Thelephoraceae of New Zealand—Parts VII and VIII By G. H. Cunningham Part VII—The Genus Lopharia [Received by the Editor, May 3, 1955] Abstract Lophana is treated as a genus of the Thelephoraceae, and placed under the tribe Corticeae of the subfamily Thelephoroideae. Species resemble pedicellate Peniophoras in their typical cystidia, differing in being pileate. Two species are present in New Zealand, Lopharia cinerascens (Schw.) G. H. Cunn., type of the genus and L. vinosa (Berk.) G. H. Cunn. Both have been recorded from North and South America, Africa, Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. L. vinosa extending additionally to Western Europe. 8 Lopharia Kalchbrenner & MacOwan, Grevillea, 10, 58, 1882, emended. Thwaitesiella Mass., Grev., 21, 2, 1892. Lloydella Bres. in Lloyd's Myc. Notes, No. 6, 51, 1901. Hymenophore pileate, annual or perennial; pilei narrowly effused-reflexed, surface strigose with erect or imbricated hairs; hymenial surface even or occasionally tuberculate-denticulate, creviced or entire. Context composed of one or several obscure zones, basal layer of parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of ascending hyphae, sometimes almost suppressed: hyphal system monomitic or dimitic; skeletal hyphae hyaline, aseptate, sparingly branched, thick-walled; generative hyphae hyaline, branched, septate, without clamp connexions. Hymenial layer composed of basidia and paraphyses, associated with cystidia, arranged in a palisade. Basidia subclavate, bearing 4 spores on apical sterigmata. Cystidia pedicellate, coated wholly or in part with deciduous crystals, sometimes with walls tinted, aseptate. Spores elliptical, smooth, hyaline. Type Species: Lopharia cinerascens (Schw.) G. H. Cunn. (Thelephora cinerascens Schw.) Distribution: North and South America, Western Europe, West Indies, Africa, Ceylon, New Caledonia, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand. Lopharia, as defined herein, contains species which previous workers have placed under Peniophora or Stereum. They possess the micro-structure of Peniophora, including typical crystal-coated cystidia of the pedicellate section. They differ in that the hymenophore is pileate, and as the presence of pilei is regarded as a generic feature in the family, they have been segregated under Lopharia. Hitherto the latter genus has been treated as a member of the Hydnaceae because in the type species L. lirellosa the hymenial surface was somewhat plicate-dentate. Talbot (Bothalia, 6, 339-346, 1954) examined the type species and found it to agree in micro-features with Thelephora cinerascens Schw. The features upon which the genus was based, he found to be variable and consequently unreliable, since in numerous collections examined the hymenial surface was seen to vary from plicate-dentate to even. New Zealand collections also exhibit these variable features; consequently Lopharia is treated as a genus of the Thelephoraceae, with “Thelephora” cinerascens as the type, and Thwaitesiella Mass. and Lloydella Bres as synonyms, since all were erected upon the same

species. Talbot also found that Radulum mirabile Berk. & Br. was based on this species. Additional species of Lopharia are Stereum papyrinum Mont. and S. umbrino-alutaceum Wakef., as has been ascertained by examination of type collections in Kew herbarium, the former from Cuba, the latter from New Caledonia. 1. Lopharia cinerascens (Schweinitz) nov. comb. Text-fig. 1. Thelephora cinerascens Schw., Trans. Am. Phil. Soc., 4, 167, 1832. Hymenochaete cinerascens (Schw.) Lev., Ann. Sci. Nat., III, 5, 152, 1846. Corticium aschistum Berk. & Curt., Proc. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci., 4., 123, 1858. Stereum moricola Berk., Grev., 1, 162, 1873. S. dissitum Berk., Grev., 1, 164, 1873. Radulum mirabile Berk. & Br., Journ. Linn. Soc., 14, 61, 1873. Corticium ephebrium Berk. & Curt., Grev., 4 178, 1873. Peniophora berkeleyi Cke., Grev., 8, 20, 1879. P. dissita (Berk.) Cke., Grev., 8, 150, 1880. Stereum neglectum Peck, N.Y. State Museum. Rept. 33, 22. 1880. Lopharia lirellosa Kalch. & MacOwan, Grev., 10, 58, 1881. Peniophora neglecta Peck., N.Y. State Museum. Rept. 40, 76, 1887. P. cinerascens (Schw.) Sacc., Syll. Fung., 6, 646, 1888. P. moricola (Berk.) Mass., Jour. Linn. Soc., 25, 141, 1889. P. schweinitzii Mass., Jour. Linn. Soc., 25, 145, 189. P. ephebria (Berk. & Curt.) Mass., Journ. Linn. Soc., 25, 151, 1889. Stereum cinerascens (Schw.) Mass., Jour. Linn. Soc., 27, 179, 1890. Thwaitesiella mirabilis (Berk. & Br.) Mass., Grev. 21, 3, 1892. Lopharia mirabilis (Berk. & Br.) Pat., Bull, Soc. Myc. Fr., 11, 14, 1895. Peniophora occidentalis Ell. & Ev., Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, 24, 277, 1897. Loydella cinerascens (Schw.) Bres., in Lloyd's Myc. Notes, No. 6, 51, 1901. L. occidentalis (Ell. & Ev.) H. & L., Sitz. K. Akad. Wiss., Wien., 116, 791, 1907. Stereum purpurascens Lloyd, Letter 53, 15, 1914.. S. turgidum Lloyd, Letter 63, 15, 1916. S. caperatum Lloyd, Myc. Notes, No. 40, 549, 1916. S. subporiferum Berk., in Herb. Kew. Hymenophore annual or biennial, coriaceous, adnate, widely effused with reflexed margins, or resupinate, at first small and orbicular, finally forming irregular areas 7-12 × 1-4 cm; pilei narrowly applanate, often reduced to mere upturned margins, or wanting; surface straw colour or pallid ochre, clothed with appressed hairs often imbricately arranged, or radiately sulcate; hymenial surface cream to pallid ochre, sometimes buff, velutinate, at length deeply areolately creviced, or finely tuberculate; margin (when resupinate) thinning out, fibrillose, adnate, concolorous. Context cream, isabelline or bay brown, 0.2-1 mm thick (excluding the abhymenial hairs), with a colour zone between the basal layer and pileus hairs, basal layer well developed, occupying the greater part of the context, of parallel or intertwined hyphae densely arranged, tinted towards the base, intermediate layer of vertical hyphae closely compacted and enclosing lacunae each containing a cystidium; skeletal hyphae 4-5μ diameter, lumen capillary, hyaline, naked, sparingly branched, aseptate; generative hyphae 2.5-4μ diameter, walls 0.2μ thick, hyaline, branched, septate, without clamp connexions. Hymenial layer to 70μ deep, a close palisade of basidia paraphyses and cystidia. Basidia subclavate, 40-64 × 8-12μ, 4-spored; sterigmata slender, arcuate, to 8μ long. Paraphyses subclavate, similar to but smaller than the basidia. Cystidia arising from the intermediate layer, projecting to 90μ, narrowly conical, with short, stout, often tinted pedicels, 80-180 × 16-26μ, coarsely crystal coated throughout. Spores elliptical with rounded ends, 9-14 × 7-9μ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5μ thick.

