Xylaria is a widely distributed genus belong to the family Xylariaceae and grows
on a wide variety of substrates in different habitats. Up to 60 species of Xylaria
have been reported from the Indian subcontinent, while southwest India is
known for about 30 species. Recently, four species of Xylaria (X. arbuscula, X.
gramica, X. minuta and X. oxyacanthae) were found to grow on various habitats
and substrates during an inventory of scrub jungles of southwest India during
2019-21. Xylaria arbuscula and X. gramica were confined to dead bark, while X.
minuta and X. oxyacanthae were grown on the dead twigs and humus,
respectively. This study reports description (of the above species), distribution,
habitat specificity and substrate specificity of Xylaria spp. in southwest India
based on the literature.
Keywords: Macrofungi, substrates, habitat specificity, substrate specificity,
conservation