Report on the Basidiomycete fungi (PDF File, 5.1 - Landcare Research

Database <strong>Report</strong> 1 

Cook Island Basidiomycete(+) Collections 

Jerry Cooper, July 2011 

Agaricus 

Several species of Agaricus are reported from Hawaii and Papua 

New Guinea but there are surprisingly few published records of 

Agaricus in the south and none for the Cook Islands. Further 

field notes are required to identify Agaricus collections 

adequately, especially any changes in colour (red/yellow) and 

smell of fresh fruitbodies (oily/aniseed). 

Agaricus spp. 

Material examined: RR/111, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, 

Rarotonga, Col.: L. Dagenais, 17/12/2004. RR/094b, Site: 

Tūpapa, Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, G. McCormak, 04/12/2004. 

RR/111 

Arcyria – the genus belongs to the cellular lime moulds. They are 

studied by mycologists, but actually are actually protists (in a 

broad sense). They spend most of their life cycle as a 

multinucleate plasmodium which ingests bacteria and other 

particles. The fungus-like forms are the fruiting structures. The 

group is relatively small in number (compared to the Kingdom 

fungi at least) and many species are widely distributed across 

the world. See also Hemitrichia, Lycogala and Stemonitis, later 

in this list. 

Arcyria incarnata 

Material examined: RR/070, on/with Cecropia, rotten wood, Site: 

Takitumu Conservation Area, Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, 

01/12/2004. 

Notes: This is a very widely distributed species. 

RR/070 

Bolbitius -A member of the Bolbitaceae along with common genera like 

Conocybe and Agrocybe. Three species of Bolbitus have been recorded from 

Hawaii and none from the other islands. 

Bolbitius c.f. reticulatus 

Material Examined: RR/323, Site: southern end cross-island walk, modified 

forest, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 17/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap 12-20 mm. Stem without caulocystidia. Cap hymeniderm, without 

cystidia . Spores very pale and with germ pore. Broad vesiculose cheilo and 

pleurocystidia seen, but not easy to observe. In this material it isn’t clear if 

the basidia are 2 or 4 spored. Spore length µ=9.0 µm, σ=0.4, width µ=5.3, 

σ=0.3, Q µ=1.7, σ=0.1, n=9. Not B. coprophilus as the spores are too small. 

This is much closer to non-veined forms of B. reticulatus (e.g. sensu Kuo 

MushroomExpert.com) 

RR/323 

RR/323 

RR/323:cystidia and spores 

09/07/11

2 

Calocera – This is a member of the Dacrymycetales, a group of 

jelly fungi possessing basidia which look like tuning forks. 

Historically many species of Calocera and Dacrymyces with small 

morphological differences. It remains to be seen if these historical 

distinctions hold up to molecular scrutiny. C. cornea, furcata, 

fusca and glossoides have been reported from the islands 

Database <strong>Report</strong> 

Calocera cornea 

Material Examined: RR/049, on/with Fitchia, wood, Site: 


23/11/2004. RR/632, dead wood, Site: Ikurangi, Rarotonga, 

Col.: P.R. Johnston, 04/07/2005. RR/053, wood, Site: Takitumu 

Conservation Area, Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, 25/11/2004. 

Notes: This is Calocera cornea sensu lato. The fungus is growing 

on angiosperm wood. The spores are 1-septate 8.3 x 3.9 and 

slightly constricted. Thick walled dendrohyphidia are present. 

RR/053 is different in having a white basal tomentum. The 

species has been recorded previously in Papua New Guinea. 

RR/049 

RR/049 Spores 

RR/632 

09/07/11 

RR/632 

RR/632 

RR/053 

Campanella - Species are commonly encountered in the tropics. Seven or eight 

species have been recorded from the Pacific Islands C. alba, boninense, 

candida, cucullata, eberhardtii, junghuhnii, sarasinii and simulans. 

Campanella RR/033 

Material Examined: RR/033, wood, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, 

Rarotonga, Col.: L. Dagenais, 22/11/2004. 

Notes: The blue colour seems to be a property of the fungus and not an external 

stain. The cap is gelatinised, with embedded crystals (in Melzers). Cystidia 

are present and are thin-walled. This falls into Singer's section aeruginea. 

Spores were not found in this material and further identification was not 

possible.


Campanella c.f. candida 

Material Examined: RR/365, fallen wood, Site: Te Kou track, 

disturbed forest near bottom, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 

19/01/2005. RR/097, branches, Site: Takitumu Conservation 

Area, Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, 10/12/2004. RR/527, fallen 

twigs, Site: Raemaru Track, below summit, Rarotonga, Col.: 

P.R. Johnston, 28/06/2005. RR/324, on/with coconut, husk of 

fallen nut, Site: southern end cross-island walk, modified forest, 

Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 17/01/2005. RR/333, fallen 

wood, Site: Raemaru Tr, unofficial alternative route up valley, 

modified forest, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 18/01/2005. 

Notes: The gills of this taxon dry a pale orange colour. The cap 

tissue has embedded rhomboidal crystals and the tissue is 

strongly gelatinised. The surface hyphae have a ramealis 

structure. The gills have encrusted metuloid cystidia, where the 

encrustation also consist of rhomboidal crystals. Hyphal ‘hairs’ 

are also present on the gills. The basidia are 2-spored, and the 

discharged spores frequently stick together. The spores are 

mostly regular in outline, 10-10.5 x 6-6.5um, ellipsoid, 

cyanophilous and collapsing. All hyphae are clamped. 

This taxon is in the group with C. diplocystis and C. aequitorialis. 

The Cook Island collections are clearly characterised by 2spored 

basidia, large ellipsoid spores and encrusted metuloid 

cystidia. Seven or eight species are known to occur in the 

islands and they are all 4-spored except two. C. alba, collected 

in Hawaii is described as having 2-4 spored basidia but has 

nearly triangular spores. C. candida is described as 2-spored. 

This species was described from Fiji in 1909 and not collected 

subsequently. The spores of C. candida were described as 

subglobose and 4-5um but Singer questioned the veracity of 

these measurements but did not examine the type (Singer R, 

The Laschia Complex, Lloydia, v8, p170, 1945). Singer also 

noted the similarity of C. candida to C. simulans, which also 

has cystidia but is 4-spored. C. simulans var. bispora described 

from India, and subsequently recorded from Madagascar, is 2spored 

and possesses thick-walled cystidia but without 

encrustation. There is a very strong possibility this Cook Island 

material is C. candida, re-discovered after 102 years. The type 

would need to be examined for confirmation of spore size. 

RR/333 

RR/333 

RR/333 

RR/333: cystidia and spores 

RR/365 

09/07/11

4 Database <strong>Report</strong> 

RR/097 

RR/097 

RR/097 

RR/097: metuloid, encrusted cystidia (in cotton blue) 

09/07/11 

RR/097: spores (in cotton blue) 

RR/527 

RR/527 

RR/527 

RR/324: ramealis cap surface


RR/324:cystidia and basidia 

RR/324:cystidia and spores 

Chaetocalathus - Closely related to the centrally stipitate 

Crinipellis. Two species of Chaetocalathus are known in the 

islands. C. columellifer has been reported from Fiji (under the 

name Lentinus gibbsiae). It has a central columella and thin walled 

dextrinoid cap hairs which are forked. 

Chaetocalathus liliputianus 

Material Examined: RR/526, fallen twigs, Site: Raemaru Track, 

near 'unofficial' end, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 

28/06/2005. RR/436, decorticated wood, Site: Barringtonia 

remnant, on coast between Avarua and Matavera, Rarotonga, 

Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: P.R. Johnston, 23/01/2005. 

