Coprosma australis (A. Rich.) Robinson. Wellington: Ohakune, 2,000ft.. December, 1953, J.M. Dingley. Coprosma robusta Raoul. Auckland: Campbell's Bay, July, 1953, J.M. Dingley. Griselinia lucida Forst. f. Taranaki : Mt. Egmont, 2,500ft., March, 1951, J.M. Dingley. Metrosideros robusta A. Cunn. Auckland: Mt. Te Aroha, 2,750ft., November, 1946, G.H.C. Nothopanax colensoi (Hook. f.) Seem. Auckland: Mt. Hauhangatahi, 2,800ft., February, 1952, G.H.C., type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 11350. Taranaki Mt. Egmont, 3,000ft., March, 1951, .J.M. Dingley. Wellington: Obakune, 2,000ft., December, 1953, J.M. Dingley.

Hymenophore annual, closely adnate, ceraceous, effused, forming linear areas to 30 x 6 cm.; surface rich cream to pallid yellow ochre, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, definite, cream, even, byssoid. Context 10-50 µ deep, white, composed of a few basal hyphae and an intermediate layer of mainly vertical hyphae; generative hyphae 2-3.5 µ diameter, wall 0.2 µ thick, naked, branched, septate, without clamp connections, sometimes inflated near septa. Hymenial layer to 70 µ deep, of basidia, paraphyses and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, 20-24 x 5^-6 µ, projecting, 2-4-spored; sterigmata slender, 6-8 µ long. Paraphyses clavate, shorter than the basidia. Gloeocystidia of two types: (a) arising in the sub-hymenium, aculeate, apex long-acuminate, 15-40 x 5-6 µ, projecting; (b) arising from the base of the context, flexuose-cylindrical, 40-80 x 6-8 µ, with rounded base and apex, some passing into the hymenium but not projecting, wall 0.25 µ thick. Spores globose or subglobose, apiculate, 4-6 x 4-5 µ, wall smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick.

DISTRIBUTION. New Zealand.

HABITAT. Effused on decorticated wood.

Hymenophorum ceraceum, adnatum, effusum, superficie cremea vel pallide ochracea, non rimosa. Hyphae contextus afibulatae, 2-3.5 µ diam., nudae. Basidia 20-24 x 5-6 µ, 2-4 sporis. Gloeocystidia strati hymenialis, longo-acuminata, contextus cylindricale flexuosa, 40-80 x 6-8 µ. Sporae globosae vel subglobosae, apiculatae, 4-6 x 4-5 µ, laeves, hyalinae.

Characterized by the two types of gloeocystidia, small globose smooth spores, absence of clamp connections, and widely effused, adnate, pallid ochre, thin and even hymenophore closely appressed to naked wood. Gloeocystidia of the hymenial layer are long-aculeate and project for about half their length. Because of their size, shape and position the species might be sought under Peniophora; without justification, however, since these bodies are true gloeocystidia with naked exterior and oily yellow contents. Those of the context are flexuous-cylindrical with rounded ends, often bent at an angle or allantoid and also contain oily yellow contents. Gloeocystidia may be abundant or scanty in different collections; sometimes the aculeate form may be wanting. All structures of the hymeniam are filled with conspicuous oil globules and each spore contains a large globule, sometimes almost filling the interior. Plants are so readily devoured by snails or insects that it is usually difficult to secure a fertile specimen for examination - hence the specific name.

Auckland: Mt. Hauhangatahi, 2,800ft., February, 1952, G.H.C., type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 11350.