Australoporus tasmanicus (Berk.) P.K. Buchanan & Ryvarden 1988
Details
Biostatus
Nomenclature
Classification
Synonyms
- Flaviporus aroha (G. Cunn.) G. Cunn. 1965
- Fomes cuneatus Lloyd 1915
- Fomitopsis cuneata (Lloyd) G. Cunn. 1948
- Fomitopsis tasmanica (Berk.) G. Cunn. 1949
- Heterobasidion tasmanicum (Berk.) G. Cunn. 1965
- Polyporus tasmanicus Berk. 1859 [1860]
- Poria aroha G. Cunn. 1947
- Trichaptum tasmanicum (Berk.) Teixeira 1994
Associations
Descriptions
Australoporus tasmanicus (Berk.) P.K. Buchanan & Ryvarden 1988
Macroscopically, the species varies from resupinate to distinctly pileate. The perennial, narrowly concentrically sulcate and zonate, often ungulate pileus and the pale pink to orange pore surface, when fresh, are diagnostic characters.
In the descriptions of both H. tasmanicum and Flaviporus aroha, Cunningham (1965) mistakenly reported generative hyphae to be simple septate when, in fact, they have clamps. He also omitted to report that skeletal hyphae are strongly dextrinoid, becoming red-brown in Melzer's reagent. Skeletal hyphae often protrude into the hymenium, and at pore mouths the ends of skeletal hyphae are finely encrusted. The thick-walled metuloids described for F. aroha were found to be thin-walled, sometimes collapsed, apically encrusted cystidioles. They are more abundant in fertile specimens and may be scarce or absent in old specimens with a poorly preserved hymenium. Spores are elongate ellipsoid, smooth- and thin-walled, nonamyloid, nondextrinoid, and hyaline in the tubes. Those observed on the pileus surface however are light brown and often larger than those in the tubes. Average spore measurements are 8.5-13 x 3.5-6.5 µm.
The unusual combination of characters found in P. tasmanicus means that the species cannot be accommodated in any of the four genera to which Cunningham assigned it. Indeed, we have found no suitable genus for this species.
Dextrinoid skeletal hyphae are found in species of Perenniporia Murr., but this genus has distinctly truncate, thick-walled spores with a variable dextrinoid reaction and lacks encrusted skeletal hyphae. Navisporus Ryv. is a close relative, having dextrinoid skeletal hyphae and navicular to cylindrical spores of similar size to those in Polyporus tasmanicus. However, skeletal hyphae are smooth and no encrusted cystidioles are known in the two species so far described in the genus. Furthermore, the species are brown in colour and have a loose consistency, very different from the hard, light-coloured fruit-bodies of P. tasmanicus. Junghuhnia Corda is characterised by a dimitic hyphal system of a similar type to that found in P. tasmanicus. Cystidia are present, but are developed from the skeletal hyphae and are encrusted at the apex. Thin-walled, ventricose cystidia have not been observed in this genus and the skeletal hyphae are not dextrinoid.
Since this species cannot be accommodated in any known genus without changing the concepts of that genus, we propose a new genus for P. tasmanicus [Australoporus].
Hymenophorum ad 16 x 5 cm., 2-4 mm. crassum, firmum, coriaceum, cremeum vel isabellinum. Pori rotundati, saepe obliqui, 3-4 mm. profundi, 100-150 µ diam.; dissepimenta 50-150 µ crassa. Contextus pallide isabellinus, 1-2 mm. crassus, textilis. Hypharum systema dimiticum. Hyphae skeletales sparse ramificatae, aseptatae, 3-4 µ crassae, lumine 1-2 µ; hyphae generatoriae ad 2 µ crassae, sparse ramificatae, septatae, fibulatae. Cystidia clavata, ad 25 x 10 µ, crystallis pilleata. Typus basidialis clavatus. Sporae ellipticae, 9-12 x 4-6 µ, leves, hyalina.
Hab.: Beilschmeidia tawa (A.Cunn). Hook.f. & Benth. Auckland, Mt. Te Aroha, 500 m., specimen typicum.
Dysoxylum spectabile (Forst.f.) Hook.f.
Auckland. Little Barrier Island, Nov. 1947, Joan Dingley.
Nothofagus menziesii (Hook.f.) Oerst.
Wellington. Day’s Bay, Aug. 1946, G.B.Rawlings.