Notes: the cap hairs are dextrinoid (but only if not pre-treated 

with KOH). The cheilocystidia are dextrinoid, crystal encrusted, 

occasionally forked. The spores are thin-walled, collapsing, 

often stuck together. 

RR/526 

RR/526 

RR/526 

RR/526: dextrinoid cap hairs 

RR/526: cystidia and spores 

Clitocybula – a genus possessing subglobose amyloid spores. Sequence analysis 

of some species place them in Moncalvo’s /hydropid clade, along with 

Gerronea, Megacollybia and Hydropus. There is circumstantial evidence to 

suggest this group has its stronghold in the southern hemisphere and the tropics, 

although Clitocybula has not previously been recorded from the islands. 

c.f. Clitocybula RR/023 

Material examined: RR/023, cocunut shell, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, 

Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, 18/11/2004. 

Notes: The spores are amyloid and the rest of tissue inamyloid. Cap partially 

gelatinised, and with oleiferous hyphae. Gills slightly decurrent and not 

forked. This has a Xeromphalina-appearance with a strong basal tomentum 

but without the colour of Xeromphalina. The stem apex has cylindrical 

caulocystidia, stem hyphae thick-walled, clamped. Spores length µ=5.6 µm, 

σ=0.2, width=µ=4.7, σ=0.4, Q µ=1.2, σ=0.1, n=7. Most described 

Clitocybula appear to be grey/fawn and not white and with a striate cap. The 

assignment of this collection to Clitocybula is speculative and probably 

incorrect. 

09/07/11


RR/023 

RR/023 

RR/023:cauloocystidia (Melzers) 

RR/023:stem hphae 

RR/023:cheilocystidia and spores (Melzers) 

09/07/11 

RR/023:cap surface. 

Clitocybula RR/458 

Material examined: RR/458, fallen wood, Site: side of track to Avana water 

intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 25/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap 30-50 mm, a cutis with pale brown vesicles (characteristically 

hydropoid-like), no encrusting pigment. Thick-walled hyphae not seen in 

cap. Oleiferous hyphae present. Hyphae clamped. Mainly 4, but some 2spored. 

No cheilocystidia. Spores length µ=7.6 µm, σ=0.5, width µ=6.8 µm, 

σ=0.5, Q µ=1.1, σ=0.1, n=11. This is Singer's 

leucopaxilleae/clitocybula/subgenus clitocybula. Not radially 

fibrillose/striate/lacerate like most described species (this is not C. laccerata, 

or C. abundans). 

RR/458 

RR/458


RR/458 

7 

RR/458 

RR/458:spores, cap (hydropid) vesicles and basidia 

Conocybe – another member of the bolbitaceae along with 

Bolbitius and Agrocybe. At least 13 names have been recorded 

from the islands, and 5 from the Cook Islands: C. apala, crispella, 

terasporoides, vinaceobrunnea (type from the Cook Islands), and 

zyelandica. However many older use of Conocybe names must be 

treated with caution. Historical records of the often cited C. 

siliginea for example may represent any number of species. 

Conocybe RR/099+ 

Material examined: RR/099, lawn, Site: Tūpapa, Rarotonga, Col.: 

G. McCormak, 11/12/2004. RR/001, lawn, Site: Tūpapa, 

Rarotonga, Col.: G. McCormak, 11/11/2004. 

Notes: Stipe not radicant. No caulocystidia and no pilocystidia. 

Cap with just spherical cells. Caulocystidia rare and only hairlike 

- section Pilosellae. Cheilocystidia not lecythiform. 2spored, 

length µ=12.3 µm, σ=0.4, width µ=8.9 µm, σ=0.4, Q 

µ=1.4, σ=0.1, n=11. RR/099 has quite a number of giant arrowhead 

shaped spores. The cylindrical, rather than lecythiform 

cheilocystidia make this species difficult to assign to obvious 

candidates such as C. rickenii. 

RR/001 

RR/001 

RR/001 

RR/001:basidia, cheilocystidia, pleurocystidia and spores 

Coprinellus/Coprinopsis – historically lumped into a larger and clearly 

heterogeneous concept of Coprinus. <strong>Report</strong>ed from the islands are Coprinellus 

curtus, disseminatus, domesticus, micaceous, pellucidus, plagioporus, radians, 

truncorum, verrucispermus, Coprinopsis candidolanata, cinerea, cothurnata, 

extinctoria, fibrillosa, friesii, lagopu, myceliocephala, picacea, radiata, 

sclerotiorum, sejuncta, stercorea, urticicola var. hawaiiensis, verticillata, 

villosa. None previously reported from the Cook Islands. See also Parasola in 

this list 

Coprinellus RR/085+ 

Material examined: RR/085, on/with Hernandia, wood, Site: Takitumu 

Conservation Area, Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, 03/12/2004. RR/084, on/with 

Fagraea, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, Rarotonga, Col.: L. Dagenais, 

02/12/2004. 

Notes: Cap to 2 cm, pale grey. Gills and spores dried dark chocolate brown. 

Cap not radially grooved, fibrous. Stem with basal profuse cream tomentum. 

Gills not free, not mottled, no chrysocystidia. Cap cellular, with setules. 

Spores not thin-walled, pleurocystidia absent. Coprinellus sect setulosi or 

Psathyrella? With germ pore. Stipe glabrous. Cap with pale tan clamped 

hairs, not capitates (like C. curtus). See also record of P. c.f. inquinata? Not. 

C. disseminatus. 

09/07/11


RR/085 

RR/085:spores (KOH) 

RR/085:top: cap hairs, bottom: cheilocystidia 

Coprinellus aff. disseminatus 

Material examined: RR/406, fallen wood, Site: Te Manga Track, 

forest below summit ridges, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 

Det.: P.R. Johnston, 21/01/2005. RR/407, dead wood, Site: Te 

Manga Track, disturbed forest near base, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. 

Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 21/01/2005. RR/059, on/with 

Hernandia, wood, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, 


Notes: Pilocystidia with cylindrical neck. Cap sphaerocysts not 

seen (but material dried badly). None of the material was 

appropriate to examine the veilar material properly. Spores 

appear to have a hyaline cap, which would make this not C. 

disseminatus. Caulocystidia like cap. Stem tissue slightly 

dextrinoid. Base of stem with coarse ozonium. Spores brown in 

melzers. length µ=9.0 µm, σ=0.7, width µ=4.4 µm, σ=0.4, Q 

µ=2.1, σ=0.2, n=13. 

09/07/11 

RR/406 

RR/407 

RR/407 

RR/407:pilocystidia and spores


RR/059 

Coprinopsis aff. macrocephala 

Material examined: RR/454 on lawn, Site: Fruits of Rarotonga, 

Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 25/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap 10-25 mm, veil filamentous, clamped, 4-spored. Pore 

apical. Spore length µ=15.4 µm, σ=1.0, width µ=9.5 µm, 

σ=0.4, Q µ=1.6, σ=0.1, n=12. C. macrocephalus is not a lawn 

species and the spores do not show the lateral constriction and 

caps are less cylindrical when young. This is also different to 

the NZ collections labelled C. macrocephalus which also aren’t 

C. macrocephalus sensu stricto. 

RR/454:veil. 

RR/454 

Coprinopsis urticicola var. hawaiiensis 

Material examined: RR/524, fallen wood, Site: Raemaru Track, below summit, 

Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 28/06/2005. 

Notes: Young caps powdery white, white scales moving apart to reveal darker 

beneath with age, mature caps with ring of white hyphae at base of stipe. 

When fresh caps up to about 18 mm. Veil filamentous, diverticulate, no 

setules. 4-spored. length µ=8.3 µm, σ=0.3, width µ=6.5 µm, σ=0.4, Q µ=1.3, 

σ=0.1, n=10. Germ pore broad, 2um. First record other than Hawai’i – if 

correctly identified. 

