Colonies inconspicuous, effused, brown, with white layer of conidia. Mycelium superficial, brown, branched and anastomosing, sometimes forming sheets, smooth, septate, 1.5-2.5 µm thick. Conidiophores macronematous, mononematous, single, unbranched, erect, straight or slightly curved, smooth, 0-1 septate, sometimes reduced to phialide, borne directly on hyphae, pale, 30-50 µm long (including conidiogenous cell). Conidiogenous cells monophialidic, integrated, terminal, lageniform, 25-40 µm long; venter subcylindrical, (3-) 7-15 (-18) x (4-) 4.5-6 (-10) µm; collarette cylindrical, 20-30 (-36) x 2.5-3 (-3.5) µm; transition from venter to collarette gradual; ratio of mean lengths of collarette and venter = 2.5:1. Conidia endogenous, extruded in long chains, hyaline, cylindrical, smooth, medianly 1-septate, (15.5-) 18-20 (-22.5) x 2-2.5 µm, apex rounded, base truncate; mean conidium length/width ratio = 8.2:1.

On Dracophyllum arboreum Ckn.

Coloniae inconspicuae, effusae. Mycelium extermum, ex hyphis brunneis, ramosis, laevibus, septatis, 1.5-2.5 µm crassis. Conidiophora macronematosa, mononematosa, singula, eramosa, erecta, recta vel parum curvata, laevia, 0-1 septata, pallide, 30-50 µm longa. Cellulae conidiogenae monophialidicae, in conidiophoris incorporatae, terminales, lageniformes, 25-40 µm longae; venter subcylindricus (3-) 7-15 (-18) x (4-) 4.5-6 (-10) µm; collum cylindricum, 20-30 (-36) x 2.5-3 (-3.5) µm; transitio e ventre ad collum gradata; ratio longitudinis mediae colli et ventris = 2.5:1. Conidia endogena, catenulate extrusa, hyalina, cylindrica, laevia, 1-septata, (15.5-) 18-20 (-22.5) x 2-2.5 µm, apice rotundato, basi truncata; ratio conidii long./lat. = 8.2:1. In foliis dejectis epacridaceae speciei Dracophylli arborei Ckn. Holotypus PDD 52058.

The specific epithet refers to the southern hemisphere situation of the type locality.
Chalara australis resembles both C. hughesii Nag Raj & Kendrick in Nag Raj & Hughes (1974) and C. alabamensis MorganJones & Ingram (1976). However, C. australis has larger conidiophores and conidia than C. hughesii, and exhibits a gradual, rather than abrupt transition from venter to collarette. There is a gradual transition in C. alabamensis, but the conidia of this species are smaller than those of C. australis.

Specimen examined: New Zealand, Chatham Islands, Rekohu, Taiko Camp, 8.111.1983, E. H. C. McKenzie (PDD 52058 - holotype).

Colonies inconspicuous, effused, brown, with white layer of conidia. Mycelium superficial, brown, branched, smooth, septate, 1.5-2.5 µm thick. Conidiophores macronematous, mononematous, single, unbranched, erect, straight or slightly curved, smooth, 1-3 septate, pale brown, 60-100 µm long (including conidiogenous cell). Conidiogenous cells monophialidic, integrated, terminal, lageniform, (37-) 60-80 µm long; venter subcylindrical, (12-) 20-30 (-34) x 6-10 µm; collarette cylindrical, (25-) 35-50 (-55) x (2.75-) 3-4 (-4.5) µm; transition from venter to collarette gradual or occasionally abrupt; ratio of mean lengths of collarette and venter = 1.7:1. Conidia endogenous, extruded in long chains, hyaline, cylindrical, smooth or slightly verruculose, medianly 1-septate, (17-) 18-22 (-23) x (2.5-) 3 (-3.5) µm, apex rounded, base truncate; mean conidium length/width ratio = 6.3:1.

On Dracophyllum arboreum Ckn.

Coloniae inconspicuae, effusae. Mycelium extermum, ex hyphis brunneis, ramosis, laevibus, septatis, 1.5-2.5 µm crassis. Conidiophora macronematosa, mononematoua, singula, eramosa, erecta, recta vel parum curvata, laevia, 1-3 septata, pallide-brunnea, 60-100 µm longa. Cellulae conidiogenae monophialidicae, in conidiophoris incorporatae, terminales, lageniformes, (37-) 60-80 µm longae; venter subcylindricus (12-) 20-30 (-34) x 6-10 µm; collum cylindricum, (25-) 35-50 (-55) x (2.75-) 3-4 (-4.5) µm; transitio e ventre ad collum gradata vel interdum abrupta; ratio longitudinis mediae colli et ventris =1.7:1. Conidia endogena, catenulate extrusa, hyalina, cylindrica, laevia vel minute verruculosa, l-septata, (17-) 18-22 (-23) x (2.5-) 3 (-3.5) µm, apice rotundato, basi truncata; ratio conidii long/lat. = 6.3:1. In fohis dejectis epacridaceae speciei Dracophylli arborei Ckn. Holotypus PDD 49389.

The specific epithet refers to the geographical remoteness of the type locality.
In its morphology Chalara distans clearly differs from described species of Chalara.

Specimen examined: New Zealand, Chatham Islands, Rekohu, Taiko Camp, 8.III.1983, E. H. C. McKenzie (PDD 49389 - holotype).

