The Polyporaceae of New Zealand. By G. H. Cunningham, Mycologist, Department of Agriculture, Wellington, New Zealand. [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 16th March, 1927; received by Editor, 21st June and 21st August, 1927; issued separately, 18th October, 1927.] (Plates 21–24.) Under the sub-class Hymenomycetes of the Basidiomycetes occur a natural group of Fungi (the Polyporaceae) characterised in that the hymenium lines hollow tubes or pits on the (usually) ventral surface of the fructification. But as to whether this group constitutes an order, family or tribe of the Hymenomycetes, no unanimity of opinion exists. A brief outline of several of the classifications published, will illustrate these differences of opinions held by different Mycologists. The first definite classification published on the group was that of Fries (15), in which the known Polypores of that period were arranged in sequence. This work was established as the starting-point of modern nomenclature in the Hymenomycetes, at the Nomenclature Conference, held at Brussels in 1910. Papers published prior to 1821, are therefore only of historical interest, so need not be further referred to. Fries in 1821 (15, vol. 1) divided the Polyporaceae into two genera, Daedalea and Polyporus. The latter was again divided into the three sub-genera Favolus, Microporus and Polysticta; and each sub-genus was further subdivided into the following five tribes: Mesopus—pileus centrally stipitate. Pleuropus—pileus laterally stipitate. Merisma—pilei imbricated, laterally stipitate and branched. Apus—pilei dimidiate sessile or effused. Resupinatus—resupinate forms. On the consistency of the tubes, each tribe was further split into the sections Carnosi, Sub-carnosi, Suberois, Sub-suberosi, etc. In 1828 (16, p. 44) Fries recognized Favolus as a distinct genus. In 1836 (17) he separated the genus Trametes from Daedalea as a distinct genus and recognized Cyclomyces and Hexagonia as valid genera. In 1838 (18) he further subdivided the sessile species on the nature of the upper surface of the pileus and longevity of the plant into:— Anodermei—without cuticle, fleshy, annual. Placodermei—hard crust, perennial. Inodermei—thin fibrous cuticle, biennial. In 1851 (19) he divided the genus Polyporus into three sub-genera: Eupolyporus—annual, fleshy, tough species. Fomes—perennial species with stratose tubes. Poria—resupinate forms.