Specimens examined: On Astelia sp. New Zealand, Coromandel, Little Barrier Island, Thumb Track, 6.IV.1988, E.H.C. McKenzie (PDD 60752).
On Gahnia setifolia (A. Rich.) Hook. f. New Zealand, Auckland, Waitakere Ranges, Walker's Bush, 4.VIII.1982, E.H.C. McKenzie (PDD 60750); Waitakere Ranges, Turanga Road, 1.IX. 1992, E.H.C. McKenzie (PDD 60751 - holotype).

Colonies conspicuous, effuse. Conidiophores setiform, arising from reddish-brown, smooth, swollen cells, macronematous, mononematous, single, unbranched, erect, straight or slightly curved, smooth, septate, reddish-brown, slightly paler towards the acute apex, up to 175 µm long x 4-6.5 µm thick near the base, tapering to 1-1.5 µm near the apex. Fertile region 13-36 µm long, 9.5-15 µm wide, usually more than halfway up the conidiophore, base to fertile region 40-95 µm, apex to fertile region 35-60 µm. Conidiogenous cells obscured by a shield of sterile, pale brown cells; each shield cell 5-8 µm long, 1.5-4 µm wide. Conidia produced in slime and adhering to the fertile part of the conidiophore in a lateral droplet; hyaline, curved or falcate, filiform, smooth, not appearing septate, (5.5-) 7.5-10.5 (-12) x c. 0.25 µm.

Coloniae conspicuae, effusae. Conidiophora e cellulis rubro-brunnea, macronematosa, mononematosa, singula, eramosa, erecta, recta vel parum curvata, laevia, septata, rubro-brunnea, apicem versus parce pallidiora, apice acuta, usque ad 175 µm longa, ad basim 4-6.5 µm lata, ad apicem 1-1.5 µm. Zona fertilis ultramediana, scutelliformia, 13-36 µm longa, 9.5-15 µm crassa; cellulae conidiogenae scutello cellularum sterilium pallide fusco celatae; cellulae steriles 5-8 µm longae, 1.5-4 µm latae. Conidia hyalina, adherentia, curvata vel falcata, filiformia, laevia, eseptata, (5.5-) 7.5-10.5 (-12) x c. 0.25 µm. In foliis mortuis Astelia sp. (Liliaceae) et Gahnia setifolia (A. Rich.) Hook. f. (Cyperaceae). Holotypus PDD 60751.

The specific epithet refers to the small size of this species, especially the conidia.
This species has the smallest conidia of any known Cryptophiale. The conidiophores and fertile region are also smaller than in most other species. In general morphology and in conidial size it approaches C. minor Farr (1980), but the latter has differently shaped conidia which measure 12-14 (-16) µm long x up to 1.2 µm wide.