Smut fungi of New Zealand: An introduction, and list of recorded species

An overview of the smut fungi (Basidiomycota) is presented as an introducti on towards a new smut mycoflora for New Zealand. Many of the New Zealand sm uts have undergone taxonomic re-evaluation in the last two or three years. All species recorded from New Zealand are listed, together with details on their host plants, a reference to the first New Zealand record of each uniq ue smut/host combination, and a separate alphabetical list of host plants a nd the smut fungi that parasitise them. A total of 94 smut species are reco rded from New Zealand, distributed within 24 genera. Most smuts (60%) are i ntroduced. There are few examples of introduced species attacking native ho st plants, or of indigenous smuts parasitising exotic hosts. Six smut speci es are recorded in New Zealand for the first time, and 12 new host records are listed for smut fungi previously recorded in New Zealand. The endemic s mut fungus Sorosporium neillii is better accommodated in the genus Tolyposp orium and the appropriate recombination is made.