Torrendiella eucalypti

Appearance

Extremely small fruiting bodies from 0.1 to 1mm starting as yellow and becoming paler to cream by maturity. The mature fruit resembles a broad 'tack' with a slightly depressed cap. The cap margin has dark 'hairs' resembling eyelashes.

Naming

"Beaton and Weste (1977) and Johnston and Gamundí (2000) regarded T. eucalypti as an Acacia-specialised species. Despite its epithet, the type specimen of T. eucalypti is on Acacia phyllodes (Dennis 1958)."

Torrendiella species reported from Australasia, southern South America and China were found to be phylogenetically distinct and have been recombined in the newly proposed genus Hymenotorrendiella. The Hymenotorrendiella species are distinguished morphologically from Rutstroemia in having a Hymenoscyphus-type rather than Sclerotinia-type ascus apex.

Distribution

Wet forested areas with acacia species in south-eastern Australia.

Status

Least concern

Habitat

Among acacia leaf litter in damp woodland areas