RR/524 

RR/524 

09/07/11


plasmatic content in KOH. On dried material the gill edge is noticeably bright 

apricot. 

RR/524 

RR/524 

RR/524 

RR/524:veil 

Crepidotus – 28 names have been used for Crepidotus species 

across the islands although many are early names applied to 

material without recent investigation. None previously reported 

from the Cook Islands. 

Crepidotus RR/046 

Material examined: RR/046, on/with Fitchia, wood, Site: 


23/11/2004. 

Notes: Cap to 3cm, Spores subglobose, ornamented, lightly 

guttiform length µ=5.8 µm, σ=0.3, width µ=4.8 µm, σ=0.3, Q 

µ=1.2, σ=0.1, n=20, 4- spored. Hyphae clamped. No stipe. 

With dense tomentum near point of attachment. Terminal cap 

hyphae not differentiated, not coloured, not encrusted. 

Cheilocystidia cylindrical, without crystals. Seems close to C. 

mutabilis but paler capped. Cheilocystidia have a yellow 

09/07/11 

RR/046:cheilocystidia (KOH) 

RR/046:cap surface 

RR/046: spores 

Crepidotus aureus 

Material examined: RR/334, fallen wood, Site: Raemaru Tr, unofficial 

alternatier route up valley, modified forest, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 

Det.: J.A. Cooper, 18/01/2005. RR/606, fallen twigs, Site: Cross Island walk, 

northern end, before stream, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 30/06/2005. 

RR/554, fallen twigs, Site: Raemaru Track, near 'unofficial' end, Rarotonga,


Col.: P.R. Johnston, 28/06/2005. RR/554, fallen twigs, Site: 

Raemaru Track, near 'unofficial' end, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. 

Johnston, 28/06/2005. 

11 

Notes: Cap up to 12 mm diam., with very short substipe, cap 

finely hairy, tomentose toward point of attachment. Hyphae 

clamped, spores rough, spherical 6.5-8um. Cap hairs about 5um 

in diameter and thick walled (unlike NZ C. parietalis). This has 

thick-walled crystal encrusted cystidia, but the crystals are 

fragile and spread easily in a squash. 2-3-4 spored, not 

mentioned in Egon Horak’s description of C. aureus but this 

appears identical in every other respect. C. stromaticus sensu 

Hemes recorded from Hawaii is sulphur yellow whereas the 

type from Australia is described as tan. No descriptions of C. 

stromaticus mention crystal encrusted cystidia of the C. 

episphaeria group. The recently described C. flavus has 

cheilocystidia that are fusoid to lageniform. 

RR/334 

RR/334 

RR/334 

RR/334 

RR/334:cheilocystidia 

RR/606 

RR/554 

RR/554 

09/07/11


RR/554:upper left: cap hyphae. Right spores; lower 

cheilocystidia. 

Crepidotus c.f. mollis 

Material examined: RR/440, bark of fallen wood, Site: 

Barringtonia remnant, on coast between Avarua and Matavera, 

Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 23/01/2005. RR/003, bark, Site: 


15/11/2004. 

Notes: Cap 10-30 mm. Cap gelatinised. Gills with cylindrical 

cheilocystidia (not observed in RR/033), hyphae unclamped, 4spored, 

smooth, ellipsoid, length µ=7.0 µm, σ=0.4, width µ=5.0 

µm, σ=0.3, Q µ=1.4, σ=0.1, n=20 

RR/440 

RR/440 

RR/440 

09/07/11 

RR/003 

RR/003 

RR/003:cap hyphae 

Cyathus – Bird’s Nest fungi, along with Nidularia. 15 names of Cyathus are 

recorded from the islands, none from the Cook Islands. 

Cyathus triplex 

RR/462, on/with Inocarpus fagifer, fallen nut husk, Site: side of track to Avana 

water intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 25/01/2005. 

Notes: Peridioles to 1.8mm. Wall consisting of two layers. Peridiole with 

silvery coating. Cups with coarse spreading hairs. Not plicate. Spores way too 

big for C. pallidus, length µ=17.2 µm, σ=0.5, width µ=10.3 µm, σ=0.5, Q 

µ=1.7, σ=0.1, n=10. The very thick walled spores of this collection are closer 

to C. crassimurus than C. triplex but the clear double wall of the peridiole 

make this C. triplex. It is worth noting that that collections labelled C. 

crassimurus and C. triplex come out together in trees. Possibly there are too 

many names for the number of real taxa in this group. This probably in the C 

striatum group. 

RR/462


RR/462:double layer of peridium 

RR/462:spores 

Cyptotrama - is a genus with few described species. Cyptotrama 

asprata, costesii and granulosa are known from the islands. C. 

costesii has an olivaceous colour which is plasmatic, and C. 

granulosa cinnamon coloured and appears to be known only from 

the original record from Easter Island. None recorded from the 

Cook Islands. 

Cyptotrama asprata 

Material examined: RR/079, wood, Site: Takitumu Conservation 

Area, Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, 02/12/2004. JAC11837, 

(RR/553), fallen wood, Site: Raemaru Track, near 'unofficial' 

end, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 28/06/2005. 

Notes: Cap to 8mm diam., top yellow, gills white, stalk yellow 

RR/079 

RR/079 

c.f. Delicatula 

Material examined: RR/063, on/with Weinmannia, wood, Site: Takitumu 


Notes: cap to 5mm diam. and cap inverting on drying. Cap a ramealis cutis, not 

gelatinised, clamped. Spores amyloid. Stem base dextrinoid? Stem with short 

cylindrical cystidia. Stem insiticious. Gill edge concolorous. Spores small, 

length µ=5.0 µm, σ=0.4, width µ=2.9 µm, σ=0.3, Q µ=1.7, σ=0.2, n=7. Hard 

to know if a veil was present or not. This has the jizz of a Delicatula rather 

than Mycena (and like an amyloid spored version of Gloiocephala) but is 

probably something else. Note that Singer indicated that there are many 

tropical Mycenas looking like Delicatula but without veil. The gill cystidia 

here are Gloiocephala-like. 

RR/063 

RR/063:caulocystidia 

RR/063:gill cystidia and spores (melzers) 

RR/063:cap 

Galerina – This genus currently covers a wide range of morphology, substrates 

and associations and will no doubt eventually be split into quite a number of 

monophyletic fragments. Nine names for Galerina species occur in the literature 

from Hawaii, none from the Cook Islands. 

Galerina aff. marginata 

RR/104, wood, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, Rarotonga, Col.: L. 

Dagenais, 13/12/2004. 

09/07/11

14 

Notes: Pleuro & cheilocystidia with yellow/brown content. 

Cheilocystidia with extended neck, not tibiiform. Pleurocystidia 

utriform/cylindrical. Hyphae clamped. Stem not pruinose with 

caulocystidia. Stem with fibrillose ring. 4-spored. Spores 

without epispore but with plage. G. marginata complex see 

Myc Res 105, p432. 


RR/104 

RR/104:cheilo & pleurocystidia (KOH) 

RR/104:spores 

Galerina aff. nana 

Material examined: RR/048, coconut husk, Site: Takitumu 


RR/022, Doubtful record, wood, Site: Takitumu Conservation 

Area, Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, 18/11/2004. RR/321, on/with 

coconut, husk of fallen nut, Site: southern end cross-island 

walk, modified forest, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: 

J.A. Cooper, 17/01/2005. RR/068, wood, Site: Takitumu 


Notes: Cap to 25mm diam., often with central nipple (RR/022 

may represent a different taxon). Hyphae clamped. 

