Hymenophore annual or sometimes reviving a second season, somewhat separable when mature, mucedinoid-tomentose, often pilose, effused forming irregular areas to 7 cm. across; surface sulphur-yellow or pallid saffron, velutinate and tufted; margin thinning out, arachnoid, concolorous, loosely attached. Context composed of several repent hyphae to 8 µ diameter, wall 1 µ thick, branched at a wide angle, septate, with clamp connections, fertile hyphae vertically arranged, branched dichotomously, bearing basidia and paraphyses singly on terminal branchlets, collapsing. Basidia subclavate, seldom cylindrical, 8-13 x 4-12 µ, bearing 4 spores on sterigmata 2-4 µ long. Septocystidia arising from both repent hyphae and fertile hyphae, 180-470 µ long, 8-10 µ diameter, with clamp connections at septa; wall l µ thick, save near apex where 0.25 µ, apex bluntly rounded, upper part coated with irregular tinted mucilaginous warts. Spores broadly elliptical, occasionally apiculate, 5.5-7 x 4-4.5 µ, smooth, hyaline.

DISTRIBUTION. New Zealand.

HABITAT. Effused on bark of dead branches.

Hymenophorum mucidum, saepe pilosum, effusum, superficie sulphurea vel pallide crocea, cristata. Hyphae nodulosae, ad 8 µ diam., pariete l µ crasso, levi. Basidia subclavata, 8-13 x 4-12 µ, 4 spores in sterigmatis 2-4 µ longis gerentia. Cystidia septata, nodulosa, 180-470 x 8-10 µ, pariete 1 µ crasso, verrucis inaequalibus et mucosis. Sporae late ellipticae, raro apiculatae, 5.5-7 x 4-4.5 µ, leves, hyalinae.

Specific features are the saffron or sulphur colour of the hymenophore, long septate cystidia coated exteriorly with an irregular, broken, gelatinous tunic, basidia bearing 4 spores on short sterigmata and small broadly elliptical spores. In the specimens at hand part of the hymenophore had grown over a previous layer, so possibly the species is biennial. Fertile hyphae are large and soon collapse, so that it is difficult to ascertain, their arrangement. Branching is dichotomous, basidia being carried singly near ends of the branchlets.

Podocarpus spicatus R.Br. Auckland. Te Whaiti, 2,000ft., June, 1951, J.M. Dingley, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium No. 11449.