindric to short-cylindric, 2-5-µm diam.cells with walls hyaline, thin, nongelatinous. Apothecia up to 1 mm diam., sessile, disc bright orange-yellow, receptacle white to bright yellow, dark brown with age or drying, with a row of massive, tapering, pale, whitish appendages up to 0.8 mm long. Ectal excipulum two-layered; outer layer up to 50 µm thick, forming a broad, flange-like extension above the surrounding host tissue, of textura angularis to textura prismatica with elements oriented at high angle to receptacle surface, comprising brick-shaped, 8-12-µm-diam. cells with walls thick, hyaline, gelatinous, outermost cells encrusted with yellow-brown material; inner layer 5-10 µm thick, comprising narrow-cylindric to cylindric, 2-2.5-µm-diam. cells with walls thick, hyaline, gelatinous. Medullary excipulum comprising 50-60-µm-deep layer of cylindric 3-5-µm-diam. cells partly interwoven and oriented more or less perpendicular to host surface, with walls thick, hyaline, gelatinous. Excipular hairs arising from outer layer of ectal excipulum, up to 800 x 3 µm, cylindric with rounded apex, walls thick, smooth, dextrinoid in Melzer's reagent (under interference contrast microscopy with amyloid appearance at some angles), numerous hairs aggregated into tight groups, forming triangular, tapering appendages, 40-80 µm wide at base. Subhymenium comprising 2-µm-diam. hyphae with walls hyaline, thin, nongelatinous. Paraphyses 1.5 µm diam., apex slightly swollen to 2.5-3.5 µm diam., sometimes branched in upper 20-40 µm, extending 20-30 µm beyond asci, embedded in common gelatinous matrix. Asci (95)110-135 x 7-9.5 µm, cylindric, tapering slightly to subtruncate apex, wall thickened at apex, apical pore amyloid, 8-spored, spores overlapping uniseriate, spores extending 80-110 µm from ascus apex. Ascospores 13.5-19(-22) x 4-5.5 µm, oblong elliptic,ends rounded, flattened one side, slightly curved in side view, 0-1-septate, wall hyaline (pale brown in some spores after release).

DIAGNOSIS: Species characteribus Hispidulae. Apothecia ad 1 mm diam.; discus armeniacus vividus; receptaculum albidum vel ochraceum vividum, atrobrunneum ubi siccum; appendices albidae, Melzero aurantiaco, ad 0.8 mm longae. Asci (95-)110-135 x 7-9.5 µm, poro Melzero caerulescente; ascosporae 13.5-19(-22) x 4-5.5 µm, oblongo-ellipticae, extrema rotundata, versus facieunam complanatam, curvulae leviter, 0-1-septatae. In foliis caducis Dracophylii.

HOLOTYPUS (here designated): New Zealand: Nelson: Abel Tasman National Park, Takaka Hill, Canaan Rd, Mt Evans Tr., on Dracophyllum traversii fallen leaves, P. R. Johnston D964, 3 May 1994, PDD 70960.

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED: NEWZEALAND: BAY OF PLENTY: Mt Te Aroha, summit, on fallen leaves Dracophyllum traversii, P. R. Johnston D323, 30 Apr 1988, PDD 54884. BULLER: Paparoa Range, Croesus Track, vic. Garden Gully Hut, on fallen leaves D. traversii, P.R. Johnston D93, G. J. Samuels & L. M. Kohn, 3 May 1985, PDD 49023. NELSON: Karamea, Oparara River Valley, Mirror Tarn, on fallen leaves D. traversii, P. R. Johnston D948 & E. M. Gibellini, 26 May 1989, PDD 63173. WAIKATO: Mt Pirongia, Track 4A, on fallen leaves D. latifolium, P. R. Johnston D319 & E. M. Gibellini, 28 Apr 1985, PDD 54890.

DESCRIPTION: Apothecia developing on both upper and lower surface of fallen leaves, associated with bleaching of leaf tissue and with reddish staining in the immediate vicinity of the apothecia. Apothecia erumpent from beneath epidermis, arising from small patch of compact, hyaline tissue comprising tangled 3-µm-diam. hyphae with walls hyaline, slightly thickened. Apothecia 0.4-1 mm diam., sessile,disc yellowish when fresh, drying dark red, receptacle dark red with a row of massive, tapering, dark red to blackish appendages up to 1 mm long. Ascomata release deep wine red pigment in KOH (pigment becoming colourless in Melzer's reagent). Ectal excipulum two-layered; outer layer up to 65µm thick at sides of receptacle, of textura angularis to textura prismatica with elements oriented at high angle to receptacle surface, comprising short cylindric to angular, 6-12-µm-diam. cells with walls thick, dark red (encrusted with dark red material which dissolves rapidly in KOH), gelatinous, outermostcells of each element becoming long-cylindric and extending a short distance along sides of receptacle; inner layer up to 50 µm thick near edge of disc, 10-15 µm at sides of receptacle, comprising long cylindric to cylindric, 3-µm-diam. cells with walls thick, hyaline, gelatinous (with red crystal-like inclusions amongst the gel, these dissolving rapidly in KOH). Medullary excipulum a 60-µm-deep layer of cylindric cells, partly tangled and oriented more or less perpendicular to host surface, 3-5 µm diam. with walls thick, hyaline, gelatinous. Excipular hairs arising from outer layer of ectal excipulum, 700-1000 x 2.5-3 µm, cylindric with rounded apex, walls thick, smooth, dark red, with no reaction in Melzer'sreagent, numerous hairs aggregated into tight groups, forming triangular, tapering appendages, 50-100 µm wide at base. Subhymenium comprising 2-4-µm diam.hyphae with walls hyaline, thin, nongelatinous. Paraphyses 1.5 µm diam., apex slightly swollen to 2.5-3 µm diam., sometimes branched, extending 10-20 µm beyond asci, embedded in common hyaline to pale brown gelatinous matrix. Asci 95-120(-130) x 6.5-7.5(-8) µm,cylindric, tapering slightly to subtruncate apex, wall thickened at apex, apical pore amyloid (pale reaction), 8-spored, spores overlapping uniseriate, spores extending 75-85 µm from ascus apex. Ascospores 11.5-15 x 4-4.5(-5.5) µm, elliptic to fusoid, ends more or less acute, flattened one side, slightly curved in side view, slightly wider in upper half, 0-1-septate,wall hyaline to pale brown.