Type Locality:. Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Distribution: North and South America. West Indies, Africa, Ceylon, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand. Habitat: Effused on bark or decorticated dead wood. Albizzia lophantha Benth. Auckland. Oratia, August, 1948, D. W. McKenzie. Beilschmiedia tarairi (A. Cunn.) Benth. & Hook. f. Auckland. Parahaki, Whangarei, 200ft, May, 1948, J. M. Dingley. Beilschmiedia tawa (A. Cunn.) Hook. f & Benth. Auckland. Claudelands Reserve, Hamilton, 200ft, October, 1946, G. H. C. Lake Rotoehu, 1,200ft, May, 1952, G. H. C. Wellington Lake Papaetonga, 50ft, August, 1954, G. H. C. Citrus aurantifolia Swingle. Auckland. Henderson, May, 1949, M. H. Dye. Coprosma repens Hook. f. Auckland. South West Island. Three Kings, January, 1950, G. T. S. Baylis. Coriaria ruscifolia L. Auckland. Little Barrier Island, November, 1947, J. M. Dingley. Corynocarpus laevigata Forst. Auckland. Piha, July, 1947, J. M. Dingley. Glen Esk Valley, Piha, May, 1949, J. M. Dingley. Dysoxylum spectabile (Forst. f.) Hook. f Auckland. Little Barrier Island, November, 1947, J. M. Dingley. Orakei Bush, September, 1948, D. W. McKenzie. Huia, July, 1953, J. M. Dingley. Edwardsia microphylla (Hook. f.) Salisb. Auckland Purewa Bush May, 1949, D. W. McKenzie. Edwardsia tetraptera (Forst. f.) Oliver Auckland. Boulder Bay, Rangitoto Island, April, 1949, J. M. Dingley. Hoheria glabrata Sprague & Summerh. Canterbury. Governor's Bush, Hermitage, 2,500ft, February, 1947, G. T. S. Baylis. Hoheria populnea A. Cunn. Auckland. University College Grounds, April, 1949, J. M. Dingley. Piha, August, 1953, J. M. Dingley. Melicyts ramiflorus Forst. Auckland. Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, 500ft, January. 1947, J. M. Dingley. Little Barrier Island, November, 1947, J. M. Dingley. Myoporum laetum Forst. Auckland. Northcote, 100ft, May, 1949, Mrs. E. E. Chamberlain. Pinus radiata Don. Auckland. Mt. Maunganui, coast, October, 1950, M. Hodgkins. Pittosporum crassifolium A. Cunn. Auckland. Piha, October, 1949, J. M. Dingley. Plagianthus betulinus A. Cunn. Wellington. Kitchener Park, Feilding. 100ft. January, 1954, G. H. C. Suttonia australis A. Rich. Auckland. Purewa Bush. August, 1948, D. W. McKenzie. From L. vinosa the species may be separated by the dimitic hyphal system skeletal hyphae with walls so thickened that the lumen is usually capillary, different arrangement of the context, large cystidia with short and stout pedicels, larger basidia and spores Cystidia may be arranged in one irregular row in the hymenial layer, or more commonly in several obscure zones within tissues of the hymenial and intermediate layers. They vary appreciably in shape and size, shape and length of the stout pedicels and size of the crystals Some of the basal cystidia may be naked or bear only a few scattered crystals.

Text-fig. 1.—Transverse section through a resupinate specimen of Lopharia cinerascens (Schw.) G. H. Cunn. × 500. Original. Text-fig. 2.—Transverse section through a resupinate specimen of Lopharia mosa (Berk.) G. H. Cunn. × 500; spore × 1000. Original.

