There is a good description of macroscopic characters in Cunningham (1965: 197), but the illustration (fig. 36, p. 197) is simplistic. The spores are smooth, not verruculose as indicated by Cunningham who was probably misled by the asperulate mould spores present in the type specimen. The basidiospores although mostly collapsed and difficult to observe are broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, very thin-walled, 5-6.3 x 4.2-5.5 µm, with a large oil droplet. According to Cunningham's illustration it should be very easy to observe septa on the generative hyphae. However, the context and trama are dominated by strongly agglutinated, thick-walled, skeletal-like hyphae and it took considerable time to find a single clearly differentiated septum.
The holotype, and only collection of C. cartilaginea, is a young specimen of Coltricia aureofulva (holotype PDD 175; several other PDD collections also examined). In Cunningham (1965: 191) the two species are mainly separated on the mistaken difference in spore wall ornamentation. Spores of C. aureofulva are hyaline, smooth, subglobose, nonamyloid, (4.7-)5-6.5(-7.3) x (3.7-)4.5-5.5(-6) µm. Septa of generative hyphae were most readily observed in the trama. Pilei in the holotype of C. cartilaginea are smaller than those typical of C. aureofulva.
Coltricia aureofulva does not belong in Coltricia S.F. Gray, a member of the Hymenochaetaceae, as it does not share the brown hyphal colour nor the black xanthochroic reaction with KOH common to species in the genus. The orange colour, type of consistency, spores, and simple septate generative hyphae indicate that the species belongs in Rigidoporus Murr. The distinct reddening of hyphae in KOH reminds one of Pycnoporellus Murr. emend. Kotl. & Pouz. but other characters such as pore size, spore shape, and absence of cystidia do not conform to this genus.

Holotype: PDD 3869 - New Zealand, Wellington, Tararua Ranges, Ohau River, Jan. 1933, E.E. Chamberlain, on unknown host.

On the bark of a living tree in montane forest. Malaya, Pahang, Fraser's Hill 1200 m alt., May 1930.

 

Receptacula breviter effuso-reflexa, obscure ferrugineibrunnea. Pileus -7 mm radio, subascendens, sub¬tomentosus vel inodermeus, nec sulcatus nec zonatus; margine acuto intgro pallide fulvo. Tubi -3 mm longi; poris 150-300 µm latis, angulatis integris griseobrunneis. Caro 1-1.5 mm crassa, fibrillosa mollis, sine crusta. Sporae 9-11 x 4-5.5 m, auriiferrugineae, saepe subtruncatae, minute verruculosae, 1-guttatae. Setae nullae. Hyphae monomiticae efibulatae late ramosae, 5-8(12)µm latae. Ad corticem arboris vivae in silva montana. Malaya, Pahang, Fraser's Hill, Corner s.n. May 1930; herb. Corner.

This is a corticicolous species allied with C. deceptiva and C. dependens as shown by the dark brown colour, the softly fibrillose flesh, and the Y-branching of the hyphae.

Hymenophore annual, firm and corky-woody, brittle, imbricate or solitary, attached by a narrow stem-like base which does not exceed 5 x 5 mm. Pileus fan-shaped or conchate, slightly concave, 2-5 cm. x 2-4 cm. x 1-2 mm.; surface at first orange or orange-rufous, when concentrically zoned with dark brown bands near the base, becoming tobacco-brown or black, radiately striate, fluted or not, glabrous, cuticle present, 100-200 μ thick, appearing black and shining in section, composed of parallel chestnut-brown hyphae firmly cemented together with interstices filled with mucilage, poorly developed in young plants when represented by brown or black zones; margin bluntly rounded, plane, toothed, crenate; hymenial surface at first orange-rufous, becoming reddish-brown or dark brick-red, even, fertile to the margin, dissepiments not toothed. Context 0.2-0.5 mm. thick, to 1 mm. at the base, orange-rufous and shining, of densely packed parallel radiately arranged hyphae; generative hyphae 5-7 μ thick, wall 0.5 μ, chestnut-brown, branched, septate. Pores angular, 0.5-2 mm. deep, 100-250 μ diameter, or 3-4 per mm.; dissepiments 100-150 μ thick, equal, apices delicately velutinate. Basidia clavate, 10-12 x 4-5 μ, soon collapsing. Spores globose or subglobose, 4.5-6 μ, smooth, hyaline.

New Zealand.

Lloyd described the species from a rather fragmentary collection taken from the under side of a log lying in a grass pasture. In these specimens the cuticle was poorly developed so that he did not observe the striking contrast typical specimens display between the dark brick-red hymenium, orange-rufous context and black surface of the pileus. The typical black colour of the cuticle does not develop fully until plants are ageing, since it is derived from a change in colour of the mucilage in which hyphae are embedded. In several collections at hand it is represented only by dark areas which have formed beneath the black or brown zones of the surface. Plants with poorly developed cuticle may be separated from C. laeta by their smaller size, thinner context and smaller pores.

