Hygrophorus lilaceo-lamellatus Stevenson (28 D) = Hygrocybe lilaceo-lamellatus (Stevenson) comb. nov. (Basionym: H. lilaceo-lamellatus Stevenson, Kew Bull. 16: 378, 1962)

Holotype (K): 'Wellington, N.Z.; leg. Stevenson (619), 2.VI.1949'. - Herb. HK. ZT 68/559: 'Rahiri Lodge, Mt. Egmont, N.Z; leg. Horak, 17.VI.1968'.

Pileus 10-30 mm diam., hemispherical later becoming plano-convex, reddish brown when moist fading to fulvous, viscid, innately fibrillose or (in aged carpophores) appressed squamulose, striated near the margin. Lamellae adnate to subdecurrent, lilac to violaceous, distant, rather thick, gill edge concolorous, even. Stipe 20-50 x 2-6 mm, cylindric, equal, concolorous with pileus fading to ochraceous, dry, silky, flexuous, hollow. Context in pileus brownish-orange, yellowish in stipe. Taste and odor not distinctive. Chemical reactions on pileus: unknown. Spores 7-9.5 x 3.5-5 µm, ellipsoid, sometimes constricted and pyriform, smooth, inamyloid. Basidia 35-55 x 6-8µ, 4-spored. Cystidia absent. Cuticle a cutis of repent, cylindric, hyaline hyphae (3-6 µm diam.), pigment plasmatic and encrusting the ungelatinized membranes. Clamp connections present.

In soil amongst litter of Weinmannia, Beilschmiedia, Metrosideros, Cyathea, etc. New Zealand.

Stevenson 1962: Fig. 2/5; Pl. 6/2.

Fresh carpophores of this species resemble in stature and colours a degraded form of Laccaria laccata (Fr.) or L. amethystina (Bolt. ex Hooker). On drying the reddish brown colour fades especially on the pileus but the lilac tints remain on the lamellae and the upper portion of the stipe. According to the original description given by Stevenson there is a close relationship between this N.Z. species and 2 other species of Hygrocybe from the southern parts of South America: H. laccarioides Singer (1952) collected in Fireland and H. lateritiorosella Singer (1969) from Chile. Further studies are necessary to get more information about their interspecific relationships.

Specimens: NZ: NA, Waipoua, Yakas Track, ZT 1130, Waitakere Ranges: Lucy Cranwell Track ZT 747; Mill Bay, ZT 1013; Karamatura Stream ZJ 1023; LBI, near summit of Mt. Hauturu, ZT 918. - T, Egmont N. P., Rahiri Lodge, ZT 68/559.

Pileus 40 mm, hemispherical soon becoming convex, centre flat to depressed, margin occasionally upturned in aged basidiomes; orange-brown or honey brown, disc distinctly red-brown, fading with age; viscid when moist, dry becoming innately fibrillose, conspicuously striate and often sulcate at margin, hygrophanous. - Lamellae 8-16 (1-3) distant to crowded, broadly adnate to decurrent, ± triangular, up to 6 mm wide; brilliant lilac to violaceous, occasionally with dark brown to olive tint, edges concolorous, entire. - Stipe 20-50 x 2-6 mm, cylindrical, equal but often attenuated at base; concolorous with pileus, paler at base (occasionally with lilac tint); dry, silky to fibrillose, occasionally strigose at base, hollow, single or caespitose. - Context orange-brown in pileus and stipe, rarely with lilac or olive tints. - Odour and taste not distinctive. - Chemical reactions on pileus unknown. Spores 7-9 (-9.5) x 3.5-5 um, ellipsoid to pear-shaped with distinct constriction. - Basidia 35-70 x 6-8 um, 4-spored. - Cystidia absent - Pileipellis an ixocutis of cylindrical, interwoven hyphae (3-6 um diam.), membranes gelatinised, with yellowish (KOH) plasmatic and encrusting pigment; clamp connections present (Pl.l, Fig.7).

DISTRIBUTION: NZ (NA,T,W).

ECOLOGY: Common; saprobic on soil among litter in broadleaved-conifer forests (Leptospermum, Weinmannia, Metrosideros, Beilschmiedia) with tree ferns (Dicksonia, Cyathea). May-July.

ICON.: Stevenson (1962: 378); Horak (1973: 141).

TYPE: NZ: W, Wellington, Botanic Garden, under mixed scrub, 2 vi 1949, Stevenson, K 619.

[Notes from Kew Type specimen, PRJ 2010] Kew images.

Pileus 1.5-3 cm. diam., fulvous, planoconvex becoming concave and radially split, moist, waxy, becoming cottony striate when dry; flesh thin, yellowish. Gills adnate, lilac tinged with yellow, moderately distant, thick, with veins between. Stipe 2-5 cm. X 5-6 mm., ochraceous, paler at base, with whitish silky striations, hollow, flesh greenish yellow. Spores 10-11 X 5-5.5µm., oblong, hyaline, thin-walled. Basidia 40 X 5µm., four-spored.

habitat: terrestrial under mixed scrub, Wellington Botanic Garden, 2.6.1949, Stevenson.

Pileus 1.5-3 cm, diam., fulvus, e plano-convexo concavus et radialiter fissuratus, humidus, ceraceus, deinde siccitate byssino-striatus; came tenui luteola. lamellae adnatae, lilacinae, luteo-tinctae, modice distantes, crassae, venoso-connexae. Stipes 2-5 cm. X 5-6 mm., ochraceus, basi pallidior, striis sericeis albidis, cavus; came viridi-flava. Sporae 10-11 X 5-5.5 µm. oblongae, hyalinae, tenuiter tunicatae.

Typus: Stevenson 619. (PI. 6/2,)