Pileus (cap):

1-10cm across, convex, umbonate, then plane or depressed in the centre, pale lemon yellow when young and adorned with small purple to reddish-brown spine-like scales, maturing yellow-orange to orange and often losing red, purple and magenta tones, scales spreading further apart and sometimes flattening into tufted triangles with brownish edges.

 

Stipe (stem):

Stout, strong, fibrous, fairly equal in diameter, or bulbous, tapering sometimes sharply at the base, singular or fused in clusters, with or without remains of an annular zone or weak ring high towards the gills. Longitudinally furrowed, yellow, often lined with vertical brown, reddish-brown or magenta stripes, darkening purple or reddish towards the base, soft white remains of the veil at the base then ropes of white mycelium. Flesh inside pallid yellow, sometimes hollow near the top, not staining apart from a narrow layer of brown just beneath the outer surface, noticeable if the cap is cut off - the ring of flesh at the top of the stem quickly browns.

 

Lamellae (gills):

Quite close together, swollen in the midsection, sinuated or wavy behind, partly attached to and running down the stem (adnato-decurrent attachment), yellow, orange when mature, bruising dark brown or black.

 

Bruising and spore print:

If present, the white area at the base of the stem will show an obvious blue or greenish-blue reaction to gentle damage in minutes to an hour, as will any attached ropes of mycelium, or mycelium on substrate (usually small pieces of wood chip). Stems can stain subtle greyish green on the outside after damage. Other parts of the mushroom may have a blue or green reaction, however this can be subtle or very slow, taking up to 24 hours for cap flesh to blue. Most of the inside of the stem will not stain other than brown. The gills bruise brown or black.

Spores are orange, brownish-orange or rusty orange. Like most Gymnopilus, this species produces and ejects a lot of spores. Mushrooms may be coated and appear partially or completely orange, and spore prints are usually thick.

 

Distribution and habitat:

Found New Zealand wide, also present in Australia. Described from Sri Lanka.

Grows on woodchip in a mix of singular fruitbodies (mushrooms), smaller groups, and large, dense clusters, often fused at the base.

 

Odour and taste:

Smells strongly of fungus, tastes bitter.

​

Comments: According to Landcare Research we have a few records on wood chip with the same features as these, which match the DNA of Asian collections. The holotype is from Sri Lanka.

https://biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz/.../1cb18c2c-36b9...

 

Records on iNaturalist https://inaturalist.nz/observations?taxon_id=382511

 

Mycobank information https://www.mycobank.org/page/Name%20details%20page/210857