In some features the microstructure simulates species of both Stereum and Peniophora. The intermediate layer is sometimes wanting in thin specimens, the hymenium arising directly from upturned hyphae of the basal layer, as in Stereum; in thick forms, however, this layer is present and arranged as in most species of Peniophora. Skeletal hyphae are scantily developed in the intermediate layer, but form the bulk of the basal layer and extend to produce the abhymenial hairs of the pileus surface. The species bears a long list of synonyms, though its specific name has seldom been in doubt. Usually placed under Peniophora, because of the presence of cystidia, or Stereum on account of the pileate fructifications, it has been employed as the type of Thwaitesiella Mass., Lloydella Bres., and, as has been shown by Talbot (Bothalia, 6, 339-346, 1954) Lopharia Kalch. & MacOwan and Radulum mirabile Berk. & Br. Lloyd admitted that his Stereum purpurascens was merely a coloured form; and Talbot (l.c.) showed that S. caperatum Lloyd and S. turgidum Lloyd were likewise synonyms. S. subporiferum Berk., the type of which came from the Chatham Islands, ex “Travers, No. 7” is also based on the species. 2. Lopharia vinosa (Berkeley) nov. comb. Text-fig. 2. Thelephora vinosa Berk., Lond. Jour. Bot., 4, 60, 1845. T. crassa Lev. in Gaud. Voy. Bonite. Bot., 1, 190, 1846. Stereum umbrinum Berk. & Curt. Grev., 1. 164, 1873, non Fr. 1851. Corticium murinum Thuem., ex Berk. & Br., Jour. Linn. Soc., 14. 70. 1875. Hymenochaete crassa (Lev.) Berk., ex Cke., Grev., 8, 148, 1880. H. umbrina Berk. & Curt. ex Cke., Grev., 8, 148, 1880. H (Veluticeps) vinosa (Berk) Cke., Grev, 8, 149, 1880. H. multispinulosa Peck., Bot. Gaz., 7, 54, 1882. H. scabriseta Cke., in Rav. Fungi. Am., 717, 1882. H. purpurea Cke. & Morg., Grev., 11., 107, 1883. Peniophora intermedia Mass., Jour. Linn. Soc., 25, 143, 1889. P. vinosa (Berk) Mass., Jour. Linn. Soc., 25, 145, 1889. Hymenochaete Kalchbrenneri Mass., Jour. Linn. Soc, 27, 116, 1890. Coniophora murinum (Berk. & Br.) Mass., Jour. Linn. Soc., 27, 116, 1890. Hymenochaete agathicola Henn., in Engl. Bot. Jahrb, 18, 24, 1894. Lloydella scabriseta (Cke.) H. & L., Sitz. K. Akad. Wiss., Wien. 115. 1580, 1906. Kncifia purpurca (Cke. & Morg.) Bres., Ann. Myc., 1. 101. 1903. Hymenophore annual, pileate, membranous, adnate, effused-reflexed, often resupinate, at first developing as small orbicular colonies merging to form linear areas which may extend to 40 cm × 1-4 cm; pilei laterally extended and narrowly applanate, sometimes imbricate, surface grey to fawn, hirsute, hairs radiately arranged and imbricated, sometimes concentrically zoned; hymenial surface ranging in colour from cream, through buff or ochre, to dark umber, often violaceous, heliotrope, or tinted purple, at first even or finely tuberculate, becoming deeply areolately creviced, tending then to lift at margins of crevices; margin (when resupinate) thinning out, fibrillose, adnate, concolorous. Context dingy white, 0.2-1 mm thick, without a coloured zone beneath the abhymenial hairs, basal layer narrow, of mainly parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of hyphae ascending obliquely, loosely arranged and mixed with long cystidial pedicels; generative hyphae 4-6μ diameter, walls 0.5-1μ thick, hyaline, naked, branched, freely but irregularly septate, without clamp connexions. Hymenial layer to 60μ deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses and cystidia. Basidia subclavate, 20-24 × 5-6μ, 4-spored; sterigmata slender, erect, to 6μ long. Paraphyses subclavate or cylindrical, shorter and narrower than the basidia. Cystidia

borne on long slender pedicels arising from the intermediate and basal layers, extending to the hymenial layer where projecting to 35μ, and scattered through the context, narrowly fusiform with acute apices, tinted fuscous, 40-190 × 8-16μ, coated with hyaline or tinted crystals which may cover the modified body, or be confined to the apical region, occasionally coated in part with brown mucilaginous granules; pedicels of unusual length, to 600μ long, 5-7μ diameter, aseptate, walls 1-2μ thick, some lightly tinted in the upper regions Spores elliptical, 5-7 × 2.5-3μ, apiculate, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2μ thick. Type Locality: Swan River, Western Australia. Distribution: North and South America, Africa, Western Europe, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand. Habitat: Effused on dead bark and decorticated wood. Agathis australis Salisb. Auckland. Waipoua Kauri Forest, April, 1947, J. M. Dingley. Upper Piha Valley, June, 1947, J. M. Dingley. Stony Creek, Henderson, April, 1948, J. M. Dingley. Cascade Kauri Park, Waitakeres, 900ft, September, 1948, P. M. Ambler. Albizzia lophantha Benth. Auckland. Oratia, August, 1948, D. W. McKenzie. Beilschmiedia tawa (A. Cunn.) Hook. f. & Benth. Wellington. Weraroa, September, 1919, G. H. C. Carpodetus serratus Forst. Auckland. Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Range, October, 1946, J. M. Dingley. Coprosma robusta Raoul. Auckland. Moumoukai Valley, Hunua Range, October, 1946, J. M. Dingley. Coriaria arborea Linds. Auckland. Waiomo Valley, Thames, August, 1954, S. D. Baker. Cytisus scoparius Link. Auckland. Waitetoko, Taupo, January, 1954, S. D. Baker. Eucalyptus globulus Lab. Auckland. Campbell's Bay, January, 1951, Mrs. E. E. Chamberlain. Wellington. Waverley. 400ft, December, 1946, Mrs. E. E. Chamberlain. Freycinetia banksii A. Cunn. Auckland. Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, August, 1954, S. D. Baker. Hakea acicularis R. Br Auckland Swanson, Waitakeres, 600ft, November, 1945, J. M. Dingley. Hedycarya arborea Forst. Auckland. Te Mochau. Coromandel Peninsula, January, 1947, J. M. Dingley. Knightia excelsa R. Br. Auckland. Claudelands Reserve, Hamilton, November, 1946, G. H. C. Anawhata Road, Waitakeres, 1,000ft, July, 1948, J. M. Dingley. Upper Piha Valley, 800ft, August, 1949, J. M. Dingley. Leptospermum scoparium Forst. Auckland. Little Barrier Island, November, 1947, J. M. Dingley. Huia, 200ft, January, 1954, E. E. Chamberlain. Te Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, October, 1954, J. M. Dingley. Melicytus ramiflorus Forst. Auckland. Alfriston, September, 1947, J. M. Dingley. Meryta sinclairii (Hook. f.) Seem. Auckland. Mt. Eden, 350ft, March, 1950, G. H. C. Myoporum laetum Forst. Wellington. Carter's Bush, Carterton, 150ft, December, 1952, G. H. C.

