In the herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, there are three collections of this fungus: Podocarpus acutifolius T. Kirk, 255, Marlborough, South Island; on P. totara, Little River, N.Z. 235; Mr Cheesernan 2/1874. Cooke (1892) listed these collections under Corynelia uberata Fr. Birch (1937b) and Fitzpatrick (1942) recorded C. tropica from New Zealand occurring on Podocarpus totara and P. hallii. Gilmour (1966a) stated that this fungus causes severe leaf spot on totara (P. totara) and that it is widespread throughout New Zealand.

Type: Foliicolous Fungi; Description: Ascomata stromatic, perithecial, scattered or in linear series, frequently confluent, forming stromatic cushions up to 4 × 1 mm, erumpent, conical to short-cylindrical to barrel-shaped, sometimes slightly constricted in the middle, often with a prominent beak, sides roughened and marked by several parallel, longitudinal ridges, black, carbonaceous, dehiscing by a slightly roughened slit that traverses the apex but does not extend down the sides; on yellow to pink oval leaf spots up to 4 mm long, mainly along the midribs and margins of the lower surfaces of leaves and on twigs and fruits. Asci clavate to ovate, long stipitate, evanescent. Ascospores globose, 0-septate, 9–13 μm in diameter, tuberculate, brown.

Distribution: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Taupo, Wanganui, Wellington, Hawkes Bay, Nelson, Buller, Westland, Fiordland, Marlborough Sounds, Mid Canterbury, Dunedin, Southland, Stewart Island.; 1st Record: Cooke (1879).

Significance: Although the leaf spots and the prominent black, coral-like ascomata present a striking appearance, the fungus generally causes little damage. Heavy infections on buds may inhibit flushing in young seedlings and cause infected fruit to wither and die (Anonymous 1982).; Host(s): Podocarpus acutifolius, P. hallii, P. hallii × nivalis, P. nivalis, P. totara.