Erumpens, discoidea, umbrino-vinosa (2 mm.), intus pallida, saepe gregaria. Peritheciis nec non perfecte evolutis.

This is certainly an Hypocrea, very similar in character to H. Richardsoni, Berk., although no fructification or even perfect perithecia could be found. It is very distinct, externally resembling, at a superficial glance, Diatrype disciforme, in the size and form of the stroma, and habit of growth.

On branches.

Nothofagus cliffortioides (Hook. f.) Oerst. Wellington: Pangarara River, Mt. Tongariro, 3,500ft, December, 1946, G.H.C.; Oturere River, Mt. Tongariro, 3,000ft, December, 1946, G.H.C.; Mt. Holdsworth, Tararuas, 3,500ft, December, 1952, G.H.C.; Featherston Reserve, 100ft, December, 1952, G.H.C.; Waikato River, Kaimanawa Ranges, 2,800ft, January, 1955, G.H.C. Nothofagus fusca (Hook. f.) Oerst. Auckland: Little Barrier Island, October, 1945, J.M. Dingley; Lake Waikaraemoana, March, 1949, P.M. Ambler; Upper Mohaka River, Kaimanawas, 2,000ft, May, 1953, J.M. Dingley. Wellington: York Bay, September, 1920, E.H. Atkinson; same locality, 300ft, July, 1923, E.J. Butler-G.H.C., part of type collection of A. peziculoides. Mt. Reeves, Tararuas, 2,000ft, February, 1931, E.E. Chamberlain; Butterfly Reserve, May, 1946, G.B. Rawlings; Day's Bay, May, 1947, J.M. Dingley. Westland: Staircase Creek, Reefton, 2,000ft, November, 1952, S.D. Baker; Orwell Creek, Ahaura, November, 1954, April, 1955, J.M. Dingley; Totara Flat, Glandville [sic; = Granville] Forest, April, 1955, J.M. Dingley. Nothofagus menziesii (Hook. f.) Oerst. Auckland: Upper Mohaka River, Kaimanawas, April, 1953, J.M. Dingley. Otago: Lake Manapouri, February, 1949, Mrs. O. Turbott. Nothofagus truncata (Col.) Ckn. Auckland: Little Barrier Island, November, 1947, J.M. Dingley; Wairongomai Valley, Te Aroha, 500ft, October, 1948, J.M. Dingley.

Hymenophore annual, sometimes reviving a second season, coriaceous, pilei at first scattered or crowded, but discrete, pulvinate, orbicular, attached by a broad base, 0.5-2 mm diameter. becoming confluent into discoid areas 1-1.5 cm across, finally deeply creviced into irregular polygonal segments; exterior margin at first even and rounded, naked, becoming crenulate; hymenial surface at first convex, pruinose and even, cream or ochre, at length rugulose or irregular, radiately crenate, finally deeply creviced and discoloured dingy brown. Context white or isabelline, to 1 mm thick, composed of densely woven, cemented, partly gelatinized hyphae, almost sclerotioid near the base, embedding massive gloeocystidia and masses of crystals; generative hyphae to 10 µ diameter in the base, 4-5 µ in the hymenial layer, walls 1-1.5 µ thick, lumen capillary in context hyphae, hyaline, branched, with clamp connexions. Hymenial layer 50-60 µ deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, acanthophyses and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, some cylindrical, projecting slightly, 20-30 x 5-6 µ, 2-4-spored; sterigmata upright, slender, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, about the same length but narrower than the basidia. Acanthophyses subclavate, 4-6 µ diameter, covered on the upper third with closely arranged bluntly pointed spines, naked below. Gloeocystidia abundant, arising in all parts of the context and hymenium, some penetrating to the surface, 80-160 x 14-18 µ in the hymenial layer, in the context 30-56 µ diameter with walls 4-8 µ thick, hyaline, variable in shape, in the sub-hymenium fusiform, clavate, or flexuous-cylindrical, sometimes bearing apically a single gemma, in the context convoluted and distorted. Spores suballantoid with rounded or acuminate ends, 9-12 x 4-4.5 µ, apiculate, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick, amyloid.

TYPE LOCALITY. Maungatua, Otago, New Zealand.
DISTRIBUTION. New Zealand.