Cheilocystidia not tibiform. Pleurocystidia present. Stem not 

pruinouse with caulocystidia. 4- spored. Stem without a ring 

zone. Cystidia appear to be thick-walled, but without crystals. 

Spores with epispore and plage. 

09/07/11 

RR/048 

RR/048:pleurocystidium and spores 

RR/022 

RR/022


thick-walled hyphae, brown amorphous material and occasional rhomboid 

crystals. 

RR/022 

RR/321 

Geastrum – Earthstars. Over 28 names of Geastrum species have 

been recorded in the islands. Geastrum harotii and G. 

subiculosum previously recorded from the Cook Islands. 

Geastrum subiculosum 

Material examined: RR/076, on/with Hernandia, Site: Takitumu 


Notes: Sessile, peristome fimbriate, growing on wood(?) and with 

subiculum. G. hariotii has a tubular sulcate peristome. Spores 

minutely rough, so not this is not G. subiculosum sensu Dennis 

(Fungi Venezuala), but seems to match with other descriptions. 

Note the existing image on the Cook Islands site is very 

unlikley to be G. subiculosum. 

RR/076 

Gerronema – none previously reported from the islands. A 

member of Moncalvo’s /hydropoid clade, along with Clitocybula 

Gerronema RR/356+ 

Material examined: RR/356, dead wood, Site: Te Kou track, 

forest below summit, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. 

Cooper, 19/01/2005. RR/571, on/with Hibiscus, fallen twigs, 

Site: Cross Island walk, northern end, before stream, Rarotonga, 

Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 30/06/2005. 

Notes: Gills arcuate. Gills with vesiculose thin-walled 

cheilocystidiaa and oleiferous hyphae. 4-spored. Cap 

gelatinised, with brown plasmatic terminal elements, some 

RR/356 

RR/356 

RR/356 

RR/356:cheilocystidia and spores 

09/07/11


P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 22/01/2005. RR/473, litter and twigs, Site: 

side of track to Avana water intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. 

Cooper, 25/01/2005. 

RR/356:vesicles in cap tissue. Lower: section through surface 


RR/571 

RR/571:gill trama 

RR/571:cap squash 

RR/356:lower: section through cap. Gill edge, & spores 

Gerronema RR/424+ 

Material examined: RR/424, bark of fallen wood, Site: Turangi 

Stream, track between road and water intake, Rarotonga, Col.: 

09/07/11 

Notes: Cap to 12mm. Hymenium seems to be covered in small amorphous 

granules. No tissue amyloid or dextrinoid or cyanophilous. Clamped. Cap a 

smooth ungelatatinsed cutis, without ormamentation, with a few erect cystidia. 

No hydropoid vesiculose pigmented elements. No pleurocystidia, cheilocystidia 

cylindrical, no caulocystidia. 4-spored, Spores appear to be stubbornly glued 

together in masses. Trama with occasional rhomboid crystals. Material nearly 

sterile. Stipe with restricted but distinct basal tomentum. 

RR/424 

RR/424:Cheilocystidia. inset section through cap. 

RR/473 

RR/473


RR/473 

RR/473:glued spores 

Gloiocephala – Gloiocephala epiphylla has been recorded from 

Hawaii and New Caledonia, and G. tenuicrinita from PNG. None 

recorded from the Cook Islands. 

Gloiocephala RR/469 

Material examined: RR/469, decorticated wood, Site: side of 

track to Avana water intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 

Det.: J.A. Cooper, 25/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap to 8 mm; common at this site. Cap cystidia common 

and obvious. No tissue amyloid or dextrinoid. Gill cystidia like 

cap but fewer (perhaps?). spores length µ=14.1 µm, σ=0.7, 

width µ=5.0 µm, σ=0.4, Q 2.9, σ=0.2, n=9. This has the 

appearance of a Resinomycena but the spores are inamyloid. 

RR/469 

RR/469 

RR/469:cystidia 

RR/469:caulocystidia and spores. 

Gloiocephala RR/332+ 

Material examined: RR/332, fallen wood, Site: Raemaru Tr, unofficial 

alternative route up valley, modified forest, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 

Det.: J.A. Cooper, 18/01/2005. RR/415, dead wood, Site: Turangi Stream, 

track between road and water intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: 

J.A. Cooper, 22/01/2005. RR/338, fallen wood, Site: Raemaru Tr, unofficial 

alternativr route up valley, modified forest, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 

Det.: J.A. Cooper, 18/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap to12 mm; Material dries pale tan. Gills decurrent. Stipe insiticious. 

Stem weakly dextrinoid, otherwise no reaction with tissue or spores. 

Gloiocephala-cystidia present on stem and rarely on gill edge (if at all?). No 

evidence of cap ornamentation. Clamps not seen. Spores not amyloid. 4spored 

length µ=15.9 µm, σ=1.1, width µ=5.2 µm, σ=0.4, Q µ=3.1, σ=0.3, 

n=8; length µ=14.5 µm, σ=1.5, width µ=5.6 µm, σ=0.5, Q µ=2.6, σ=0.2, 

n=16. 

RR/332 

09/07/11


RR/332 

RR/332 

RR/332:basidia and cheilocystidium 

RR/332:spores 

09/07/11 

RR/415 


RR/415:spores 

RR/338 

RR/338 

RR/338


RR/447 

Glomus – A member of the Glomeromycota which form 

arbuscular mycorrhizas with many plants. Commonly known as 

pea-truffles. 

Glomus macrocarpum 

Material examined: RR/373, soil, Site: Te Kou track, forest below 

summit, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 19/01/2005. 

RR/373 

RR/373 

RR/373:chlamydospores 

Gymnopilus -11 names used for records across the islands, none 

from the Cook Islands. 

Gymnopilus aff. liquiriiae 

Material examined: RR/447, fallen tree, Site: Cross Island walk, 

northern end, before stream, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 

Det.: J.A. Cooper, 24/01/2005. 

Notes: Up to 70 mm diam., tough woody stalk, no ring, bright 

orange-brown cap and gills. Spores > 7um, dextrinoid, 

(definitely). Without pleurocystidia or caulocystidia. Not G. 

subtropica, differences in many characters, and too robust for 

G. austropicreus. From Smith this would rather come to G. 

echinulisporus but cystidia different. Spores echinulate, without 

plage, length µ=7.3 µm, σ=0.4, width µ=4.9 µm, σ=0.3, Q 

µ=1.5, σ=0.0, n=12. 

RR/447 

RR/447: upper spores in water, lower in melzers. Basidium and cheilocystidia. 

Hemitrichia – Genus of slime moulds. See Arcyria 

Hemitrichia calyculata 

Material examined: RR/081, rotten wood, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, 


Hohenbuehelia – a genus with hyphal structure exuding drops of toxin 

poisonous to nematodes. There are numerous described species which appear to 

be very close morphologically. 

Hohenbuehelia RR/423+ 

Material examined: RR/423, bark of fallen wood, Site: Turangi Stream, track 

between road and water intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. 

Cooper, 22/01/2005. RR/374, dead wood, Site: Te Kou track, forest below 

summit, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 19/01/2005. 

RR/550, fallen twigs, Site: Raemaru Track, below summit, Rarotonga, Col.: 

P.R. Johnston, 28/06/2005. RR/558, fallen wood, Site: Raemaru Track, below 

summit, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 28/06/2005. 

Notes: 10-15 mm. This taxon seems to be distinctive in being quite frequently 

pinkish. Cap hoof-shaped, to 10mm, tomentose near point of attachment, 

gelatinous. Tomentose hairs are mainly gloeosphex. Gill cystidia of broad 

thin-walled vesiculouse, gloeosphex, and metuloid encrusted. spores length 

µ=6.1 µm, σ=0.4, width µ=3.5 µm, σ=0.3, Q µ=1.7, σ=0.1, n=4; length µ=6.4 

µm, σ=0.3, width µ=3.5 µm, σ=0.3, Q µ=1.9, σ=0.2, n=3. This is close to H. 

cyphelliformis auct NZFUNGI. 