UNKNOWN HOST. Wellington, Ohau River, Tararua Ranges, 600 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 3869.

Hymenophore annual, solitary or caespitose, sometimes imbricate, cartilaginous when dry, attached by a brief lateral stem which may be 3-5 mm long, 2-3 mm thick. Pilei flabelliform or spatulate, sometimes bifid or trifid, 5-20 mm wide, 10-20 mm radius, 0.2-1 mm thick; pileus surface reddish-brown, glabrous, shining, vaguely concentrically zoned with bands of darker brown, radiate-striate, more prominently basally; without a cortex; margin acute, plane, toothed, crenate, subtranslucent; hymenial surface bay, becoming chestnut or ferruginous, decurrent, with a prominent sterile border to 5 mm wide. Pores chestnut to 0.5 mm deep, polygonal or angular, 3-4 per mm, 150-300 µm diameter; dissepiments 100-150 µm thick, apices expanded partly occluding the pores, even. Context chestnut, becoming ferruginous, horny, shining in section, to 1 mm thick, of parallel hyphae compacted and radiately arranged; generative hyphae to 8 µm diameter, walls 1 µm thick, yellow-brown, sparsely branched and septate. Hymenial layer to 15 µm deep, a dense palisade of basidia and paraphyses, soon collapsing. Basidia clavate, 10-14 x 4-5 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata erect, to 4 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, many cylindrical, 8-12 x 3.5-4 µm. Spores globose or subglobose, apiculate 5-6 µmdiameter, walls delicately verruculose, hyaline or tinted, 0.1 µm thick.

New Zealand.

Decorticated decayed logs lying upon the forest floor.

Hymenophore annuum, solum vel caespitosum, caule laterali 3-5 mm longo, 2-3 mm crasso adjunctum. Pilei flabelliformes vel spatulati, bifidi vel trifidi, 5-20 mm lati, 10-20 mm radii, 0.2-1 mm crassi. Cortex abest. Margine acutus; hymenii superficies badia, decurrens, margine sterili ad 5 mm lato. Pori castanei, ad 0.5 mm alti, 3-4 per mm, 150-300 µm diam.; dissepimentis 100-150 µm crassis, apicibus expansis poros occludentibus. Contextus castaneus ad 1 mm crassus hypharum parallelarum compactarum et radiatim ordinatarum; hyphae generatoriae ad 8 µm diam., parietibus 1 µm crassis, leviter ramosae, septatae. Basidia clavata, 10-14 x 4-5 µm , 4 sporas in sterigmatis ad 4 µm longis gerentia. Sporae globosae vel subglobosae, apiculatae, 5-6 µm diam., parietibus subtiliter verrucolosis, hyalinis, 0.1 µm crassis. On decorticated decayed wood, Tararua Ranges, Wellington, N.Z.

Plants are farinose when young, then resembling specimens of "Polyporus" mutabilis Berk. & Curt. The species may be identified readily by the horny, semitransparent, polished pileus without a cortex, small lateral stem, and delicately verruculose, hyaline spores, markings of which can usually be seen only under an oil immersion objective when sections are stained. In its verruculose spores the species resembles C. dependens. Verruculae are more in the nature of irregular markings than definite warts or spines and are absent from walls of some spores.

Lloyd (1922) described this species from material sent to him from New Zealand by Dr G. H. Cunningham. Gilmour (1966a) listed it as causing a white pocket heart rot of living trees. This wood-rotting fungus is endemic to New Zealand, occurring on over-mature trees in indigenous forests.

Type: Lignicolous Fungi; Description: Basidiomata annual, solitary or with overlapping pilei, firm, corky-woody, attached by a narrow lateral base. Pilei fan-shaped, slightly concave, 20–50 mm wide, 1–2 mm thick. Pileus surface radiately striate, glabrous, reddish orange at first, becoming deep orange brown to black. Pore surface even, reddish orange, becoming reddish brown or dark brick red; pores 3–4 per mm. Context reddish orange, 0.2–1.0 mm thick; in cross-section mature specimens show a striking contrast between the dark brick red pore surface, the reddish orange context, and the black pileus surface. Hyphal system monomitic. Basidiospores globose to subglobose, 5–6 μm in diameter, smooth, hyaline.

Distribution: Taranaki, Taupo, Rangitikei, Wellington, Gisborne, Nelson, Buller, Westland, Mid Canterbury, North Canterbury, Southland.; 1st Record: Cunningham (1948c: as Coltricia aureofulva).

Significance: None. Causes a white-pocket rot with orange zone lines.; Host(s): Elaeocarpus dentatus, Eucalyptus globoidea, Nothofagus fusca, N. menziesii, Podocarpus hallii, Weinmannia racemosa.