Nothofagus cliffortioides (Hook. f.) Oerst Auckland. Waitetoko, Taupo. January, 1954, S. D. Baker, Wellington, Ohakune, 2,000ft, December. 1953, J. M. Dingley. Nothofagus truncata (Col.) Ckn. Auckland. Little Barrier Island, 1,200ft, Novemeber. 1947. J. M. Dingley. Nothopanax arboreum (Forst. f.) Seem. Auckland. Mt. Tongariro, 2,300ft, December. 1930, G. H. C. Cascade Kauri Park. Waitakeres, 600ft, September, 1948, J. M. Dingley. Anawhata Road, Waitakeres, 1,000ft, September, 1949, J. M. Dingley. Taranaki, Mt. Egmont, 3,500ft. February, 1952, G. H. C. Oxylobium callistachys Bentn., Auckland. Campbell's Bay, 150ft, November, 1946, Mrs. E. E. Chamberlain. Pinus radiata Don. Wellington. Weraroa, 50ft, August, 1919, G. H. C. Pittosporum tenuifolium Banks & Sol. Auckland. Sprague's Hill, Henderson, September, 1946, M. Carter. Ruatewhenua, Waitakeres, 900ft, August, 1949. J. M. Dingley. Whitianga Road, Coromandel Peninsula, October, 1954, J. M. Dingley. Prunus persica Sieb. & Zucc. Auckland. Mangere, June, 1950, K. P. Lamb. Pyrus malus L. Auckland. Oratia, April, 1953, D. W. McKenzie. Rhopalostylis sapida (Sol.) Wendl. & Drude. Auckland Stony Creek, Henderson, April, 1948, J. M. Dingley. Salix fragilis L. Auckland. Waikareutu, 400ft, October, 1946, E. E. Chamberlain. Suttonia salicina (Hew.) Hook. f. Auckland. Anawhata Road, Waitakeres, 1,000ft, August, 1948, J. M. Dingley. Vitex lucens Kirk. Auckland. Cornwallis, January, 1953, J. D. Atkinson. Weinmannia racemosa L.f. Auckland. Mamaku Forest, 1,800ft, December, 1953, G. H. C. Westland. Lake Mapouriki, 300ft, November, 1946, J. M. Dingley. Rimu, November, 1954, J. M. Dingley. Weinmannia sylvicola Sol. Auckland. Waipoua Kauri Forest, September, 1949, J. M. Dingley. The species varies appreciably in the degree of pileus formation, thickness of context, surface colour, size and abundance of cystidia, length of their pedicels, and coarseness of crystals Most collections are resupinate or exhibit broad resupinate fructifications with narrow reflexed margins; in some, pilei are freely developed and often imbricately arranged. The context may vary in thickness and in old specimens, as the type, may exhibit several vaguely defined zones of cystidia and context hyphae. Colour of mature specimens may be some shade of brown, umber predominating, or as frequently violaceous, heliotrope, or purple, Australian and New Zealand collections being rich in brightly coloured specimens. At first white, colour rapidly changes to some shade of brown, or violaceous shades may appear as soon as colour changes begin. Purplish specimens are liable to confusion only with Stereum purpureum (which also exhibits similar pileus features), but may be separated by the presence of cystidia and absence of vesicles. Resupinate forms may be separated from species of Peniophora by the cystidia. These are narrowly fusiform, developed at the apices of unusually long pedicels which, being aseptate, simulate skeletal hyphae though the species is, in reality, monomitic. Cystidia are coloured some shade of brown, and occasionally the crystals also are tinted. Crystals may be abundant or scanty, coarse or fine, and may coat cystidia completely, be confined to their apical regions, or appear