09/07/11


RR/423 

RR/423 

RR/423 

RR/374 

RR/374:cap tomentum 

09/07/11 

RR/374:cystidia 

RR/550 

RR/550 

RR/550 

RR/550


R/550:gloeopshex, metuloid cystidia and spores (melzers) 

RR/558 

RR/558 

Hymenochaete – 38 names appear in the Pacific Island 

mycological literature. 

Hymenochaete attenuata 


Area, Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, 25/11/2004. 

Notes: Setae length µ=60.7 µm, σ=4.6, width µ=7.4 µm, σ=0.8, 

n=4m. No dendrohyphidia seen. Spores length µ=4.3 µm, 

σ=0.4, width µ=2.1 µm, σ=0.2, Q µ=2.1, σ=0.2, n=11. This the 

real H. attenuata, not sensu Cunningham. It has been recorded 

from Fiji and Hawaii. 

RR/061 

RR/061:setae and spores 

Hypholoma – Hypholoma boninense is described from the Bonin Islands, H. 

fasciculare recorded from Hawaii, and H. jaluitense described from the 

Marshall Islands. 

Hypholoma aff. fasciculare 

Material examined: RR/069, wood, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, 


Notes: A miniature H. fasciculare, not H. subviride. 

Hypholoma c.f. subviride 

Material examined: RR/446, base of dead standing tree, Site: Cross Island 

walk, northern end, before stream, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. 

Cooper, 24/01/2005. RR/115, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, Rarotonga, 

Col.: E. Saul, 20/12/2004. RR/115, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, 


Notes: Caps 10-20 mm. This is not H. fasciculare sensu auct Europe. It is 

smaller, with browner colours and closer to H. subviride and the NZ H. 

acutum (and a number of other names for small, sometimes papillate taxa, 

e.g. H. papillatum Mexico). See also 'Psilocybe' fasciculare var. armeniacus, 

Fuhrer's Hypholoma sp. and also H. confusum, and a number of collections by 

Horak e.g. ZT0626. Sequences of H. fasciulare/subviride show variability in 

the latter and sufficiently distance from H. fasciculare to be considered a 

separate species and not a variety. Note that H. subviride is described as 

sulphur yellow capped, which is not Pegler’s (Borneo) concept. 

09/07/11


Lentinus – a characteristic taxon of the tropics. 48 names have been used in the 

Pacfic fungal literature. None recorded from the Cook Islands. 

RR/446 

RR/446 

RR/446 

09/07/11 

Lentinus sajor-caju 

Material examined: RR/034, wood, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, 


Notes: Cap to 3cm diam., top white with deep hollow, gills white. Gills dried 

tan. Without lamellulae. Gills decurrent. Cap a thick walled dimitic cutis, all 

hyphae becoming acuminate towards apex in all tissue (subgenus Lentinus). 

Gill edge not dentate. With obvious hyphal pegs under dissecting microscope, 

but not obvious in a slide mount. Cap edge is torn but not hairy. Despite lack 

of lamellulae this is obviously L. sajor-caju. 

RR/034 

RR/034 

Lenzites – one example of a polypore, which are by far the most commonly 

collected and referenced group of fungi in the Pacific. See also Microporus in 

this list. 

Lenzites acuta? 

Material examined:RR/052, branch, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, 


Notes: Cap to 5cm diam. Dimidiate, applanate. Context cream. Cap blackening 

in KOH. Pileus without erect hairs, smooth. Nearly sterile, just a few 

allantoid spores. (16 x 5um but unsure if correct spores). Only thick-walled 

hyphae seen. Clamps not seen. This is just one example of many collections 

of polypores from the trip. Identification is likley to be incorrect. The context 

is not brown which it would have to be for Hexagonia. See Antrodia 

malicola, Hexagonia tenuis, and Lenzites acutus (accepted by Mycobank as 

Daedalea flavida), which is described as very variable.


Marasmiellus – I am using this genus in a broad sense for those taxa wth no 

ornamented cystidia, without amyloid or dextrinoid reaction of tissue, with 

inamloid spores and usually without any ornamentation of the cap hyphae. Thus 

it is a catch-all for taxa not placed elsewhere but also probably not Marsmiellus 

sensu stricto. This group of ‘negative-character’ marasmioid fungi seems to be 

common in New Zealand at least, but with few described species. Some of the 

New Zealand taxa have long cap hairs. 16 names are recorded in the Pacfic, with 

Marasmiellus inoderma featuring across many islands. This species is 

considered edible in Africa. 

RR/052 

RR/052 

RR/052 

Lycogala – a slime mould – see Arcyria. 

Lycogala epidendrum 

Material examined: RR/375, dead wood, Site: Te Kou track, 


Det.: J.A. Cooper, 19/01/2005. 

Notes: pseudocapillitium 10um diam. Spores weakly reticulate 

8um diam. 

RR/375 

Marasmiellus inoderma 

Material examined: RR/366, dead fern frond, Site: Te Kou track, disturbed 

forest near bottom, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 

19/01/2005. RR/357, dead stem banana, Site: Te Kou track, disturbed forest 

near bottom, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 19/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap 25-50 mm, stem with orange basal pad. Material dried tan. Gills 

have darker band towards edge in dried material. Stem with thick-walled 

hyphae, slightly dextrinoid towards base. Rest of tissue not amyloid or 

dextrinoid. Clamped. Cap a gelatinised cutis, without ornamentation. With 

oleiferous hyphae in gill. Gill tissue not easy to separate. Cheilocystidia with 

relatively small number of discreet seulae. 4- spored. Spores length µ=9.0 

µm, σ=0.5, width µ=4.8 µm, σ=0.3, Q µ=1.9, σ=0.1, n=7 

RR/366 

RR/366 

RR/357 

09/07/11


RR/357 


Marasmiellus RR/467/468 

Material examined: RR/467/468, fallen wood, Site: side of track 

to Avana water intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: 

J.A. Cooper, 25/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap 18-30 mm. Coarse, brown hyphae at base of stipe; 

Hyphae clamped. Cap a broad entangled cutis, without 

ornamentation. 4-spored. With thick-walled hyphae. Stem not 

dextrinoid, with thick-walled hyphae. With simple hyphae-like 

caulocystidia. Spores few. Not sure what genus to put this in. 

Featureless. spores length µ=10.0 µm, σ=0.3, width µ=3.9 µm, 

σ=0.1, Q µ=2.5, σ=0.2, n=9 

RR/467/468 

09/07/11 

RR/467/468 

RR/467/468 

RR/467/468 

RR/467/468


RR/467/468 

RR/467/468:caulocystidia and spores 

Marasmiellus RR/082 



Notes: Cap to 4mm diam. Gills dried orange. Spores hyaline, 

inamyloid. Cap a rameales trichoderm. Gills arcuate. Clamped. 

Cheilocystidia, if present, basidiolar. Stipe pruinose. 4-spored. 

length µ=7.1 µm, σ=0.5, width µ=3.3 µm, σ=0.3, Q µ=2.1, 

σ=0.1, n=6 Not an appropriate genus, but what else? 

