This species is only known from forest in the southern Yungas of Argentina. This habitat is deteriorating outside of reserves, and the population is thought to be in decline. Overall the population size is thought to be small (c.400 mature individuals), and so the species is listed as Endangered under criterion C2a(ii).

No recorded synonyms.

A rare species only found seven times after the original publication.(Esteban Sir, Unpublished) although the stromata are conspicuous. The absence of further records as well as the high level of disturbance in the past, along with the fragmentation of the original habitat, suggest that this species might be endangered.

Only known from the southern Yungas (see map). Fungarium materials from the three provinces are available (Salta, Tucumán and Jujuy).

The species might be well distributed in the southern Yungas (E. Sir pers. comm.). The have been only seven further records (unpublished) subsequent to Sir et al. (2005). The species occurs at low frequency where it has been studied, and scaling up to take account of other areas of suitable habitat where the species may occur would give a population size of 400 mature individuals. Since the reserves in the area have a high conservation status, we suppose that the numbers in reserves are stable, but forest outside of the reserves is in danger and decreasing.

This species is probably endophytic, and is seen fruiting as a saprotroph on dead/decayed wood, probably causing a white rot as reported for many Xylaria.

Reduction of the native environment and fragmentation of the forest by activities such as citrus or sugar cane culture.

At the present, several natural reserves protect the remains of these landscapes (e.g. Los Diques Provincial Reserve, Reserva Natural Finca Las Costas, Las Yungas Biosphere Reserve). More initiatives ensuring interconnection of the the patchy distribution of these forests are needed, and to increase awareness of this species within the protected area network.

More research is needed on the life history of the species, its dispersal strategy, the specific substrates and its associated plants as well as on the presence of this species in similar locations in northern Argentina. Esteban Sir suggested in a personal communication that research is required to see whether the species may also occur in Bolivia.

There are no uses reported.

Sir, E. B., Hladki, A. I., Parrado, M. F., & Romero, A. I. (2005). Biodiversity of Xylariaceae (Ascomycota) and their hosts in protected areas from Tucumán (Argentina). collections, 2007, 2009b-2010.

Blundo, C., & Malizia, L. R. (2009). Impacto del aprovechamiento forestal en la estructura y diversidad de la Selva Pedemontana. En: Selva pedemontana de las Yungas, historia natural, ecología y manejo de un ecosistema en peligro. Brown, AD, Blendinger, PG, Lomáscolo, T. y García Bes, P.(Eds.), 387-406.