HABITAT. Crowded on bark of attached dead branches and dead standing saplings.

On examination the type of Hypocrea berggreni in Kew herbarium, ex "Maungatua, S. Berggren, No. 241" proved to be an Aleurodiscus identical with that later described as A. peziculoides. The species is endemic and confined to four endemic species of Nothofagus, where it develops upon attached dead branches or dead standing saplings. At first pilei are small, pulvinate, scattered or crowded, and cream or ochre. This is the stage upon which were erected Hypocrea berggreni and Aleurodiscus peziculoides. Later, between them develop other pilei which become confluent, forming large disciform fructifications with roughened surfaces, scalloped margins and discoloured edges. Finally these larger plants become creviced deeply, segments separate and persist as separate entities, in this stage resembling mature fructifications of Stereum frustulosum Fr. In fact they have been so identified by overseas workers, as was pointed out in a previous paper (Cunningham, 1956). Separately, these two conditions are so diverse in appearance that each would be regarded as a different species; but intermediate stages are present in the collections listed showing transition from the pulvinate to the disciform stage. In microfeatures both are identical, so must be regarded merely as conditions of growth of one species. The older form is often biennial, reviving a second season. Pilei then exhibit on the margins discoloured or black often zoned areas indicating stages of growth.
Context hyphae and acanthophyses are similar to those of certain other species of Aleurodiscus. Hyphae are thick-walled, densely compacted so that basal tissues of the context appear sclerotioid, the lumen often being capillary. Acanthophyses are abundant, subclavate and bear upon the upper third crowded blunt spines. They resemble somewhat those of Stereum frustulosum. Basidia, on the other hand, are much smaller than those of typical species of the genus, and bear delicate sterigmata.
Gloeocystidia are large, abundant, with unusually thick walls in those present in the context. They were mistakenly described as basidia by Miss Wakefield in her account of A. peziculoides. Spores are abundant, amyloid, and may be seen embedded in the hymenial layer as well as lying upon the surface when sections are treated with Melzer's reagent. When fresh, specimens are scented not unlike sandalwood.
A. aberrans and A. berggreni are the only species present in New Zealand in which acanthophyses are clavate and apically crowned with spines, and spores and basidia are of relatively small size.

FAGACEAE. Nothofagus cliffortioides: Wellington, Pangarara River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,200 m; Oturere River, Mt. Tongariro, 1,100 m; Kaimanawa Ranges, 900-1,100 m; Mt. Holdsworth, 1,000 m; Featherston Reserve, 35 m. Nelson, Maitai Valley, 120 m; Lake Rotoiti, 700 m; Murchison, 170 m. Nothofagus fusca: Auckland, Little Barrier Island; Lake Waikaremoana, 500 m. Hawke's Bay, Upper. Mohaka River, 700 m; Turangakumu Saddle, 850 m. Wellington, Tongariro River, 600 m; Mt. Reeves, Tararua Ranges, 700 m; York Bay, 120 m; Days Bay, 120 m. Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m; Murchison, 170 m; Orwell Creek, Ahaura; Totara Flat. Otago, Kinloch, 420 m. Nothofagus menziesii: Hawke's Bay, Upper Mohaka River, 700 m. Otago, Lake Manapouri, 120 m. Nothofagus truncata: Auckland, Thumb Track, Little Barrier Island; Waiorongomai Valley, Te Aroha, 170 m; Orere, Hunua Ranges, 300 m.

Hymenophore annual, sometimes reviving a second season, coriaceous, fructifications at first scattered or crowded, discrete, pulvinate, orbicular, attached by a broad base, 0.5-2 mm diameter, becoming confluent in disciform areas 1-1.5 cm across, finally deeply creviced into irregular polygonal or irregular segments; exterior at first even and rounded, naked, becoming crenulate; hymenial surface at first convex, pruinose and even, cream or ochre, at length rugulose or irregular, radiately crenate, finally deeply creviced and discoloured dingy brown. Context white or isabelline, to 1 mm thick, composed of densely intertwined, cemented, partly gelatinised hyphae, almost sclerotioid near the base, embedding massive gloeocystidia and masses of crystals; generative hyphae to 10 µ diameter at the base, 4-5 µ in the subhymenium, walls 1-1.5 µ thick, lumena capillary in context hyphae, with clamp connections. Acanthophyses subclavate, 4-6 µ diameter, covered on the upper third with closely arranged, blunt pointed spines, naked below, confined to the hymenial layer. Gloeocystidia abundant, arising in all parts of the context and hymenium, some penetrating to the surface, 80-160 x 14-18 µ, in the hymenial layer, in the context 30-56 µ diameter with walls 4-8 µ thick, variable in shape, convoluted and distorted, in the subhymenium fusiform, clavate, or flexuous-cylindrical. Hymenial layer to 60 µ, thick, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, acanthophyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia subclavate, some cylindrical, 20-30 x 5-6 µ, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata erect, slender, to 5 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, 16-22 x 4-5 µ. Spores allantoid with rounded or acuminate ends, apiculate, 9-12 x 4-4.5 µ walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick, amyloid.

DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.

HABITAT: Crowded on bark of attached dead branches and dead standing saplings.

On examination the type of Hypocrea berggreni in Kew herbarium, ex "Maungatua, S. Berggren, No. 241" proved to be an Acanthophysium, identical with that later described as Aleurodiscus peziculoides. The species is endemic to New Zealand and found on four endemic species of Nothofagus, where it develops upon attached dead branches or dead standing saplings. At first, fructifications are small, pulvinate, scattered or crowded, and coloured cream or ochre. Later, between them develop others which become confluent, forming disciform fructifications with roughened surfaces, scalloped margins, and discoloured edges. Finally these larger plants become creviced so deeply that segments separate and persist as individual colonies, in this stage resembling mature fructifications of Stereum frustulatum, for which species they have been mistaken by several overseas workers. The older form is often biennial, reviving a second season. Fructifications then exhibit on the margins discoloured or black often zoned areas indicating stages of growth. In appearance these two stages are so diverse that each would be regarded as a different species if collected alone; but intermediate stages are present in collections listed showing transition from the pulvinate to the disciform condition. Both are identical in microfeatures.
Context hyphae and acanthophyses are similar to those of certain other species of Acanthophysium. Hyphae are thick-walled, and densely compacted so that basal tissues of the context appear sclerotioid, lumena often being capillary. Acanthophyses are abundant, subclavate, and bear upon the upper third crowded blunt spines. Basidia are much smaller than those of typical species of the genus, and bear delicate sterigmata. Gloeocystidia are large, abundant, with unusually thick walls in those present in the context. Spores are abundant, amyloid, and may be seen embedded in the hymenial layer as well as lying upon the surface when sections are treated with Melzer's reagent. When fresh, specimens are scented not unlike sandalwood.
Acanthophysium aberrans, A. apricans, A. australiensis, and A. berggreni form a small section linked by the clavate acanthophyses.

TYPE LOCALITY: Mt. Maungatua, Otago, New Zealand.

[Notes from Kew Type specimen, PRJ 2010] Kew images.

[Notes from Kew Type specimen, PRJ 2010] Type folder with several sheets all with same details and collecing number, all with similar sized pieces of specimen. Photographed one of these.

Fructificationes circiter 1 mm. diametro, gregariae, erumpentes, haud confluentes, convexae, genus Peziculam in mentem referentes, margine libero, haud incurvo, infra brunneo. Hymenium convexum, pruinatum, ex alutaceo roseo-cinnamomeum. Basidia juvenilia clavata, intus granulata, 75-80(-200) x 12-16 µ. Paraphyses (acanthophyses) elongatae, supra vix incrassatae, apice aculeatae, 4-6 µ diametro. Sporae non visae. Hyphae hyalinae, dense intertextae, vix distinguendae, crasse tunicatae, non nodosae, 4-4.5 µ diametro, accretionibus mineralibus magnis subglobosis intermixtis.

In habit the species recalls A. Farlowii Burt and A. Grantii Lloyd. From the former it differs in the more slender paraphyses, aculeate only at the apex, and from the latter in the microscopic characters, in so far as they were indicated by the author. The flesh is remarkably firm for the genus and the elements difficult to distinguish. Scattered throughout the subhymenial tissue are large globose clusters of mineral matter, reaching up to 30 µ in diameter.

NEW ZEALAND. York Bay, Wellington, on dead twigs on the forest floor, E.J. Butler and G H. Cunningham, No. 1210, July 1923.