Hymenophore annual, coriaceous, pateriform, with upturned margins and broad bases, 5-28 mm diameter, sometimes connate laterally when extending to 4 cm; exterior bay-brown, strongly radiate-striate, naked; margin chestnut-brown, crenate, inturned; hymenial surface plane, ochre or pallid plum, at length creviced irregularly. Context isabelline, 0.5-0.75 mm thick, basal layer of densely compacted radiately arranged hyphae, more densely woven peripherally; generative hyphae 4-5 µ diameter, walls 1-1.5 µ thick, hyaline, branched, septate, without clamp connexions. Hymenial layer 90-130 µ deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses, pseudophyses and gloeocystidia. Basidia projecting slightly, subclavate, 64-110 x 10-12 µ, 4-spored; sterigmata slightly arcuate, subulate, to 12 µ long. Paraphyses subclavate, to 40 x 8 µ. Pseudophyses flexuous-cylindrical, 5-6 µ, diameter, slightly projecting, Gloeocystidia (1) penetrating the hymenial layer, arising from the base of the subhymenium, flexuous-cylindrical, to 130 x 6-8 µ, (2) arising deeply in the context and penetrating the base of the hymenial layer, flexuous-cylindrical or apically fusiform and expanded, to 10 µ diameter, soon collapsing and leaving lacunae in the tissues. Spores elliptical or obovate, apiculate, 11-16 x 8-10 µ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2 µ thick, amyloid.

DISTRIBUTION. New Zealand.

HABITAT. Scattered or crowded on bark of dead stems.

Hymenophorum coriaceum, pateriforme, late basi adjunctum, marginibus liberis et recurvatis, 5-28 mm diam.; superficies hymenii plana, ochracea vel pallide rubro-purpurea, demum . inaequaliter rimosa. Contextus isabellinus, 0.5-0.75 mm crassus; hyphae generatoriae 4-5 µ diam., hyalinae, enodulosae, parietibus 1-1.5 µ crassis. Basidia subclavate, 64-110 x 10-12 µ. Pseudophyses flexuoso-cylindricales, inaequales, 5-6 µ diam. Gloeocystidia flexuoso-cylindricalia, ad 130 x 6-8 µ, corruentia. Sporae ellipticae vel obovatae, apiculatae, 11-16 x 8-10 µ, parietibus levibus, 0.2 µ crassis, amyloidibus.

Fructifications are larger in diameter than in any other species examined, saucer-shaped, with broad bases and upturned naked margins, and resemble somewhat in macrofeatures pilei of certain species of Stereum. Spores are of the same size and shape as those of A. parmuliformis. Gloeocystidia which penetrate the hymenial layer arise at the base of the subhymenium and vary appreciably in diameter, most being flexuous-cylindrical with thin walls; those which extend into the base of the hymenial layer arise deeply in the context, often exceed 150 µ in length, and may be flexuous-cylindrical or simulate conducting vessels with apices slightly inflated. The latter finally collapse, leaving lacunae in the base of the subhymenium.

Olearia rani (A. Cunn.) Ckn. Wellington: Gable-end Ridge, Tararuas, 2,500ft, November, 1932, E.E. Chamberlain, type collection, P.D.D. herbarium, No. 3837.