Colonies amphigenous, punctiform to effused, black when sterile, grey when sporulating. Mycelium partly immersed and partly superficial, pale brown, branched and anastomosing, sometimes aggregated into a pseudoparenchymatous layer, smooth, septate, 2-4 µm thick. Setae sterile, originating from dark brown, thick-walled, swollen cells of the superficial mycelium, simple, erect, straight or flexuous, usually smooth but sometimes minutely verruculose, septate, dark brown, paler towards the apex, up to 330 µm high, 5-7.5 µm wide at the base, gradually tapering to a width of 1.5-3 µm at the apex. Conidiogenous cells polyblastic, apparently percurrent, discrete, obclavate to lageniform, subhyaline, 7-12 µm high, 3-4 µm wide. Conidia acrogenoss, hyaline but adhering together at the base of setae to form a greyish-white mass, slightly curved or falcate, smooth, non-septate, 20-24 (-26) x 1.5-2 (-2.25) µm.

On Myrsine chathamica F. Muell.

Coloniae amphigenae, punctiformes vel effusee, nigri vel grisei. Mycelium partim intermum et extermum, ex hyphis pallide-brunneis, ramosis et anastomosantibus, laevibus, septatis, 2-4 µm crassis. Setae steriles, simplices, erectae, rectae vel flexuosae, plerumque laeves, septatae, atro-brunneae, apice versus pallidiores, usque ad 330 µm altae, ad basem 5-7.5 µm latae, ad apicem 1.5-3 µm latae. Cellulae conidiogenae polyblasticae, percurrentes visu, discretae, obclavatae vel lageniformes, subhyalinae, 7-12 µm altae, 3-4 µm latae. Conidia acrogenosa, hyalina, adherentia, leniter curvata vel falcata, laevia, eseptata, 20-24 (-26) x 1.5-2 (-2.25) µm. In foliis dejectis myrsinaceae speciei Myrsinae chathamicae F. Muell. Holotypus PDD 49391.

The specific epithet refers to the type locality, Chatham Islands.
Sutton (1980) provided a key to eight species of Circinotrichum, and since then C. ponmudiense Varghese & V. G. Rao (1978), C. britanicum Kirk (1981), C. flagelliforme Zucconi & Onofri (1986), and C. cochinense V.G. Rao & Varghese (1988) have been described. C. chathamiensis can be distinguished from other species of Circinotrichum by the size and shape of conidia, and by the straight, sterile setae.

Specimen examined: New Zealand, Chatham Islands, Rekohu, Taiko Camp, 8.III.1983, E. H. C. McKenzie (PDD 49391 - holotype).

Colonies conspicuous, effused. Mycelium partly immersed and partly superficial, pale brown, branched and anastomosing, smooth, septate,1.5-2.5 µm thick. Conidiophores setiform, arising from dark brown, smooth, swollen cells of the superficial mycelium, macronematous, mononematous, single, unbranched, erect, straight or flexuous, smooth, septate, dark reddish-brown, paler towards the acute apex, up to 410 µm long, 6.5-10 µm thick. Conidiogenous zone less than half way up the conidiophore, base to conidiogenous zone 70-105 µm, apex to conidiogenous zone 100-245 µm, zone 55-100 µm long, 15-21 µm wide, consisting of a single row of phialides; phialides obscured by a shield of sterile, pale brown, shield cells; each shield cell ca. 4-5 µm long, 2-3.5 µm wide. Conidiogenous cells monophialidic, discrete, cylindrical to lageniform, pale brown, 8-13 µm long, 2.5-3.5 µm wide. Conidia acrogenous, produced in slime and adhering to the fertile part of the conidiophore in a lateral droplet, hyaline, falcate, smooth, medianly 1-septate, (12-) 13-16 (-16.5) x 1-1.5 µm, acute at the apex, obtuse at the base.

On Dracophyllum arboreum Ckn.

Coloniae conspicuae, effusae. Mycelium partim intermum et extermum, ex hyphis pallide-brunneis, ramosis et anastomosantibus, laevibus, septatis, 1.5-2.5 µm crassis. Conidiophora setiformia e cellulis atro-fuscis, laevibus, basi inflata, macronematosa, mononematosa, singula, eramosa, erecta, recta vel flexuoua, laevia, septata, atro rubro-brunnea, apicem versus pallidiora, acuta, usque ad 410 µm longa, 6.5-10 µm crassa. Zona conidiogenosa inframediana, scutelliformis, 55-100 µm longa, 15-21 µm crassa, uno ordine phialidum; phialis scutello cellarum sterilium pallide fusco celata; cellulae steriles ca. 4-5 µm longarum, 2-3.5 µm latarum. Cellulae conidiogenae monophialidicae, discretae, cylindricae vel lageniformes, pallide-brunneae, 8-13 µm longae, 2.5-3.5 µm latae. Conidia acrogenosa, hyalina, adherentia, falcata, laevia, 1 septata, (12-) 13-16 (-16.5) x 1-1.5 µm, apice acuta, basi obtusa. In fohis dejectis epacridaceae speciei Dracophylli arborei Ckn. Holotypus PDD 49399.

The specific epithet refers to the island nature of the type locality.
In a recent account Sutton et al. (1989) provided a key to nine species of Cryptophiale, a tenth species, C. secunda Kuthubutheen & Sutton, having been previously transferred to Cryptophialoidea Kuthubutheen & Nawawi (1987). C. insulare can be distinguished from other species by the structure of the conidiophore apex, size of conidia, and position of the conidiogenous zone on the conidiophore. In conidial size it approaches C. minor Farr, but the conidia of C. insulare are less variable in shape and slightly larger. The conidiophores are also longer, and the conidiogenous zone is in the lower half of the conidiophore, whereas in C. minor it is in the upper half.

Specimen examined: New Zealand, Chatham Islands, Rekohu, Taiko Camp, 8.III.1983, E. H. C. McKenzie (PDD 49399 - holotype).