RR/082 

RR/082 

RR/082:main: section througb cap. Inset: basidium, spores 


Material examined: RR/418, dead wood, Site: Turangi Stream, track between 

road and water intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 

22/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap 3-4 mm, drying tan, with short eccentric stem. Stem dextrinoid, 

with lageniform monilioid caulocystidia. Cap and gills not dextrinoid, Spores 

inamyloid. Cap surface a disorganised cutis with long fine thick-walled nondextrinoid 

hairs. Cheilocystidia not seen. Clamped. Spores length µ=6.9 µm, 

σ=0.1, width µ=3.9 µm, σ=0.2, Q µ=1.8, σ=0.1, n=5. Superficially like M. 

aff. tenuissimus. 

RR/418 

RR/418 

RR/418:left: cap hairs. right caulocystidia and spores. 

09/07/11



Material examined: RR/340, on/with Dianella, dead leaves, Site: 

Raemaru Tr, Plateau at summit, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 

Det.: J.A. Cooper, 18/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap to 5 mm. No tissue amyloid or dextrinoid. 

Cheilocystidia strongly ramealis. Hyphae clamped. Stipe 

slightly eccentric. Cap a loose cutis with weak extra-cellular 

encrustation. Caulocystidia like cheilocystidia. Stem hyphae 

thick-walled. Spores length µ=7.7 µm, σ=0.4, width µ=4.3 µm, 

σ=0.2, Q µ=1.8, σ=0.1, n=8. Section dealbati-quercini? 

RR/340 


RR/340:cap hyphae 

RR/340:caulocystidia and spores 

09/07/11 

Marasmius – 96 names used in the Pacific literature, none in the Cook Islands. 

More searching would probably turn up names for the Cook Island species listed 

below. 

Marasmius RR/074 

Material examined: RR/074, on/with Homalium, wood, Site: Takitumu 

Conservation Area, Rarotonga, Col.: L. Dagenias, 01/12/2004. 

Notes: Cap to 12mm diam., brown ridges, margin lobed, centre depressed, gills 

brown. Stem tissue dextrinoid. Cap a zebra-encrusted clamped cutis. 4spored. 

Cheilocystidia basidiolar, brown encrusted. Gills arcuate. Spores 

inamyloid. Perhaps closer to Gymnopus (Micromphale)? See C. J. Bot. V70, 

1992, p532 

RR/074 

RR/074 


RR/074:cap surface



Marasmius aff. rotula 

Material examined: RR/437, litter and twigs, Site: Barringtonia 

remnant, on coast between Avarua and Matavera, Rarotonga, 

Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 23/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap 4-6 mm, gills forming a collar at the stem. Hyphae 

clamped. Cheilocystidia and cap rotalis. Spores length µ=9.2 

µm, σ=0.7, width µ=5.1 µm, σ=0.3, Q µ=1.8, σ=0.1, n=13. 

Marasmius section marasmius. Epithet should be rotalis. 

Perhaps a bit too pigmented for this sensu stricto. 

RR/437 

RR/437 

RR/437 

RR/437:upper: cheilocystidia. Lower: cap. 

Marasmius aff. tenuissimus 

Material examined: RR/522, fallen twigs, Site: Raemaru Track, near 'unofficial' 

end, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 28/06/2005. RR/337, 

fallen wood, Site: Raemaru Tr, unofficial alternative route up valley, 

modified forest, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 

18/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap thin, papery, 15-25 mm, cream-brown, fold-like gills white, short 

lateral stipe. Cheilocystidia siccus. Cap similar, brown. Cap a hymeniderm. 

Gill tissue dextrinoid. Cap a hymendiderm with rotalis cells - Hygrometrici or 

Singer's neosessiles (for Desjardin = sicci/leonini). Hyphae clamped. Spores 

length µ=9.0 µm, σ=0.4, width µ=5.6 µm, σ=0.4, Q 1.6, σ=0.1, n=12. Near 

Horak's M. unilamellatus and Singer's M. tenuissimus, M. spaniophyllus, M. 

sejunctus, M. neosessils. Pileus trama is not dextrinoid., leading to M. 

tenuissimus. For Antonin (Africa) this would have narrower spores and darker 

cap. For Desjardin it would be bigger, have non-marginate gills (like this 

material). The name is inavlid (non Schwein.) 

RR/522 

RR/522:upper spores and pilocystidia. lower cheilocystidia. 

09/07/11


RR/337 

RR/370 

RR/337 

RR/337:upper: cheilocystidia. Lower: cap; spores 

Marasmius 'atrorubentes series' RR/370 

Material examinedRR/370, fallen twigs, Site: Te Kou track, 


19/01/2005. 

Notes: All hyphal tissue dextrinoid. Cheilocystidia, pleurocystidia 

and cap siccus broom with fingers to 5um. Non-siccus 

pleurocystidia not seen, but siccus plentiful. No setae on gills or 

cap. 4-spored. Cap not hymeniderm (?). Stipe with basal 

mycelium mat. No collarium. Stipe pruinose with seta-like 

cystidia. Sect sicci ser atrorubentes? (but that generally with 

dark cap, rather than leonini). 

RR/370 

09/07/11 

RR/370:inset cheilo & pleuro siccus cystidia. Centre cap. Inset bottom right 

caulocystidia (x600 not x 1000) 

Marasmius RR/572+ 

Material examined: RR/572, on/with Angiopteris evecta, dead fronds, Site: 

Cross Island walk, northern end, before stream, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. 

Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 30/06/2005. RR/519, fallen twigs, Site: Raemaru 

Track, near 'unofficial' end, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. 

Cooper, 28/06/2005. RR/472, litter and twigs, Site: side of track to Avana 

water intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 25/01/2005. 

RR/369, fallen twigs, Site: Te Kou track, disturbed forest near bottom, 

Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 19/01/2005. RR/419, dead 

wood, Site: Turangi Stream, track between road and water intake, Rarotonga, 

Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 22/01/2005. RR/589, fallen wood, 

Site: Cross Island walk, northern end, before stream, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. 

Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 30/06/2005. RR/414, dead wood, Site: Turangi 

Stream, track between road and water intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 

Det.: J.A. Cooper, 22/01/2005. RR/351, dead fern fronds, Site: Te Kou track, 

disturbed forest near bottom, Rarotonga, Col.: G. McCormak, Det.: J.A. 

Cooper, 19/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap to 12mm diam., cap very pale brown, sulcate, gills white, widely 

spaced, decurrent, stem often darkening towards base. With brown resinous 

material on gill edge making it appear browner than gill face. Stem tissue 

strongly dextrinoid. Cap tissue dextrinoid, a finely diverticulate siccus 

hymeniderm. Hyphae clamped. cheilocystidia cylindrical, occasionally 

furcate. 4-spored, inamyloid. length µ=13.9 µm, σ=1.1, width µ=4.2 µm, 

σ=0.3, Q µ=3.4, σ=0.2, n=3. Spores length µ=14.4 µm, σ=0.8, width µ=5.0 

µm, σ=0.3, Q =2.9, σ=0.2) n=9 . It seems likely that a good name exists for 

this common species. 

RR/572 

RR/519


RR/472 

RR/472 

RR/369 

RR/369:cheilocystidia, spores, and cap 

RR/419 

RR/419 

RR/414 

RR/414:caulocystidia and inset cap surface 

RR/414:spores and cheilocystidia 

RR/351 

09/07/11


Marasmius RR/572+(Pink) 

Material examined: RR/416, dead wood, Site: Turangi Stream, 

track between road and water intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. 

Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 22/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap 8-12 mm. Dried tan. Gill edge brown with resin. Cap 

tissue weakly dextrinoid. Clamped 4-spored. Cap ornamented. 

No caulocystidia. Stem tissue dextrinoid, without caulocystidia. 

Spores length µ=13.3 µm, σ=1.1, width µ=4.7 µm, σ=0.2, Q 

µ=2.8, σ=0.3, n=6. Although pink this is identical to RR414 - 

but may be different to other RR/572’s?. 