as scattered granules upon their surfaces. Pedicels are unusually long, develop from the base of the intermediate layer and superficial hyphae of the basal layer, ascend obliquely and are sometimes tinted near the cystidia. Their length would appear to be governed by development of the context, in thick plants pedicels attaining a maximum length of 600μ. Bridging hyphae have been noted in the context. As the synonymy shows, there has been appreciable confusion in literature as to both generic and specific names. Obviously the species is cogeneric with L. cinerascens, since it is not a Stereum, Hymenochaete, or Peniophora under which genera it has been placed by various workers. It is most closely related in structure to species of the pedicellate section of Peniophora, differing in being pileate. The first specific name applied to the species is Thelephora vinosa Berk., the type of which is in Kew herbarium, ex “Swan River, No. 160,” collected by Drummond in Western Australia. A second specific name, T. crassa Lev., was not used by later workers because of the combination Stereum crassum Fr. applied to a different plant. Burt (Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard., 7, 191, 1920) placed the species under Stereum umbrinum Berk. & Curt., untenable because of the earlier S. umbrinum Fr. applied to an Australian plant, the identity of which is unknown because the type is missing. I have examined types of Stereum umbrinum Berk. & Curt., Corticium murinum Thuem., Peniophora intermedia Mass., Hymenochaete purpurea Cke. & Morg. and found all to be cospecific with the type of Thelephora vinosa Berk. Part VIII—The Genera Epithele and Mycobonia Abstract Epithele and Mycobonia are separated from Corticium by the presence of fascicles, compact bundles of hyaline hyphae which arise in the basal layer, traverse context and hymenium and project for about half their length. Three species of Epithele are present in the Dominion, two being endemic, a third, E. galzini Bres., occurring also in France. Mycobonia is represented by one endemic species., confined to living stems of Rhopalostylis sapida. the nikau palm. 9. Epithele Patouillard, Essai taxonomique sur les familles et les genres des Hymenomycetes, 59, 1900. Hypochnus § Epithele Pat., Bull. Soc. Myc. Fr., 15, 202, 1899. Hymenophore resupinate, annual, membranous, effused; surface velutinate, creviced or even. Context composed of a basal layer of mainly parallel hyphae, and an intermediate layer of ascending intertwined hyphae; hyphal system monomitic or dimitic; skeletal hyphae hyaline, aseptate, thick-walled; generative hyphae hyaline, branched, septate, with clamp connexions. Hymenial layer a palisade of basidia and paraphyses pierced at intervals by the projecting fascicles. Basidia variously shaped, 2-4-spored. Gloeocystidia cylindrical, moniliform, hyaline. Fascicles arising from the basal layer, traversing the context and hymenium and projecting for the greater part of their length, composed of numerous hyphae either loosely arranged or compacted into dense columns, naked or crystal coated. Spores unicellular, smooth, hyaline or tinted. Type Species: Epithele typhae (Pers.) Pat. Distribution: Western Europe, North and South America, New Zealand.

Epithele is a small genus containing about six species. It resembles Corticium in microstructure, differing in the presence of fascicles. These are vertical columns of hyphae either loosely or densely compacted, which arise from the basal layer, traverse context and hymenium, and project for at least half their length. Composed of hyaline hyphae in Epithele and Mycobonia, they are brown in Veluticeps. Herein these bodies are termed fascicles to differentiate them from hyphal pegs. The latter develop from the subhymenium or upper part of the context, not from the basal layer, and are found in certain genera of the Polyporaceae, some species of Odontia of the Hydnaceae and Sebacina of the Tremellaceae. Most species of Epithele and Mycobonia possess a monomitic hyphal system. In Epithele nikau the system is dimitic, skeletal hyphae forming the fascicles and basal layer. As in most species of the Corticeae, both basal and intermediate layers are present and well developed. Basidia of Epithele show some diversity in form; somewhat cucurbitiform in E. nikau, they are cylindrical with attenuated bases in E. fulva, subclavate in E. galzini and clavate in E. interrupta Bres. Spores are fusiform in E. typhae and E. interrupta, naviculate in E. nikau, elliptical in E. ochracea Bres., elliptical to subglobose in E. fulva and allantoid in E. galzini. Gloeocystidia are present in E. fulva. The type species is usually regarded as E. dussii Pat. According to Hoehnel & Litschauer (Sitz. K. Akad. Wiss., Wien, 116, 750, 1907), who examined the type collection, this is a Peniophora of the radicate section, bearing naked cystidia enmeshed in hyphal sheaths, as in P. vermifera Bourd. To conserve the genus I have therefore selected as type, the second species discussed by Patouillard, E. typhae (Pers.) Pat.; for examination of an authentic specimen in Kew Herbarium showed this to be a valid Epithele The record of the genus in Australia is based on Epithele glauca (Cke.) Wakef. ex Clel. (= Grandinia glauca Cke). On examination the type collection in Kew Herbarium was found to be a Heterochaete with the cruciate basidia of that genus. Key to Species Spores naviculate 1 E. nikau G. H. Cunn. Spores oblong-elliptical o subglobose 2. E. fulva G. H. Cunn. Spores suballantoid 3. E. galzini Bres. * Latin descriptions were kindly prepared by Miss Beryl Hooton, Librarian of the Plant Diseases Division.] Epithele nikau sp. nov. Text-fig. 3 Hymenophorum annuum, membranaceum, adnatum, effusum., superficie alba deinde cremea, velutina, non rimosa. Contextus albus, 25-70μ crassus. Hypharum systema dimiticum; hyphae skeletales 3-3.5μ diam; lumine capillari, aseptatae; hyphae generatoriae 2-2.5μ diam. nodulosae. Basidia cucurbitaeformiora, 24-30 × 8-10μ. Fasciculi hypharum skeletalium ex strato infimo exorti, subulati, 150-205 × 30-50μ. Sporae clavato-naviculares, 12-16 × 5-6. 5μ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. Hymenophore annual, membranous, adnate, effused, forming irregular areas to 15 × 5 cm, with numerous irregularly orbicular outlying islands; surface white, becoming cream, velutinate under a lens, even, not creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, adnate. Context white, 25-70μ thick, basal layer of parallel skeletal hyphae, occupying about half the context, intermediate layer

