The description in Cunningham (1965) is accurate except he described the hyphal system as dimitic with clamped generative hyphae and binding hyphae. We found it to be dimitic with simple septate generative hyphae, 1.5-2.5 µm diam., with a thin to slightly thickened wall, and hyaline, thick-walled to solid, sparingly branched skeletal hyphae, 2-3.5 µm diam. Spores are oval to subglobose, apiculate, hyaline, and nonamyloid, measuring 2.5-3 x 1.7-2.5 µm. The cream to yellow pores are highly variable in appearance, from labyrinthine and up to 3 mm long, to more regular, angular, and 3-5(-7) per mm.
The species cannot be maintained in Poria because Poria Adanson is considered to be a nomen ambiguum and Poria Pers. a later homonym (Ryvarden, 1985). However, it is difficult to find a suitable genus for the species. Arguments can be made for different genera depending on the character(s) considered to be most important. If we consider that septation of the generative hyphae is important taxonomically at the generic level, then genera such as Rigidoporus Murr., Ceriporia Donk, and Physisporinus P. Karst. are possible alternatives.
Rigidoporus has a monomitic to pseudo-dimitic hyphal system, globose spores, small papillate cystidioles in the hymenium and, in some species, large encrusted cystidia. The type species and some related species are pileate and have a reddish pore surface when fresh, fading when dry. The pores are regular and small. The irregular pores, the yellowish to cream pore surface and lack of sterile hymenial elements are characters that separate Poria totara from Rigidoporus species. The skeletal hyphae of P. totara are also more densely arranged and narrower than hyphae typical of Rigidoporus where the rather wide, thick-walled, non-septate hyphae can be interpreted as either skeletal hyphae or as strongly sclerified generative hyphae with very rare septa.
Ceriporia includes resupinate, soft to hard, fragile species with a pore surface varying from white, cream, yellowish or reddish. Sterile hymenial organs are lacking and most species have cylindrical to oblong-ellipsoid spores. However, it has a monomitic hyphal system without a trace of thick-walled hyphae of any kind.
Physisporinus includes two resupinate species with large, globose spores. All hyphae are thin-walled and wide, and cystidial elements are lacking. The colour of the pore surface varies from whitish to red or black when dry and the pores are regular.
Septation of generative hyphae is commonly assumed to be very important in the Polyporaceae and very few genera include species with both types of septation. However, if we ignore the simple septa in Poria totara, other characters such as the type of fruit-body, the pores, colour, and dimitic hyphal system with dominance of skeletal hyphae suggest Diplomitoporus Dom. The spores of that genus are cylindrical to ellipsoid, while those of P. totara are subglobose. Diplomitoporus species cause a white rot as does P. totara, while species of Antrodia P. Karst., another candidate genus, all cause a brown rot.
Thus, whatever genus is considered, the inclusion of P. totara introduces a discordant element. Rather than create a new genus for this species, we feel it is more satisfactory to include it in an existing genus where only one new character is introduced. The choice then is between Ceriporia and Diplomitoporus. As we currently consider that septation is more important than the type of hyphal system, which recently has been shown to be complex with intergrading types, we conclude that Ceriporia is the best choice. C. xylostromatioides (Berk.) Ryv. has subglobose spores and a rather irregular hymenophore and is probably the most closely related species to P. totara. The main character separating these two species is the skeletal hyphae of the latter.

Holotype: PDD 6657 - New Zealand, Coromandel, Whitianga - Coromandel Road, Nov. 1947, G. Chamberlain, on Podocarpus totara G. Benn. ex D. Don.

PODOCARPACEAE. Podocarpus totara: Auckland, Waipoua Kauri Forest, 230 m; Whitianga-Coromandel Road, 100 m, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 6657; Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Ranges, 300 m. Dacrydium cupressinum: Otago, Ulva Islet, Stewart Island.

Hymenophore annual, loosely adherent, soft and fragile, effused forming linear areas 7-20 x 7-10 cm, to 1 mm thick. Hymenial surface white, staining yellow where lying upon exposed wood, even, not creviced; margin somewhat indefinite, white, fibrillose, adherent, thinning out, fertile to the edge. Pores labyrinthiform, 0.3-3 mm long, a few round when 100-200 µm diameter, to 0.5 mm deep; dissepiments 50-300 µm thick, equal, apices finely velutinate. Context white, 20-140 µm thick, of loosely intertwined hyphae; binding hyphae 3-3.5 µm diameter, walls 1 µm thick or lumena almost capillary, freely branched, aseptate; generative hyphae 2.5-3 µm diameter, walls 0.2 µm thick, branched, septate, with scanty clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 15 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 8-12 x 3-4 µm, bearing 4 spores; sterigmata slender, erect, to 4 µm long, paraphyses subclavate, 6-10 x 3-3.5 µm. Spores oval, subglobose, or globose, 2-2.5 x 2 µm walls smooth, hyaline, 0.1 µm thick.

DISTRIBUTION: New Zealand.

HABITAT: Decayed decorticated fallen trunks, associated with a white rot.

From other dimitic species present in the region the species is separated by the labyrinthiform pores, minute globose spores, and delicate fragile white hymenophore which stains yellow where in contact with the substratum. The name is taken from the Maori name of one host.

TYPE LOCALITY: Auckland.