RR/416 

RR/416:cap and spores 

RR/416:resin on gill edge and cheilocystidia 

Melanotus – 7 names used in the island literature all covered by 

Horak in his 1977 monograph of the group. None from the Cook 

Islands. M. bruchii, communis, distinctus, flavolivens, horizontalis, 

insidiosus (=hepatochrous), protractus of which M. flavolivens 

appears to have the broadest distribution. 

Melanotus aff. communis 

Material examined: RR/083, on/with Inocarpus, wood, Site: 

Takitumu Conservation Area, Rarotonga, Col.: L. Dagenais, 

Det.: J.A. Cooper, 02/12/2004. RR/355, on/with angiopteris, 

09/07/11 

dead fern fronds, Site: Te Kou track, disturbed forest near bottom, Rarotonga, 

Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 19/01/2005. RR/455, on/with 

Inocarpus, fallen nut husk, Site: side of track to Avana water intake, 

Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 25/01/2005. RR/354, 

on/with angiopteris, dead fern fronds, Site: Te Kou track, disturbed forest 

near bottom, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 19/01/2005. 

RR/590, on/with Angiopteris, dead frond, Site: Cross Island walk, northern 

end, before stream, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 30/06/2005. 

Notes: Laterally attached, shell-shaped, to 16mm diam., with short lateral stipe. 

Top grey to dark grey, gills grey/purple. Tissue exuding oil/resin drops into 

KOH. Cap a clamped partially gelatinised cutis. Spores smooth with germ 

pore, thick-walled. Without pleurocystidia. With sterile gill edge, 

cheilocystidia cylindrical (but sometimes rare). Has short white tomentose 

stipe. 4-spored. length µ=6.3 µm, σ=0.4, width µ=4.3 µm, σ=0.2, Q µ=1.4, 

σ=0.1, n=20. Spores length µ=6.7 µm, σ=0.4, width µ=4.3 µm, σ=0.4, Q 

µ=1.6, σ=0.1, n=15., These collections have the micro-morphology of M. 

communis described from PNG, but in this material the cap is strongly 

couloured grey/purple. 

RR/083 

RR/083 

RR/455


Notes: length µ=5.9 µm, σ=0.5, width µ=3.0 µm, σ=0.2, Q µ=2.0, σ=0.1, n=4. 

Pores circular, 7 per mm. Cap glabrous. Unclamped. Context cream. No dark 

line. 

RR/455 


RR/354 

RR/354 

Microporus – included as another example of a polypore 

Microporus RR/016 

Material examined: RR/016, Doubtful identification, on/with 

Albizia, bark, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, Rarotonga, 

Col.: E. Saul, 17/11/2004. JAC11900, (RR/014), Doubtful 

record, on/with Fitchia, bark, Site: Takitumu Conservation 


RR/016 

RR/016 

RR/014 

Mycena – 86 names used across the islands, including the luminescent M. 

noctilucens and M. chlorophos. None from the Cook Islands. 

Mycena RR/528+ 

Material examined: RR/528, on/with Albizzia, fallen twigs, Site: Raemaru 

Track, below summit, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 

28/06/2005. RR/368, fallen twigs, Site: Te Kou track, disturbed forest near 

bottom, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 19/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap-12 mm diam. Cream with purple brown scaly centre. Small 

radiating basal hyphal pad. Gills distant, in series of 2, gill edge concolorous. 

Gills arcuate. Stem without caulocystidia, brown (not sure if dextrinoid, or 

just brown). Cap a partially gelatinised cutis. Pigment brown plasmatic, 

vesicles not apparent, but thinner darkly pigmented hyphae numerous. 

Pleurocystidia with brown encrustation, but these more common to gill edge. 

4-spored. Spores amyloid (very finely ornamented?). Hymenium and central 

trama slightly dextrinoid. Spores length µ=10.7 µm, σ=0.7, width µ=4.1 µm, 

σ=0.4, Q µ=2.6, σ=0.2, n=13. Probably not an appropriate genus. 

09/07/11


RR/528 

RR/528:trama (melzers) 

RR/528:cap (inset detail at x1000) Melzers. 

RR/528:cheilocystidia and pleurocystidia 

RR/528:spores (melzers) 

09/07/11 

RR/368 

RR/368 

Mycena RR/328 

Material examined: RR/328, on/with coconut, husk of fallen nut, Site: southern 

end cross-island walk, modified forest, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: 

J.A. Cooper, 17/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap to 8 mm arising from a basal pad. Cap with ornamented elongate 

hyphae. This shows resemblance to NZ undescribed 'Perseverence Road 

(PDD87228)' and 'Rotokuru Lakes (PDD80841)'. Spores length µ=8.2 µm, 

σ=0.5, width µ=4.2 µm, σ=0.4, Q µ=2.0, σ=0.2, n=11 

RR/328


RR/328 

33 

RR/328:cap surface and spores 

Mycena RR/331 

Material examined: RR/331, on/with coconut, shell, Site: 

Raemaru Tr, unofficial alternativr route up valley, modified 

forest, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 

18/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap to 18 mm. Dried orange brown. Cap gelatinised with 

occasional pilocystidia. Cheilocystidia plentiful, cylindrical, 

collapsing. spores length µ=5.6 µm, σ=0.2, width µ=4.6 µm, 

σ=0.2, Q µ=1.2, σ=0.1, n=4 

RR/331 

RR/331 

RR/331:section through cap 

RR/331:spores, cheilocystidia 

Mycena 

Material examined: RR/470, litter and twigs, Site: side of track to Avana water 

intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: P.R. Johnston, 25/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap 3-7 mm. Gill edge frosty with cystidia. Cheilocystidia filamentous. 

Gill tissue not dextrinoid. Stem dextrinoid, without caulocystidia. Spores 

weakly amyloid. Cap a confused cutis with brown plasmatic content 

(hydropid?). Clamps not seen. Probably not a Mycena. 

RR/470 

RR/470 


09/07/11

34 

Oudemansiella (inc. Hymenopellis/Xerula). 4 names used across 

the Pacific with O. australis and canarii most commonly 

recorded. O. australis is now considered (Petersen 2010) to be a 

later synonym of O. apalosarcus and separate to O. canarii. 


Oudemansiella canarii 

Material examined: RR/045, on/with Hibiscus, Site: Takitumu 

Conservation Area, Rarotonga, Col.: L. Dagenais, 23/11/2004. 

RR/012, bark, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, Rarotonga, 

Col.: E. Saul, 17/11/2004. RR/116a, wood, Site: Takitumu 


Notes: Cap to 25mm diam, top white with grey centre, floccules, 

gills white. Gills dried orange. With large vesiculose cheilo & 

pleurocystidia, sometimes with small internal crystals. No 

tissue amyloid or dextrinoid. Spores massive, spherical. Gill 

with occasional thick-walled antler-like hyphae. Cap an ixocutis 

with a few thick-walled hairs, unclamped. Gills in rank of three. 

Trama parallel. 2-spored? Spores length µ=21.0 µm, σ=1.2, 

width µ=20.3 µm, σ=1.1, Q µ=1.0, σ=0.0, n=9. 

RR/045 

RR/045 


09/07/11 



RR/045:cap squash 

RR/045:section through cap surface


RR/045:gill section 

RR/045:gill trama 

RR/045:spores (Melzers) 

RR/012 

RR/012 

RR/116a 

Parasola auricoma 

Material examined: RR/471, stony soil, Site: side of track to Avana water 

intake, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 25/01/2005. 