Text-Fig. 3.—Transverse section of Epithele nikau, X 500 Original. scanty, of branched hyphae mainly ascending, and embedding masses of crystals which may be absent; skeletal hyphae 3-3.5μ diameter, lumen capillary, hyaline, scantily branched, aseptate; generative hyphae 2-2.5μ diameter, walls 0.25μ thick, hyaline, branched, septate, with clamp connexions. Hymenial layer to 30μ deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses interrupted by the erumpent fascicles. Basidia at first cylindrical, becoming somewhat cucurbitiform with inflated bases, 24-30 × 8-10μ, 4-spored, projecting; sterigmata stout, arcuate, to 12μ long. Paraphyses subclavate or as often elliptical, to 20 × 10μ. Fascicles arising from the basal layer, projecting for the greater part of their length, 8-10 per mm, subulate with broad bases and bluntly acuminate or rounded apices, 150-205 × 30-50μ, composed of 50-110 skeletal hyphae sometimes tapering, where exposed coated with fine crystals and in old specimens often enmeshed in irregular hyphal sheaths Spores clavate-naviculate, apices bluntly rounded, bases apiculate, 12-16 × 5-6.5μ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2μ thick; often adhering in fours. Distribution: New Zealand. Habitat: Effused on dead pendent and fallen stipes. Rhopalostylis sapida (Sol.) Wendl. & Drude. Auckland. Orewa, January, 1949, P. M. Ambler. Glen Esk Valley, Piha, May, 1951, April, 1953, J. M. Dingley. Cascades, Waitakeres, 600ft, April, 1954, S. D. Baker, type collection, P. D. D. Herbarium, No. 14244. Huia, January, 1955, J. M. Dingley.

Both the basal layer and fascicles are composed of skeletal hyphae. Fascicles are coated exteriorly with fine crystals, and as the hyphae are firmly compacted, simulate cystidia of the radicate section of Peniophora. The resemblance is enhanced in that fascicles of old specimens become enmeshed in hyphal sheaths. They are fascicles, nevertheless, since when mounted singly, crushed under a coverslip, and crystals removed, they are seen to be composed of numerous thickwalled skeletal hyphae, with many in the interior tapering gradually to their apices. Basidia are at first cylindrical, but as sterigmata elongate, they become somewhat cucurbitiform, with inflated bases. Spores are naviculate or clavatenaviculate. Their bases are attenuated and after spores are shed often collapse near the point of attachment and expand into a small bulb. Spores frequently adhere in pairs or fours following discharge from the basidia. In shape they resemble somewhat those of E. typhae and E. interrupta. The species appears to be confined to one host, sole representative of the family Palmeae in New Zealand. The specific name is taken from the Maori name of the host, nikau. 2 Epithele fulva sp. nov. Text-Fig. 4. Hymenophorum annuum, membranaceum, adnatum, effusum; superficie primo alba deinde fulva, velutina, non rimosa. Contextus cremeus, ad 250μ crassus. Hypharum systema monomiticum; hyphae generatoriae 3-6μ diam., hyalinae, septatae, nodulosae. Basidia cylindricalia, basi attenuata, 25-35 × 6-8μ. Gloeocystidia cylindricalia, moniliformia, 60-110 × 5-6μ. Fasciculati hypharum generatoriarum ex strato infimo exorti, subulati, 200-500 × 30-100μ. Sporae late ellipticae vel obovatae, 10-12 × 5-7μ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. Hymenophore annual, membranous, adnate, effused forming irregular areas 5-15 × 1-5 cm; surface at first white, becoming pallid ochre, then fulvous, velutinate, not creviced; margin thinning out, arachnoid, concolorous, adnate. Context cream, to 250μ thick (excluding fascicles), basal layer composed of a few repent hyphae, intermediate layer well developed, of ascending hyphae somewhat loosely arranged, more freely branched beneath the hymenium, generative hyphae 3-6μ diameter, walls 0.5μ thick, hyaline, branched, septate, with clamp connexions. Hymenial layer to 30μ deep, a loose palisade of basidia and paraphyses interrupted by the fascicles. Basidia cylindrical with bases abruptly narrowed, 25-35 × 6-8μ, 4-spored; sterigmata arcuate, 6-8μ long. Paraphyses clavate, of the same diameter but shorter than the basidia. Gloeocystidia arising from the base of the hymenial layer when projecting, and in the context, cylindrical, moniliform, 60-110 × 5-6μ, scanty, staining blue. Fascicles arising from the basal layer and projecting for the greater part of their length, 5-20 per mm, subulate, 200-500μ long, 30-100μ diameter, formed from 10-100 hyphae compactly arranged, each tapering, aseptate, walls 1μ thick, naked or with occasional crystals. Spores commonly broadly elliptical or obovate, 10-12 × 5-7μ, or less frequently subglobose or globose, when 7-9μ diameter, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5μ thick, staining deeply, copious. Distribution: New Zealand. Habitat: Effused usually on decorticated rotting wood, rarely on bark. Beilschmiedia tawa (A. Cunn.) Hook. f. & Benth. Auckland. Claudelands Reserve, Hamilton, 200ft, November, 1946, G. H. C. Fuchsia excorticata L.f. Westland. Waiho, 600ft, November, 1954, J. M. Dingley. Nothofagus cliffortioides (Hook. f.) Oerst. Auckland Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu, 3,000ft, October, 1949, J. M. Dingley.

