New Zealand Fungi and Lichens

11008-12406 'Golden basket fungus (Clathrus chrysomycelinus)' the use of this name in NZ is probably incorrect - both the common and scientific names describe a larger fungus from Brazil, whereas this grows only 10cm in diameter and is probably an undescribed and extremely rare endemic species, yet to be adequately named. It starts as an egg which expands with fluid, until the growing fruit-body bursts free and unfolds. The gleba are restricted to the orange junctions on the lattice-work of the basket. Spores are dispersed by flies feeding on the gleba. This fungus is known only from two locations in the North Island of New Zealand, both in tawa forest. Whakamarama *