Beilschmiedia tawa (A. Cunn.) Hook. f. & Benth. Auckland: Lake Okataina, 1,400ft, May, 1952, G.H.C. Coprosma arborea Kirk. Auckland: Huia, February, 1954, J.M. Dingley. Coprosma australis (A. Rich.) Robinson. Auckland: Mt. Te Aroha, 1,400ft, September, 1954, G.H.C. Geniostoma ligustrifolium A. Cunn. Auckland: Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, June, 1950, J.M. Dingley. Laurelia novaezealandiae A. Cunn. Auckland: Mt. Te Aroha, 1,200ft, September, 1954, G.H.C., type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 13828. Senecio kirkii Hook. f. Auckland: Orenui, Hunua Range, March, 1953, J.M. Dingley.

Hymenophore annual, cretaceous, adnate, at first appearing as numerous maculiform colonies, merging to form linear areas to 15 x 5 cm; surface rich cream, cream with a pink tinge, or buff, pruinose, tardily creviced; margin thinning out, white, fibrillose, adnate. Context white or buff, not zoned, 60-120 µ thick, basal layer of a few compacted parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of scanty vertical hyphae almost buried in masses of cystidia; generative hyphae 3-3.5 µ diameter, walls 0.2 µ thick, hyaline, naked, branched, septate, with clamp connexions, staining blue. Hymenial layer almost obscured by masses of cystidia, to 25 µ deep, a tenuous palisade of basidia, paraphyses and cystidia. Basidia subclavate, projecting, 16-20 x 4-5 µ, 4-spored; sterigmata erect, slender, to 6 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, similar to but shorter than the basidia. Cystidia crowded in context and hymenium, projecting to 20 µ, narrowly fusiform, conical, or subulate, 16-35 x 8-12 µ, coarsely crystal coated. Spores elliptical or sometimes flattened on one side, with rounded ends, apiculate, 6-7 x 3.5-4 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.25 µ thick.

DISTRIBUTION. New Zealand.

HABITAT. Effused on bark of dead branches and twigs.

Hymenophorum annuum, cretaceum, adnatum, effusum; superficie cremea vel bubalina, pruinosa, tarde rimosa. Hyphae contextus fibulatae, 3-3.5 µ diam., nudae. Basidia subclavata, 16-20 x 4-5 µ, 4 sporis. Cystidia anguste fusiformia, conica vel subulata, 16-35 x 8-12 µ, crystallis teeta. Sporae ellipticae, 6-7 x 3.5-4 µ, laeves, hyalinae.

Six species are included in a section, plants of which possess crystal coated cystidia, arranged in layers or overlapping series, but lack gloeoeystidia and vesicles. They have been divided into two sub-sections according to whether they possess or lack clamp connexions. Under the former are placed P. cerebrosa, P. scintillans and P. totara: the latter contains P. crustosa, P. erucaeforma and P. sacrata.
Context hyphae and the hymenium of P. scintillans are almost hidden by compact masses of cystidia, arranged in overlapping series without definite segregation into layers. Young plants may be confused with specimens of P. sacrata, for context hyphae and spores of both stain with aniline blue and at first cystidia may be enclosed within lacunae as with the latter species. Separation may be made by the differently shaped spores and presence of clamp connexions.

Auckland: Mt. Te Aroha, 1,200ft, September, 1954, G.H.C., type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 13828.

Spores hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, ellipsoid, 5.5-8 x 3.5-4.5(-5) µm, not amyloid.

The species was well described by Cunningham (1963) and belongs to Peniophora sensu stricto. Its closest relative is probably P. versicolor (Bres.) Sacc. & Sydow, which differs mainly by its larger spores.

Holotype: on Laurelia novae-zelandiae A. Cunn., New Zealand, Bay of Plenty, Mt Te Aroha, coll. G.H. Cunningham, Sep.1954 (PDD 13828).