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Go to the NZFungi website for more indepth information on Aleurodiscus mirabilis. Aleurodiscus mirabilis

Synonyms

Aleurodiscus peradeniae
Psilopezia mirabilis
Corticium peradeniae

Biostatus

Present in region - Indigenous. Non endemic

Article: Cunningham, G.H. (1963). The Thelephoraceae of Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Bulletin 145: 359 p. Wellington:.
Description: Hymenophore annual, membranous, at first pateriform or cupulate and attached by a small base, when orbicular and 1-3 mm diameter, becoming laterally connate and then extending to 4 x 0.5 cm; exterior white and tomentose; margin slightly raised, tomentose, entire, white; hymenial surface farinose, white, then cream, finally pallid ochre, at length creviced. Context white, 0.3-0.5 mm thick, of parallel compact hyphae radiately arranged, many spinose, embedding crystals; surface tomentum of flexuous hyphae bearing acuminate sometimes hooked spines, and of acanthophyses similar to those of the hymenial layer; generative hyphae 3-5 µm diameter, walls 0.5 µm thick, with clamp connections. Acanthophyses of two types (1) cylindrical, 4-6 µm diameter, densely covered with short blunt spines, arising from the base of the subhymenium, (2) narrow, geniculated and bearing long spines often hooked, and present also in the context. Gloeocystidia abundant or scanty, arising from the base of the subhymenium, penetrating to different levels, fusiform, subclavate, or flexuous cylindrical, 70-120 x 9-14 µm. Hymenial layer to 180 µm deep, a loose palisade of basidia, paraphyses, acanthophyses, and gloeocystidia. Basidia clavate, 80-160 x 16-24 µm, bearing 2-4 spores; sterigmata slightly acuuate, subulate, to 24 µm long. Paraphyses subclavate, 65-80 x 9-12 µm; both basidia and paraphyses sometimes bearing groups of spines near bases. Spores commonly citriform or D-shaped, when usually biapiculate, or obovate when apiculi are lateral or basal, 24-28 x 14-16 µm, walls finely closely verruculose, hyaline, 0.75-1 µm thick, amyloid.

Habitat: HABITAT: Scattered or connate on bark of dead branches.

Distribution: DISTRIBUTION: East and West Indies, South America, Africa, Ceylon, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand.

Notes: Pilei are at first small and orbicular, with margins plane or with edges slightly raised. Shortly they become connate, then forming linear areas. Each colony is apparent, nevertheless, and indicated by crevices where merging has occurred, and by points of attachment. Acanthophyses are of two types, one being similar to those of A. ochraceo-flavus, with densely arranged blunt spines crowded upon a cylindrical body; the second is composed of flexuous hyphae, bearing acuminate, often hooked large spines at intervals, often at bends. Both are crowded in the hymenial layer, form the tomentum of the exterior, and the second type occurs also in the context, sometimes almost replacing normal hyphae in the basal region. Spores are commonly D-shaped, with apical and basal apiculi. Others may be obovate with a basal apiculus often obliquely inserted, or obovate-elliptical with one side slightly flattened. Walls of spores are covered with closely arranged aculeae. Bases of a few basidia and paraphyses bear spines or irregular angular projections. Gloeocystidia are abundant and arise in the base of the subhymenium and superficial layers of the context; they extend to the hymenium, appearing at different levels therein, some penetrating to the surface. Most synonyms are given on the authority of Rogers & Jackson (1943, p. 267); others as a result of examination of authentic specimens. One collection from New Zealand, ex "Crows Nest, Kaiwarra" was in Kew herbarium filed under the cover of Stereum ochroleucum Fr. Three, ex "Colenso b258, b590 and b729" were placed under the cover of Aleurodiscus oakesii (B. & C.) Cke.