Auckland. Orewa, January, 1949, P.M. Ambler. Glen Esk Valley, Piha, May, 1951, April, 1953, J.M. Dingley. Cascades, Waitakeres, 600ft, April, 1954, S.D. Baker, type collection, P.D.D. Herbarium, No. 14244.Huia,, January, 1955, J.M. Dingley.

Hymenophore annual, membranous, adnate, effused, forming irregular areas to 15 x 5 cm, with numerous irregularly orbicular outlying islands; surface white, becoming cream, velutinate under a lens, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, adnate. Context white, 25-70 µ thick, basal layer of parallel skeletal hyphae, occupying about half the context, intermediate layer scanty, of branched hyphae mainly ascending, and embedding masses of crystals which may be absent; skeletal hyphae 3-3.5 µ diameter, lumen capillary, hyaline, scantily branched, aseptate; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µ diameter, walls 0.25 µ thick, hyaline, branched, septate, with clamp connexions. Hymenial layer to 30 µ deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses interrupted by the erumpent fascicles. Basidia at first cylindrical, becoming somewhat cucurbitiform with inflated bases, 24-30 x 8-10 µ, 4-spored, projecting; sterigmata stout, arcuate, to 12 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate or as often elliptical, to 20 x 10 µ. Fascicles arising from the basal layer, projecting for the greater part of their length, 8-10 per mm, subulate with broad bases and bluntly acuminate or rounded apices, 150-205 x 30-50 µ, composed of 50-110 skeletal hyphae sometimes tapering, where exposed coated with fine crystals and in old specimens often enmeshed in irregular hyphal sheaths. Spores clavate-naviculate, apices bluntly rounded, bases apiculate, 12-16 x 5-6.5 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick; often adhering in fours.

DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.

HABITAT: Effused on dead pendent and fallen stipes. Rhopalostylis sapida (Sol.) Wendl. & Drude.

Hymenophorum annuum, membranaceum, adnatum. effusum; superficie alba deinde cremea, velutina, non rimosa. Contextus albus, 25-70 µ crassus. Hypharum systema dimiticum; hyphae skeletales 3-3.5 µ diam.; lumine capillari, aseptatae; hyphae generatoriae 2-2.5 µ diam., nodulosae. Basidia cucurbitaeformiora, 24-30 x 8-10 µ. Fasciculi hypharum skeletalium ex strato infimo exorti, subulati, 150-205 x 30-50 µ. Sporae clavato-naviculares, 12-16 x 5-6.5 µ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis.

Both the basal layer and fascicles are composed of skeletal hyphae. Fascicles are coated exteriorly with fine crystals, and as the hyphae are firmly compacted, simulate cystidia of the radicate section of Peniophora. The resemblance is enhanced in that fascicles of old specimens become enmeshed in hyphal sheaths. They are fascicles, nevertheless, since when mounted singly, crushed under a coverslip, and crystals removed, they are seen to be composed of numerous thick-walled skeletal hyphae, with many in the interior tapering gradually to their apices. Basidia are at first cylindrical, but as sterigmata elongate, they become somewhat cucurbitiform, with inflated bases. Spores are naviculate or clavate-naviculate. Their bases are attenuated and after spores are shed often collapse near the point of attachment and expand into a small bulb. Spores frequently adhere in pairs or fours following discharge from the basidia. In shape they resemble somewhat those of E. hyphae and E. interrupta. The species appears to be confined to one host, sole representative of the family Palmeae in New Zealand. The specific name is taken from the Maori name of the host, nikau.

PALMAE. Rhopalostylis sapida: Auckland, Orewa, 20 m; Glen Esk Valley, Piha, 300 m; Shaw Road, Waitakere Ranges, 300 m; Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakere Ranges, 250 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 14244; Huia, 30 m; Titirangi, coast; Amodeo Bay, Coromandel Peninsula, coast.

Hymenophore annual, membranous, adherent, effused forming irregular areas to 15 x 4 cm, with numerous irregularly orbicular outlying islands; hymenial surface white, becoming cream, velutinate, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, adherent. Context white, 25-70 µm thick, basal layer of parallel skeletal hyphae, occupying about half the context, intermediate layer scanty, of branched hyphae mainly ascending, and usually embedding masses of crystals; skeletal hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls so thickened that lumena are capillary; generative hyphae 2-2.5 µm, diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, naked, with clamp connections. Fascicles arising from the basal layer, projecting for the greater part of their length, 8-10 per mm, subulate with broad bases and bluntly acuminate or rounded apices, 150-205 x 30-50 µm, composed of 50-110 skeletal hyphae sometimes tapering, where exposed encrusted with fine crystals and in old specimens often enmeshed in irregular hyphal sheaths. Hymenial layer to 30 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses interrupted by fascicles. Basidia at first cylindrical, becoming somewhat cucurbitiform with inflated bases, 24-30 x 8-10 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata stout, arcuate, to 12 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate or clavate, 18-22 x 8-10 µm. Spores clavate-naviculate, apices bluntly rounded, bases apiculate, 12-16 x 5-6 µm, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µm thick; often adhering in fours.

DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.

HABITAT: Effused on dead pendent and fallen stipes

Both basal layer and fascicles are composed of skeletal hyphae. Fascicles are encrusted with fine crystals where exposed, and, as hyphae are firmly compacted, simulate cystidia of Tubulicrinis. The resemblance is enhanced in that fascicles of old specimens become enmeshed in hyphal sheaths. They are fascicles, nevertheless, since when mounted singly, crushed under a coverslip, and crystals removed they are seen to be composed of numerous thick-walled hyphae, with many in the interior tapering gradually to the apices. Basidia are at first cylindrical, but as sterigmata elongate they become somewhat cucurbitiform with inflated bases. Spores are naviculate or clavate-naviculate, with attenuated bases. After being shed, ends of spores often collapse near points of attachment when extremities expand into small bulbs. Spores frequently adhere in fours following discharge from the basidia. In shape they resemble somewhat those of E. typhae and E. interrupta. The species is confined to one host, sole representative of the family Palmae in New Zealand, the Maori name for which is nikau.

TYPE LOCALITY: Waitakere Ranges, Auckland, New Zealand.