Anthracophyllum archeri

First described by Miles Joseph Berkeley in 1860 as Xerotus archeri,^[2] it was moved to the genus Anthracophyllum by David Pegler in 1965.^[3] The holotype was collected by Samuel N. Archer in Tasmania.^[4] The synonym Xerotus drummondii came about when Mordecai Cubitt Cooke described the species in the Handbook of Australian Fungi in 1892,^[5] which Pegler later stated to be synonymous with Anthracophyllum archeri in 1965,^[3] and reconfirmed in 1989.^[4]

Fruit bodies are rust coloured to dark red, and are fan shaped. They grow in groups on dead twigs.^[6] Caps are on average 3–20 mm (0.1–0.8 in) diameter.^[7][2] Horizontal caps are attached laterally to substrate and are sessile with a very small thickened stem like point. Shapes range from reniform to almost circular, convex,^[6] and almost symmetrical, deeply grooved radiating from point of attachment, following gill outline ^[7] Pileus is coloured creamy pale pink to reddish brown, and smooth, when young covered in scaly whitish dust.^[4] Gills are orange to brown, widely spaced,^[3] and radiating from the pale, thickened point of attachment to the substrate.^[6] Spores are translucent, 7.5–12.5 μm long, and 5–8 μm wide,^[3][7] with a white spore print. Context is 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) thick, and pale with a thickened wall.^[4]

Anthracophyllum archeri grows on dead wood,^[3][7] such as fallen twigs, branches, and stumps,^[8] mostly those of angiosperms.^[4] The species is common in rainforests in both Australia,^[4] and New Zealand,^[7] and wet and dry sclerophyll forests.^[4] It is a saprotrophic fungus,^[3][7] which means it gets its food by breaking down dead organic material.^[9]

The fungus is found in native forests throughout New Zealand,^[7][6] and in Australia on the East Coast, Tasmania, and South West point of Western Australia. The fungus has also been observed on Lord Howe Island, Raoul Island and Te One.^[10]

A. discolor

A. lateritium

Other species in the genus Anthracophyllum, including A. discolor and A. lateritium. The spores of Anthracophyllum archeri are larger than those of A. discolor,^[6] and A. lateritium is described as darker in colour, with more gills.^[4]

Anthracophyllum archeri contains diacetylatromentin, a multi use pharmaceutical, which can be isolated from its fruiting bodies. It also contains the yellow pigment anthracophyllin.^[11]