Pi1eus 2-4 mm diam, hemispherical to convex; disc depressed or subumbilicate in age; margin plicate; surface dull, dry, glabrous; pale brown to dark brown overall with reddish brown tones. Texture membranaceous, tough; context thin.- Lamellae adnexed to adnate, close (8-12) with 1 series of lamellulae, narrow to moderately broad, non-collariate, cream to pale reddish brown; edges even to subfimbriate, concolorous.- Stipe15-25 x 0.2-0.4 mm, central, cylindrical, equal, wiry, tough, solid, minutely pruinose overall, not gelatinized, insititious; apex pale brown, fuscous elsewhere; rhizomorphs absent. Odor and taste not distinctive.
Basidiospores 8.0-9.5 x 4.5-5.0 µm, ovoid to ellipsoid, smooth, thinwalled, hyaline, inamyloid.- Basidia 25-30 x 7-8 µm , cylindrical to subclavate, 4-spored, clamped.- Cheilocystidia numerous, similar to Rotalis-type cells, 15-30 x 8-14 µm , broadly clavate to slightly irregular in outline, hyaline, thin-walled; diverticula 1-3 x 1.0-1.5 µm , cylindrical to irregular, seldom forked, hyaline.- Pleurocystidia absent.- Pileipellis a Rameales-structure with repent to suberect, diverticulate terminal cells, 20-45 x 6-10 µm, subcylindrical to clavate or irregular in outline, brown, dextrinoid; diverticula 2-5 x 0.5-1.0 µm, irregularly cylindrical, seldom forked; subcuticular hyphae with brown pigment incrustations.- Pileal and lamellar trama dextrinoid.- Stipe tissue monomitic; cortical hyphae cylindrical, diverticulate, pale brownish orange to brown, weakly dextrinoid, thick-walled; diverticula 1-6 x 1-2 µm, cylindrical, sometimes forked; medullary hyphae hyaline, weakly dextrinoid.- Cau1ocystidia absent.- Clamp connections present.

Habit, habitat and distribution.- Solitary, in groups on rotting needles of Podocarpus totara (Podocarpaceae) or on rotting needles of Podocarpus hallii (Podocarpaceae). New Zealand.

Pileus 2-4 mm, hemisphaericus vel convexus, apicaliter subumbilicatus, plicatus, glaber, pallide brunneus vel fuscus. Lamellae adnexae vel adnate, densae, haud collariatae, cremeae vel pallide rubrobrunneae. Stipes 15-25 x 0.2-0.4 mm, centralis, cylindricus, minute pruinosus, insititius, apicaliter pallide brunneus sursum fuscus, rhizomopha nulla. Odor saporque nulli. Basidiosporae 8.0-9.5 x 4.5-5.5 µm, ovoideae vel ellipsoideae, leves, hyalinae, inamyloideae. Basidia 25-30 x 7-8 µm, 4-spora. Cheilocystidia typi Rotalis, numerosa, 1530 x 8-14 µm, late clavata, diverticulus cylindraceis vel irregularibus, 1-3 x 1-1.5 µm, instructis. Pleurocystidia nulla. Pileipellis typi Ramealium, ex cellulis subcylindraceis vel clavatis dextrinoideis instructis, diverticulis irregularibus cylindraceis, 2-5 x 0.5-1.0 µm, instructis, membrana brunnea obtecta. Hyphae subcuticulae pigmento brunneo instructae. Trama pilei et lamellarum dextrinoideum. Hyphae stipitis corticales diverticulatae, subdextrinoideae. Caulocystidia nulla. Fibulae praesentes. Solitarius, ad aciculas putridas Podocarpi totarae vel Podocarpi hallii. Nova Zelandia. Horak 69-239 (Holotypus, PDD).

Diagnostic features of M. podocarpi include: a small, brown, plicate pileus; cream to pale reddish brown, close, non-collariate lamellae; a fuscous, pruinose, insititious stipe lacking rhizomorphs; broad basidiospores; numerous cheilocystidia resembling Rotalis-type cells; a pileipellis composed of a Rameales-structure; and growth on Podocarpus species. Marasmius podocarpi is allied with M. earlei Murrill described from Jamaica. The latter species differs, however, in forming a white pileus with pale brown disc, more numerous (10-24), white lamellae, narrower basidiospores (3.5-4.0 µm), and basidiome formation on dicotyledonous wood (fide Singer, 1976).

Material examined- - NEW ZEALAND: South Island, Prov. Fjordland, between Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri, 6 IV 1969, Horak 69-239 (Holotype, PDD; Isotype, SFSU, ZT).