Two newly described polypores from Australasia and southern South America

Abstract

Two new multipileate species of Postia (Polyporaceae, Basidiomycotina) are described. Postia brunnea sp. nov. is characterised by a compound fruit-body with imbricate pilei, a brown, dark umbrinous upper pileus surface, hyphal walls that partially dissolve in KOH, and ellipsoid (somewhat pip- or D-shaped) spores with slightly thickened walls. The species has been found in New Zealand and Australia, on decaying logs of Eucalyptus, Libocedrus, Metrosideros and Nothofagus species, and has been confused with Ryvardenia campyla (Berk.) Rajchenb. Grifola rosularis (G.Cunn.) G.Cunn. is recognised as a synonym of R. campyla. Postia punctata sp. nov. is characterised by white, imbricate pilei with a rugose-tuberculate pileus surface and ellipsoid, thin-walled spores. It usually has 'water-soaked' spots on the pileus surface. This species is known from standing or fallen logs of Nothofagus and Eucalyptus species in southern Argentina, Chile and Tasmania.