Nothopanax colensoi (Hook. f.) Seem. Taranaki. Mt. Egmont, 2,500ft, March, 1951, J. M. Dingley. Schefflera digitata Forst. Taranaki. Dawson Falls, Mt. Egmont, 2,300ft, January, 1953, J. M. Dingley, type collection, P. D. D. herbarium, No. 14245. Westland. Waiho, 600ft, November, 1954, J. M. Dingley. Weinmannia racemosa L.f. Westland. Lake Mapouriki, November, 1946, J. M. Dingley. Fascicles may be scattered or so crowded that the surface appears strigose. They may be slender and composed of a few hyphae, or more often consist of numerous hyphae compacted into dense tufts. Hyphae of which they are constructed are modified generative hyphae. each tapering from base to apex, aseptate save near the base, and with walls thickened to 1μ. Gloeocystidia may be scanty or relatively abundant. Commonly moniliform, sometimes strikingly so, they arise from hyphae of the intermediate layer and stain deeply with aniline blue. Tissues of the hymenial layer collapse as soon as spores are shed, consequently its structure can be ascertained only by examination of sections taken from the periphery of actively growing specimens. Spores are copiously produced so that in sections fascicles and the hymenial surface are seen to be coated with them. They vary appreciably in shape and size and walls stain deeply with aniline blue. Basidia are cylindrical with Text-Fig. 4—Transverse section of Epithele fulva, X 500 Original

abruptly attenuated bases. The species favours decorticated much decayed branches lying upon the forest floor in moist localities. 9. Epithele galzini Bresadola, in Bourdot & Galzin, Bulletin de la Societe Mycologique de France, 27, 264, 1911. Text-fig. 5. Hymenophore annual, membranous, adnate, forming orbicular or linear maculiform areas 2-15 mm across, sometimes fused to form linear areas to 12 cm long; surface white, velutinate, minutely areolately creviced; margin thinning out, concolorous, arachnoid, adnate. Context white, 10-30μ thick, basal layer of a few repent hyphae firmly cemented together, intermediate layer of mainly upright hyphae more freely branched beneath the hymenium, pseudoparenchymatous when old; generative hyphae 2.5-3μ diameter, walls 0.2μ thick, hyaline, branched, freely septate, with clamp connexions. Hymenial layer to 30μ deep, a close palisade of basidia and paraphyses interrupted by fascicles. Basidia subclavate. 12-18 × 5-6μ, 2-4-spored; sterigmata arcuate, slender, to 6μ long. Paraphyses similar to but narrower than the basidia. Fascicles arising from the basal layer and projecting for the greater part of their length, 8-10 per mm, cylindrical with penicillate apices, 90-130 × 12-25μ; composed of 20-40 thinwalled sparsely septate hyphae closely arranged, sometimes branched near their apices. Spores suballantoid, with bluntly acuminate bases, 7-9 × 3-3.5μ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.2μ thick; often adhering in pairs or fours. Text-Fig. 5.—Transverse section of Epithele galzini, X 500. Spores X 1000. Original. Type Locality: Aveyron. France. Distribution: France, New Zealand. Habitat: Effused on stipes of tree-ferns and bracken.

Blechnum capense (L.) Schlecht. Auckland. Te Araroa, 600ft, May, 1952, G. H. C. Blechnum filiforme (A. Cunn.) Ettingsh. Wellington. Lake Papaetonga, 50ft, September, 1953, G. H. C. Cyathea dealbata (Forst. f.) Swartz. Auckland. Huia, January, 1955, J. M. Dingley. Wellington. Lake Papaetonga, 50ft, August, 1952, G. H. C. Cyathea medullaris (Forst. f) Swartz Auckland. Lake Okataina, 1,400ft, May, 1952, G. H. C. Te Araroa, 650ft, May, 1952, G. H. C. Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 1,500ft, June, 1952, G. H. C. Wellington. Pohangina Reserve, 200ft, December, 1952, G. H. C. Bruce's Reserve, Hunterville, 400ft, September, 1953, G. H. C. Lake Papaetonga, 50ft, September, 1953, G. H. C. Dicksonia squarrosa (Forst. f.) Swartz. Auckland. Camel's Back, Coromandel Peninsula, October, 1954, J. M. Dingley. Wellington. Pohangina Reserve, 200ft, September, 1953, G. H. C. Hemitelia smithii Hook. Wellington. Blyth Track, Ohakune, 2,500ft, January, 1954, S. D. Baker. Otago. Horse Shoe Bay, Stewart Island, February, 1954, J. M. Dingley. Pteridium esculentum (Col.) Ckn. Auckland. Earthquake Flat, Rotorua, 1,500ft, June, 1952, G. H. C. Fascicles are delicate, readily fractured, cylindrical with penicillate apices, and composed of compact, thin-walled generative hyphae sometimes sparsely branched near their apices. Spores are suballantoid with acuminate bases, and frequently adhere in pairs or fours. In actively growing specimens the context is composed of the usual two tissues; shortly tissues become compacted, and pseudoparenchymatous so that details of structure can be ascertained only near the growing periphery. New Zealand collections agree with a specimen examined in Kew herbarium ex “Aveyron, France, herb. Bourdot, No. 8053” The species is apparently confined to dead stipes of ferns both in France and New Zealand, in the latter region being associated with Corticium filicinum Bourd., C. confusum Bourd & Galz., and Peniophora vermicularis Wakef. 10. Mycobonia Patouillard, Bulletin de la Societe Mycologique de France, 10, 77, 1894. Bonia Pat., Bull. Soc. Myc. Fr., 8, 48, 1892, non Balansa. Grandinioides Banker, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club, 12, 179, 1906. Hymenophore pileate, annual or perennial, membranous or coriaceous, applanate or disciform. Context composed of a basal layer of parallel hyphae and an intermediate layer of ascending compacted hyphae; hyphal system monomitic (always?), generative hyphae hyaline, branched, septate, with clamp connexions. Hymenial layer a palisade of basidia and paraphyses pierced by the projecting fascicles. Basidia subclavate, 4-spored. Fascicles arising from the basal layer, traversing the context and projecting, composed of hyaline hyphae. Spores variously shaped, smooth, hyaline. Type Species: Mycobonia flava (Swartz ex Berk.) Pat. (= Hydnum flavum (Swartz) Berk.). Distribution: North and South America, West Indies, Borneo (?), New Zealand. Bonia Pat. was erected upon the type B. papyrina Pat., and under it Patouillard suggested Hydnum flavum (Swartz) Berk, should be placed. As it was preoccupied, Patouillard created Mycobonia with Hydnum flavum as type species.

