Omphalina sulphurea Stevenson (29 D) = aff. Hygrophorus sp.

Holotype (PDD 27093); Isotype (Herb. HK. ZT 68/383): Track to St. Arnaud Range, Lake Rotoiti, Prov. Nelson, N.Z.; leg. Horak, 5.V.1968'.

Pileus 5-l5 mm diam., hemispherical or convex becoming plano-convex or subumbilicate, egg yellow to lemon yellow fading to yellowish-grey, darker at the centre, glutinous, translucidly striated, membranaceous. Lamellae arcuate, whitish-yellowish, gill edge concolorous and even, glutinous thread absent. Stipe 10-20 x 1-2 mm, cylindric, equal but often subbulbous at the base, apex whitish, yellow at the base, glutinous, single or in clusters, solid. Context yellow. Taste and odor not distinctive. Chemical reactions on pileus: KOH- negative. Spores 5.5-7.5 x 3-3.5 µm, ellipsoid, smooth, inamyloid. Basidia 28-32 x 4-5 µm, 4-spored. Cystidia absent. Cuticle a trichodermium of suberect, strongly gelatinized, hyaline, cylindric hyphae (2-5 µm diam.). Clamp connections numerous.

In soil under Nothofagus cliffortioides (montane forest). New Zealand.

Pileo 5-15 mm lato, e convexo plano, vitellino, glutinoso, striato. Lamellis arcuatis, albo-luteis, distantibus. Stipite 10-20 x 1-2 mm, albido cylindrico, basin versus luteo, glutinoso. Sporis 5.5-7.5 x 3-3.5 µm, ellipticis. Cystidiis nullis. Epicute ex hyphis glutinosis ixotrichodermium formantibus. Septis fibulatis. Ad terram in silvis nothofagineis. Novazelandia.

There is little possibility that G. bichromus could be confused with any of the other yellow coloured Gliophorus species in New Zealand if the microscopic characters are studied. Concerning G. nitidus Berk. & Curt. ss. Stev. no material was seen but it appears that this collection refers to G. bichromus Hk. Undoubtedly these two fungi are closely related but differ mainly in the different size of the spores and basidia (Hesler & Smith 1963: 232). From the point of view of size and colour of the carpophores Mycena primulina Stev. (1964) is very much similar to G. bichromus Hk. but differs in its conspicuous cheilocystidia and size of spores.

Holotypus (PDD 27093): "Lake Rotoiti, N.Z.; leg. Horak, 5.V.1968'.

SPECIMENS: NZ: NA, Waipoua, Yakas Track, on rotten wood of Metrosideros, ZT 1129. - N, Lake Rotoiti, track to St Arnaud Range, under Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides, 5 v 1968, Horak, PDD 27093 (type of G. bichromus Horak).

Pileus-15 mm, hemispherical or convex later planoconvex or subdepressed at centre; yolk-yellow to lemon-yellow fading to pale yellow with grey tinge; glutinous, translucently striate at margin, membranaceous. - Lamellae 12-14 (I -3) decurrent to arcuate; pale yellow, edges concolorous, entire glutinous thread absent. - Stipe 10-30 x 1-2 mm cylindrical, equal or sub-bulbous at base; apex whitish, yellow at base; glutinous, solid, single or caespitose. - Context yellow, waxy. - Odour and taste not distinctive. - Chemical reactions on pileus: KOH - negative. Spores 5.5-6 x 3-3.5 um, ellipsoid. - Basidia 20-35 x 4-5 um, 4-spored. - Cystidia absent. - Pileipellis an ixocutis of suberect, cylindrical, hyaline hyphae (2-5 um diam.), membranes strongly gelatinised, with plasmatic pigment; clamp connections present (Pl. 1, Fig. 6).

DISTRIBUTION: NZ (NA, W, N).

ECOLOGY: Scattered; saprobic on soil among litter in broadleaved-conifer forests (Nothofagus, Metrosideros, Agathis), rarely also on rotten wood. May-August.

ICON.: Stevenson (1962: 382); Horak (1973: 170).

TYPE: NZ: W, Wellington, Botanical Garden, under shrubs and trees, 12 viii 1949, Stevenson, K 750.

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

The full description given by Smith & Hesler (1942, P.70) clearly covers the New Zealand collections, which are of small glutinous, lemon-yellow toadstools, 1-2 cm. diam., which fade to white; spores 4-5 X 6-7 µm.

habitat: amongst litter under forest, Keith George Park, Wellington, 15.6.1949, Butterfly, 2.6.1958, both Stevenson.

Pileus 0.4-1.4 cm diam., sulphur-yellow, darker and greyed at centre, hemispherical, matt; flesh sulphur-yellow, continuous with that of stipe. Gills decurrent, moderately distant, sulphur-yellow. Stipe 1-4 cm x 0.5-1 mm, sulphur-yellow, fragile, smooth, translucent or opaque, solid, some with white mycelium at base. Spores 6-7 x 3.5-4 µm non-amyloid, hyaline, thin-walled (Fig. 20).

Amongst litter under shrubs and trees, Wellington, Botanic Garden, 12.8.1949, Stevenson (type).

Pileus 0.4-1.4 cm diam., sulfureus, medio intensius et griseo-tinctus, hemisphaericus, haud nitidus; carne sulfurea cum stipite continua. Lamellae decurrentes, modice distantes, sulfureae. Stipes l-4 cm, x 0.5-1 mm, sulfureus, fragilis, laevis, translucens vel opacus, solidus, basi mycelio albo interdum praeditus. Sporae 6-7 x 3.5-4 µm hand amyloideae, hyalinae, parietibus tenuibus.

Typus: Stevenson 750