FAGACEAE. Nothofagus fusca: Nelson, Staircase Creek, Reefton, 700 m; Murchison, 170 m. Nothofagus menziesii: Otago, Alton Valley, Tuatapere, 120 m. PAPILIONACEAE. Ulex europaeus: Nelson, Appleby, 35 m.

Hymenophore annual, sometimes biennial, membranous, loosely attached, effused forming irregularly orbicular or elliptical areas to 10 x 7 cm; hymenial surface ferruginous, dark umber or chocolate, often with a vinaceous tinge, even, slightly punctate under a lens, not creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, arachnoid, loosely attached. Context ferruginous, 400-650 µm thick, basal layer of mainly parallel hyphae, intermediate layer well developed, of mainly erect hyphae; generative hyphae 4-6 µm diameter, walls 0.25 µm thick, clear brown, branched at a wide angle, freely septate save in the basal hyphae where septa are widely spaced, with clamp connections. Hymenial layer to 80 µm deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses. Basidia subclavate, 40-56 x 8-10 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata arcuate, to 10 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 25-48 x 5-7 µm. Spores globose, subglobose, obovate, or oval, 9-12 x 8-10 µm (a few to 14 x 10 µm), apiculate, walls sinuate, sparsely coarsely aculeate, ferruginous, 0.25-0.5 µm thick, spines to 1.5 µm long.

DISTRIBUTION: Europe, North America, New Zealand.

HABITAT: Bark or decorticated wood of dead branches.

Spores are slightly larger than those of authentic European specimens examined, but in other features collections agree. Specific features are the dark colour of the hymenial surface which is often chocolate and tinted vinaceous, loose attachment of fructifications, absence of cordons, and coarsely aculeate, sinuate spore walls of a colour similar to the context hyphae. Spores bear a prominent apiculus, which may be obscured by the coarse aculeae.

TYPE LOCALITY: Europe.