The genus contains about three, or possibly four species, the sole New Zealand representative being endemic, growing upon an endemic host. Species resemble those of Epithele in possessing hyaline fascicles, but differ in that fructifications are pileate. In M. flava (Swartz) Pat. and M. winkleri Bres. fructifications are large and conchate or flabelliform, whereas in M. disciformis they are minute and disciform. Fascicles in M. flava arise from the basal layer, and form a parallel series, as in Epithele; but in M. disciformis develop from near the point of attachment and extend radiately through context and hymenium. 1. Mycobonia disciformis sp. nov. Text-fig. 6 Hymenophorum disciforme vel pezizaeforme, solitarium vel in 3-5 congregatum, annuum, membranaceum, 1-6 mm diam, extra tomentosum, superficie hymenii cremea vel pallide sulphurea, velutina, non rimosa. Contextus 300-800μ crassus, albus. Hypharum systema monomiticum; hyphae generatoriae 2-2 5μ diam., hyalinae, septatae, nodulosae. Basidia subclavata, 40-56 × 7-9μ Fasciculi hypharum generatoriarum crystallis congregatis inclusis, ex strato infimo exorti, aculeati, 150-900 × 16-30μ. Sporae oblongae, obovatae vel subglobosae, 7-13 × 6-8μ, parietibus levibus, hyalinis. Hymenophore disciform or pezizaeform, solitary or in small groups of 3-5, attached by a small central base, annual, membranous, 1-6 mm diameter, orbicular or irregularly so, exterior dark brown, or fuscus, densely tomentose Text-Fig. 6—Mycobonia disciformis (a) Habit sketches of fructifications, X 15. (b) Spores, showing range in shapes, X 500. (c) Transverse section of the hymenium, X 500. Original.

with delicate fuscous hyphae; hymenial surface cream or pallid sulphur-yellow, velutinate, not creviced; margin slightly raised, or not, tomentose, concolorous. Context 300-800μ thick, white, becoming dingy when old, basal layer of densely compacted parallel hyphae, intermediate layer of vertical compacted hyphae radiately arranged, pierced by the fascicles, becoming pseudoparenchymatous when old; generative hyphae. 2-2.5μ diameter, walls 0.2μ thick, hyaline, branched, septate, with clamp connexions. Hymenial layer to 70μ deep, a dense palisade of basidia, paraphyses and paraphysate hyphae. Basidia subclavate, 40-56 × 7-9μ, 4-spored; sterigmata slender, slightly arcuate, to 8μ long. Paraphyses of the same length but narrower than the basidia. Paraphysate hyphae 2μ diameter, slightly projecting, mostly peripheral, sometimes once or twice branched at apices. Fascicles arising from the basal layer, traversing the context and projecting to 130μ, 20-30 per mm, aculeate, 150-900μ long, 16-30μ diameter, apices long-acuminate, of cemented hyphae embedding masses of crystals often placed obliquely. Spores oblong, obovate or subglobose, apiculate, 7-13 × 6-8μ, walls smooth, hyaline, 0.5μ thick. Distribution: New Zealand. Habitat: Scattered or gregarious on bark of living trunks. Rhopalostylis sapida (Sol.) Wendl. & Drude. Auckland. Sharp's Bush, Henderson Valley, April, 1952, S. D. Baker, type collection, P. D. D. herbarium, No. 11491. Huia, March, October, 1953, J. M. Dingley. Atkinson Park, Titirangi, 900ft. June, 1953, J. M. Dingley. Mountain Road, Henderson, 700ft, March, 1954, J. M. Dingley. Cascades, Waitakeres, 700ft, April, 1954, S. D. Baker. Whangapoua Saddle, Coromandel Peninsula, 1,000ft, August, 1954, J. M. Dingley Camel's Back, Coromandel Peninsula, 1,000ft, October, 1954, J. M. Dingley. Characterized by the small fructifications and peculiar fascicles. Fructifications may be disciform or pezizaeform and range in diameter from one to six mm. The surface is pallid sulphur-yellow and densely velutinate with projecting fascicles, in this feature simulating some delicate Hydnum. Fascicles arise in the basal layer, mostly from the region of the point of attachment, and extend radiately through context and hymenium. They appear as highly refractive bands on account of the masses of embedded crystals which are often arranged obliquely. Generative hyphae of the context are delicate, crowded vertically, and soon collapsed to form a pseudoparenchyma. Spores vary from elliptic-oblong or obovate, the common condition, to subglobose, and are strongly apiculate. G. H. Cunningham, C. B.E., D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.S. Plant Diseases Division, Private Bag, Auckland.