A clustered, wood-inhabiting mushroom native to New Zealand that grows on living and dead hardwoods, both parasitically and saprotrophically, and can cause heart rot. The buff cap is darker at the centre, and the partial veil leaves a prominent ring that is often striped with dark brown spore deposit. It is edible, with a meaty, savoury taste, and has been grown on inoculated logs.
Edible, with a meaty, savoury taste; Maori traditionally ate it. Do not confuse it with the more orange Gymnopilus junonius (more orange, with a rusty-orange spore print) or other clustered wood mushrooms; confirm the dark brown spore deposit on the ring.
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Parasitic and saprotrophic on hardwoods, including tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa), Hoheria and Plagianthus, and also on Nothofagus, birches and poplars; not associated with conifers. Fruits mostly in late summer and autumn.
Distribution
Australasia, mainly New Zealand, where it is native and probably indigenous, and Australia; fruits November to June.
Characteristics
Cap: buff, darker at the centre. Gills: pinkish becoming dark brown, covered when young by a partial veil. Stem: pale, with white flesh and a prominent ring often striated with dark brown spore deposit. Spores: cylindrical, thick-walled, with a prominent germ pore. Spore print: dark brown. Habit: usually clustered, sometimes single, on wood.