Notes: Cap 10-12 mm. See Desjardin’s paper on Hawaii coprinoid taxa. spores 

length µ=9.6 µm, σ=0.4, width µ=7.5 µm, σ=0.3, Q µ=1.3, σ=0.1, n=5 

RR/471 

RR/471 

RR/471:cap hairs and spores 

09/07/11

36 

Phaeosolenia – P. densa and P. inconspicuosa recorded from the 

islands 


Phaeosolenia densa 

Material examined: RR/417, bark of fallen wood, Site: Turangi 

Stream, track between road and water intake, Rarotonga, Col.: 

P.R. Johnston, 22/01/2005. RR/433, fallen wood, Site: 

Barringtonia remnant, on coast between Avarua and Matavera, 

Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 23/01/2005. 

Notes: 0.8-1.5 mm cups. Disc pinkish brown brown, undersurface 

white furfuraceous. No subciulum. Hairs brown with white 

granules. Spores smooth, brown length µ=8.2 µm, σ=0.6, width 

µ=5.6 µm, σ=0.4, Q µ=1.5, σ=0.1, n=18 

RR/417 

RR/417:hairs, cystidia, basidium 

RR/417:spores 

RR/433 

09/07/11 

RR/433 

Pleurotus – 41 names appearing in the Pacific literature. Pleurotus australis 

recorded from the Cook Islands previously. 

Pleurotus RR/501 

Material examined: RR/501, fallen wood, Site: grounds of Atiu Villas, Atiu,, 

Col.: P.R. Johnston, 22/06/2005. 

Notes: Luminescent gills drying grey/orange. Cap tissue partially gelatinised. 

No tissue amyloid or dextrinoid. Spores clumping. With thick-walled hyphae. 

2-spored? (needs confirmation). Pleurotus lux a luminescent species was 

recorded from Tahiti in 1892 but there have been no recent collections or 

studies of this taxon that I could locate. Morphologically similar to P. 

australis. 

Pleurotus djamor 

Material examined: RR/088, on/with Cyclophyllum, bark, Site: Takitumu 

Conservation Area, Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, 03/12/2004. RR/040, wood, 

Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, 22/11/2004. 

RR/587, decort wood, Site: Cross Island walk, near Te Rua Manga, 

Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 30/06/2005. RR/449, fallen tree, Site: Cross 

Island walk, northern end, before stream, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 

Det.: J.A. Cooper, 24/01/2005. RR/551, bark of fallen wood, Site: Raemaru 

Track, below summit, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 28/06/2005. RR/310, 

wood, Site: track to Ikurangi, in disturbed agricultral area near bottom, 

Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 16/01/2005. RR/448, 

fallen tree, Site: Cross Island walk, northern end, before stream, Rarotonga,


Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. Cooper, 24/01/2005. RR/018, 

on/with Freycinetia, bark, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, 

Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, 17/11/2004. RR/024, wood, Site: 


18/11/2004. JAC11847, (RR/044), on/with Hibiscus, wood, 

Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, Rarotonga, Col.: L. 

Dagenais, 23/11/2004. RR/308, wood, Site: track to Ikurangi, 

just below the pines, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, Det.: J.A. 

Cooper, 16/01/2005. JAC11898, (RR/002), bark, Site: 


15/11/2004. RR/117a, wood, Site: Takitumu Conservation 

Area, Rarotonga, Col.: E. Saul, 20/12/2004. RR/086, on/with 

Hernandia, wood, Site: TCA, Rarotonga, Col.: Ed Saul, 

03/12/2004. RR/087, on/with Freycinetia, bark, Site: Takitumu 


RR/588, decort wood, Site: Cross Island walk, up slope towards 

Te Rua Manga, Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 30/06/2005. 

RR/557, fallen wood, Site: Raemaru Track, below summit, 

37 

Rarotonga, Col.: P.R. Johnston, 28/06/2005. 

RR/449 

Notes: Cap grey brown cap to 35mm (-80), gills decurrent, with 

lateral short substipe. Cap a thick-walled clamped cutis, with 

numerous thick-walled hyphae. Cap with brown fibrils with 

extra-cellular pigmentation (not dextrinoid), fibrillose layer 

partially gelatinised. Cheilocystidia cylindrical, not 

distinguished. Rarely with strangulated apices (gloeosphexlike?). 

Gill edge basidia collapsing. No tissue amyloid or 

dextrinoid. With thick-walled hyphae near gill edge. Sequences 

confirm the placement of this species in Pleurotus despite the 

thick-walled hyphae. 4-spored.length µ=7.4 µm, σ=0.6, width 

µ=3.6 µm, σ=0.2, Q (µ=2.1, σ=0.1, n=10 . This was by far the 

most commonly collected species in the Cook Islands – 17 

collections examined. 

RR/088:gill edge showing collapsed basidia/mucilage? 


RR/088:spoers and basidium 

RR/088:terminal elements of thick-walled hyphae in cap. 

RR/449 

RR/587 

RR/587 

09/07/11


RR/551 

RR/551 

RR/310 

RR/448 

09/07/11 

RR/448 

RR/024 

RR/024 

RR/308


RR/308 

RR/086:cap structure 

RR/086 

Pluteus – pink spored species, mainly on wood. 10 names across 

the Islands, none from the Cook Islands. 

Pluteus RR/080 

Material examined: RR/080, on/with Fitchia, wood, Site: 

Takitumu Conservation Area, Rarotonga, Col.: L. Dagenais, 

02/12/2004. 

Notes: Cap to 44mm diam., top grey, gills pink, stalk white. 

Section pluteus with non-differentiated cutis with occasional 

brown vesicles and thick-walled pronged cystidia. Cap 

grey/brown. Gill edge concolorous. This is none of the NZ 

species having these pronged cystidia. Clamped - but hard to 

see - needed to squash stem tissue. Singer's section 

trichoderma, subsection cervini, stirps subcervinus in the region 

of brunneodiscus/subcervinus. According to Singer related 

species are P. subcervinus, brunneodiscus, fibulatus, 

nigropallescens, mesosporus, shii (and brunneoradiatus?). See 

Justo Mycotaxon v102 for a discussion of the group. This is not 

one of the described ones. 

RR/080 

RR/080 


RR/080:pleurocystidia and cap vesicles 

Psathyrella – 12 names in the island literature 

Psathyrella RR/042 

RR/042, on/with Hibiscus, wood, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, 


Notes: Cap to 2cm diam., top cream to brown, gills brown. Cap surface a 

hymeniderm. Spores brown, smooth, no germ pore. No pleurocystidia. No 

chrysocystidia. length µ=9.3 µm, σ=0.4, width µ=5.9 µm, σ=0.2, Q µ=1.6, 

σ=0.1, n=10. 

RR/042 

RR/042 

09/07/11


Psilocybe – 13 names in the island literature. 

Psilocybe c.f. inquilina 



Notes: Cap to 1 cm diam., top brown, gills brown. Stem with 

cream basal hyphae. Cap a cutis. Spores purple/brown, no 

chrysocystidia. Spores length µ=7.4, µm σ=0.3, width µ=4.6 

µm, σ=0.3, Q µ=1.6, σ=0.1, n=18. Spores have pore-like 

thinning. Cheilocystidia very pale brown in KOH, spore wall < 

0.3um. No pleurocystidia. In the inquilina group. 

RR/004 


Stemonitis – a slime mould 

Stemonitis fusca 

RR/10, on/with Homalium, wood, Site: Takitumu Conservation 

Area, Rarotonga, Col.: L. Dagenais, 16/12/2004. 

RR/10 

Tremella – a jelly fungus. 27 names used across the islands. 

Tremella fuciformis 

RR/030, wood, Site: Takitumu Conservation Area, Rarotonga, 

Col.: L. Dagenais, 22/11/2004. 

Notes: One example of this often collected species. It is perhaps 

the most common and widely documented species across the 

islands 

09/07/11

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