182 FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. [Fungi. 



and then variously tinted with red-brown, slightly rugose, sometimes zoned, imiato-fibrillose. Very rarely the whole 

 pileus is rufous. Stem, none, but occasionally the vertex is slightly elongated. Teeth flat, elongated, often toothed. 

 — The pileus is marked very much after the fashion of Polyporus molliusculus. I cannot point out any species to 

 which it has a close affinity. 



Gen. XIV. THELEPHORA, Fries. 



Hymenium sabinferum, cum pileo anodermeo fibroso-contexto connatum, costato-striatum papillosumve, 

 carnoso-lentum, nigrescens, dernum flocculoso-collabens. 



The large groups of Fungi, characterized generally by the absence of any distinct folds or teeth, and their more 

 or less coriaceous or fibrous, substance, formerly associated under the common name of TkelepJiora, have been broken 

 up into three principal genera : the first, Thelephora, comprising those which exhibit obscure folds and granulations 

 on their hymenium, and having no distinct cuticle; the second, Stereum, those which have a cuticle combined with 

 a coriaceous texture, and even hymenium ; and the third, Corticium, those which are of a more fleshy, moist texture. 

 The resupinate species are sometimes with difficulty assigned to their proper place, but the three divisions are cer- 

 tainly natural. They occur in all parts of 'the world, abounding in temperate climates, though a few are subtro- 

 pical species. (Name from Orjfcq, a pap, and <f>epm, I bear.) 



1. Thelephora vaga, Berk. ; resupinata, rnycelio repente byssoideo subreticulato, hymenio pulverulento 

 isabellino. 



Hab. On dead wood; Sinclair. 



Mycelium creeping widely over the wood, in the form of arachnoid, somewhat reticulated, byssoid strings. 

 Hymenium pulverulent, but not setulose, pale clay-coloured. — Eesembling somewhat Corticium velutinum, but differ- 

 ing in colour and structure. 



2. Thelephora pedicellata, Schwein. in Schrift. d. Nat. t. 2.f. 3. 

 Hab. On bark amongst moss, Colenso ; Bay of Islands, J. D. II. 



This very curious species resembles some of the puzzling anamorphoses of Lichens, which are constantly trans- 

 mitted as Fungi. I have not seen authentic specimens of Schweinitz' plant, but the New Zealand fungus accords so 

 exactly with the figure and description, that I have no doubt about its identity. 



Gen. XV. STEREUM, Fries. 



Hymenium definite terrain spectans, coriaceum, sat crassum, cum strato intermedio pilei dermatini con- 

 cretum, lseve, semper immutatum et contiguum, persistens. 



The finer species of this genus are mostly tropical, but some of the commoner forms, as Stereum Mrsutum, occur 

 m every latitude. Several have the hymenium velvety, with short bristly hairs. These form a distinct group, and 

 are separated generically by Leveille, under the name of Leptockate. (Name from crrepeos, stiff.) 



1. Stereum Sowerbeii, Berk. — Helvella pannosa, Sow. 1. 155. 

 • Hab. On the ground, Colenso. 



This species occurs also in Van Diemen's Land. I have authentic specimens of the plant of Sowerby, and have 

 found the species myself, and can positively assert that the hymenium is not setulose, as expressed in Persoon's 

 figure, and described by Fries. The species, in fact, approaches near to Stereum elegans, and differs in having a dull 

 not shining pileus, which is more or less marked with raised lines, and. is often proliferous at the margin. I see no 

 difference between the European and New Zealand specimens : in both, the stem is sometimes central, but frequently 

 lateral or merismoid. The figure in Sowerby gives no notion of the colour, which, instead of being dull, exhibits 

 bright shades of red-brown. I have no authentic specimen of the plant of Fries, but his cannot be the same with 

 that of Sowerby. 