DIAGNOSIS: Species characteribus Hispidulae. Apothecia 0.4-1 mm diam.; discus luteolus, atroruber ubi siccus; receptaculum atroruberum; appendices atroruberae vel nigellae, ad 1 mm longae; pigmentum purpureum in KOH. Asci 95-120 (-130) x 6.5-7.5(-8) µm, poro Melzero noncaerulescente; ascosporae 11.5-15 x 4-4.5 (-5.5) µm, ellipticae vel fusiformes, extrema plus minusve accuminata, versus facie unam complanatam,curvulae leviter, 0-1-septatae. In foliis caducis Dracophylii.

HOLOTYPUS (here designated): New Zealand: Mid Canterbury: Arthur's Pass National Park, Scotts Tr.,on fallen leaves Dracophyllum traversii, P. R.Johnston D1459.2, 9 Feb 1989, PDD 71644.

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED: NEW ZEALAND:AUCKLAND: Waitakere Ranges, Cascades, Upper Kauri Track, on fallen leaves Dracophyllum latifolium, P. R. Johnston D420, 11 Oct 1989, PDD 56335. COROMANDEL: Little Barrier Island, on fallen leaves D. patens, P. R.Johnston LB88, 13 Jun 1984, PDD 55317.NORTHLAND: Puketi Forest, Waiohanga Gorge Tr., on fallen leaves D. latifolium, P. R. Johnston D174 & E. H. C. McKenzie, 23 Oct 1987, PDD 53846.

DESCRIPTION: Apothecia developing on lower surface of fallen leaves, typically near base of leaf, associated with bleaching of the leaf tissue. Apothecia erumpent from beneath epidermis, arising from small patch of compact, hyaline tissue comprising tangled 2-3-µm-diam. hyphae with thin, hyaline walls, embedded in hyaline gelatinous matrix. Apothecia 0.5-0.8 mm diam., sessile, disc pale yellowish,receptacle pale yellowish to dark brown, with a row of massive, tapering, pale, whitish appendages up to 0.8 mm long. Ectal excipulum two-layered; outer layer 50 µm thick, of textura angularis with elements oriented at high angle to receptacle surface, comprising angular, 7.5-12.5-µm-diam. cells with walls slightly thickened, hyaline, slightly gelatinous,outermost cells encrusted with bright yellow-brown material (this dissolving in lactic acid); inner layer up to 20 µm thick near margin of disc, 5-10 µm at sides of receptacle, comprising long cylindric, 3-µm diam.cells with walls thick, hyaline, gelatinous. Medullary excipulum poorly developed, barely differentiated from the basal tissue within the host leaf. Excipular hairs arising from outer layer of ectal excipulum; up to 800 x 3 µm, cylindric with rounded apex, walls thick, smooth, hyaline, dextrinoid in Melzer's reagent (under interference contrast microscopy with amyloid appearance at some angles), numerous hairs aggregated into tight groups, forming triangular, tapering appendages, 40 µm wide at base. Subhymenium comprising tangled 2-3-µm-diam. hyphae with walls hyaline, thin, nongelatinous. Paraphyses 1.5 µm diam., apex slightly swollen to 2.5-3 µm diam., sometimes branched in the upper 50 µm, extending 5-10 µm beyond asci, embedded in common gelatinous matrix. Asci 80-105 x 6.5-7.5 µm, cylindric to subclavate, apex more or less broadly rounded, wall slightly thickened at apex, apical pore nonamyloid, 8-spored, spores overlapping uniseriate, spores extending 65-70 µm from ascus apex. Ascospores 10.5-14 x 3.5-4.5 µm, elliptic to fusoid, ends more or less acute, slightly flattened one side, not curved, 0-1-septate, wall hyaline (becoming pale brown after ascospores released).

DIAGNOSIS: Species characteribus Hispidulae. Apothecia 0.5-0.8 mm diam.; discus flavida; receptaculum falvidum vel atrobrunneum; appendices albidae, Melzero aurantiaco, ad 0.8 mm longae. Asci 80-105 x 6.5-7.5 µm, poro Melzero noncaerulescente; ascosporae 10.5-14 x 3.5-4.5 µm, ellipticae vel fusiformes, extrema plus minusve accuminata, versus facie unam complanatam, 0-1-septatae. In foliis caducis Dracophylii.

HOLOTYPUS (here designated): New Zealand: Coromandel: Little Barrier Island, Summit Tr., on Dracophyllum patens fallen leaves, P. R. Johnston D293, 7 Apr 1988, PDD 54811.