Holotype (PDD 27089); Isotype (Herb. HK. ZT 68/555): 'Timaru Stream, Pouakai Range, Mt. Egmont, N.Z.; leg. Horak, 16.VI.1968'. - Herb. HK. ZT 68/511: 'Filter station NW of Dunedin, N.Z.; leg. Horak, 30.V.1968'.

Pileus 10-40 mm diam., hemispherical or convex when young becoming umbonate and expanded, whitish or creamy turning pallid argillaceous, viscid when moist, glabrous, hygrophanous and slightly striated at the margin Lamellae adnate to emarginate-adnate, whitish-creamy turning yellowish close, gill edge concolorous, even. Stipe 15-55 x 3-8 mm, cylindric, equal, white, dry, longitudinally fibrillose or even minutely squamulose, solid, mostly single. Context white, stuffed in the stipe. Taste mild. Odor changing from fruity to unpleasant (like Cystoderma carcharias [Fries]). Chemical reactions on pileus: KOH - negative. Spores 6.5-8 x 4.5-5 µm, ovoid, smooth, inamyloid. Basidia 38-48 x 6-7 µm, 4-spored. Cystidia lacking. Cuticle an ixocutis consisting of repent, gelatinized, cylindric hyphae (2-5 µm diam.). Clamp connections numerous.

In soil under Podocarpus, Dacrydium, Beilschmiedia and different tree-ferns. New Zealand.

Pileo 10-40 mm lato, ex hemisphaerico convexo dein umbonato expanso, cremeo vel pallide argillaceo, viscido, estriato, glabro. Lamellis emarginato-adnatis, albido-cremeis Stipite 15-55 x 18 mm, cylindraceo, albido, sicco. Odore fruticoso vel ingrato maturescens. Sporis 6.5-8 x 4.5-5 µm, ovatis. Cystidiis nullis. Epicute ex hyphis repentibus gelatinosisque ixocutem formantibus. Fibulis praesentibus. Ad terram in silvis. Novazelandia.

Holotypus (PDD 27089): 'Pouakai Range, Mt. Egmont, N.Z.; leg. Horak, 16.VI.1968'.

SPECIMENS: NZ: NA, Northcote, Kauri Glen Park, PDD 293 74. - O, Dunedin, near Filterstation, ZT 68/ 511.

Pileus 40 mm, hemispherical or convex becoming umbonate to expanded; pallid while turning pale argillaceous or tan; viscid when moist, glabrous, hygrophanous, slightly striate at margin. –Lamellae 15-30 (l-5) crowded, adnate to emarginate-adnate; whitish turning pale yellow, edge concolorous, entire. - Stipe 15-55 x 3-8 mm, cylindrical, equal; white; dry, longitudinally fibrillose or minutely squamulose, solid, single or caespitose. - Context white. - Odour changing from fruity to unpleasant like Cystoderma carcharias (Fr.). - Taste mild. - Chemical reactions on pileus: KOH - negative. : Spores 6. 5-8 x 4.5-5 um, ovoid to drop-shaped. -Basidia 38-55 x 5-7 um, 4-spored. - Cystidia absent.-Pileipellis an ixocutis of cylindrical, repent, interwoven hyphae (2-5 um diam.), membrane gelatinised, plasmatic pigment present; clamp connections present (Pl. 1, Fig. 7).

DISTRIBUTION: NZ (NA, T, O).

ECOLOGY: Scattered; saprobic on soil among litter in broadleaved and conifer forests (Agathis australis, Dacrycarpus dacrydioides). May-July.

ICON.: Horak (1973: 160)

Hygrophorus carcharias is best recognised by its comparatively robust basidiomes of pale cream or ivory colour in all parts. As the name indicates, the identification is readily accomplished by the strong odour (ranging from unpleasant to aromatic-fragrant depending on age). The prominently larmiform spores easily distinguish H. carcharias from all other recorded New Zealand Hygrophori.

TYPE: NZ: T, Egmont N. P., Pouakai Range, Timaru Stream, under Beilschmiedia tawa, Weinmannia racemosa, and tree ferns, 16 vi 1968, Horak:, PDD 27089.