Southland. Near Otautau, Nov. 1948, G.B.Rawlings; Woodlaw State Forest, Jan. 1947, G.B.Rawlings.
Weinmannia racemosa L.f.
Southland. Woodlaw, Nov. 1946, G.B.Rawlings.
Unknown Hosts
Auckland. Waipoua Kauri Forest, 1940, G.B.Rawlings.
Wellington. Mt. Kapakapanui, Tararua Ranges, Nov. 1946, A.P.Druce.
Resembling F. marginata in many micro-features the species differs in the smaller pores, differently shaped spores, thinner skeletal hyphae and different shape and surface of the pileus. Plants sometimes exude large drops from the surface of the hymenium. Sometimes these persist for so long that pore tissue grows between them, consequently when drops have disappeared the hymenium exhibits a pitted appearance.
In a former paper (1927, p. 210) I listed F. cuneata as a synonym of F. hemitephra, since Lloyd’s scanty description—based on New Zealand specimens at Kew collected from Nothofagus solandri by W.Colenso—suggested that it belonged to this species. His description of the spores was obviously based on those of some contaminating mould. Lloyd’s photograph of a Tasmanian specimen (1924, p. 1329), shows it to be valid and the same as the collections listed above. His Polyporus suaderis appears to be based on the same plant.
From F. hemitephra it may be separated by the different shape and surface of the pileus, larger spores, and absence of an orange zone beneath the cuticle.
CUNONIACEAE. Weinmannia racemosa: Auckland, Te Whaiti, 300 m. Otago, Doubtful Sound, 130 m; Woodlaw State Forest. ESCALLONIACEAE. Ixerba brexioides: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m. FAGACEAE: Nothofagus cliffortioides: Nelson, Lake Rotoiti, 700 m. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Marble Mountain, Maruia, 900 m; Westland, Orwell Creek, Ahaura. Nothofagus menziesii: Auckland, Mamaku Forest, 600 m. Wellington, Days Bay, 120 m. Nelson, Kakapo River, 300 m; Little Wanganui River, 270 m. Otago, Black Gully, Blue Mountains; Hollyford Valley, 140 m; Milford Sound, 200 m; Lake Te Anau, 120 m; Woodlaw State Forest; Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 120 m. LAURACEAE. Beilschmiedia tarairi: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 130 m; Kaukapakapa. Beilschmiedia tawa: Auckland, Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m; Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, 70 m; Lake Rotoehu, 450 m; Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 600 m. MELIACEAE. Dysoxylum spectabile: Auckland, Little Barrier Island. UNKNOWN HOSTS. Auckland, Waikaretu, 140 m; Waipoua Kauria Forest; Te Whaiti; Whakamarama. Wellington, Mt. Kapakapanui. Victoria, Cumberland Valley. Tasmania, National Park; Between Great Lake and Deloraine; National Park.
IN KEW HERBARIUM: Collections are the type ex "Tasmania, Archer", "Tasmania, L. Rodway" type of Polyporus suaderis Lloyd, and "N.Z. Colenso, b 369" type of Fomes cuneatus Lloyd.
Comb. nov.
Hymenophore perennial, solitary or imbricate, firm and woody, attached by a broad lateral base. Pilei usually effused-reflexed, sometimes ungulate or applanate, occasionally resupinate, 7-17 cm, 2-5 cm radius, 3-5 cm thick; pileus surface bay, becoming umber, concentrically sulcate and ridged, radiately fluted and/or rugulose, nodose; cortex to 0.5 mm thick, dark brown, shining, of compactly intertwined cemented hyphae; margin acute, entire, undulate, lighter in colour; hymenial surface ochre drying bay, with a sterile border 2-3 mm wide. Pores obscurely stratose, pallid ochre, 2-4 mm deep in each layer, 5-6 per mm, 100-200 µ diameter, dissepiments 50-150 µ thick, most 50-75 µ, apices expanded partly occluding pores, velutinate. Context 2-5 mm thick, ochre or isabelline, of compact intertwined hyphae; skeletal hyphae to 4 µ diameter, lumena almost capillary, sparsely branched, aseptate, staining; generative hyphae to 3 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, branched, septate. Hymenial layer to 20 µ deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses soon collapsing and partly embedded in mucilage. Basidia clavate, 12-16 x 7-8 µ, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, to 4 µ long. Paraphyses clavate, 8-12 x 5-6 µ. Spores elliptical, 7-10 x 4-5.5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µ thick, staining slightly.
Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand.