Hypoxylon

Description:

Small spherical, tough skinned fungi which grows in loose clusters on downed eucalyptus timber.

Habitat:

In a tall eucalyptus rain forest national park.

Notes:

"Hypoxylon fuscum is a Northern Hemisphere species, which our local species closely resembles. It grows on bark or dead branches as purple brown cushions about 6 mm across, with tiny mounds (perithecia, 0.3 mm) on the surface, from which the spores are released. The cushions can merge into colonies. It is thought to infect live trees, then appear on the wood after it has been killed by the fungus" - Bill Leithhead
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/dee6f86d-b...