Cyttaria darwinii is a member of the genus Cyttaria, and grows abundantly as a parasite on the Southern Beech, Nothofagus. The fruiting bodies, or reproductive structures, of C. darwinii are vivid orange or whitish globes, described by Darwin as “the colour of the yolk of an egg”, with varying sizes “from that of a bullet to that of a small apple”. They grow from the host beech in groups off of stems. These golf ball-like fruiting bodies have mucous-like fluid inside that dries as the balls age. In the Tierra del Fuego, they are commonly used as food.

Cyttaria darwinii is only found in South America particularly in Chile and in this case, the body of the fungus is useful, as the native people harvested and ate them as a significant part of their diet. Additionally, this species uses a tree as a host (parasite) and if it is harvested to avoid damaged or as a food source, it can be threaten the status of the species.