Tomentellopsis rosannae is a species with very small-sized resupinate basidiomes, found on litter of Drymis winteri,  Nothofagus antarctica, N. betuloides, and N. pumilio. Tomentellopsis completes its life cycle producing basidiomes on litter that is in intimate contact with soil. Putatively ectomycorrhizal with Nothofagus species. So far this species is only known from four sites in Argentina and two in Chile. It is believed that the species is associated to Nothofagaceae species forests in the Andean Patagonia, being a rare species, since no abundant records of this species have been found. This species is associated with an increasingly threatened Nothofagus forest due to forest fires (intentional and accidental), invasive non-native plant species (Pinus sp.), and cattle. Cattle farming and other interventions lead to proliferation of grasses in the forest might disrupt the life cycle that of fungal species like T. rosannae that need to find an aboveground substrate to establish the basidiome. Despite the size population is not easy to infer, considering its low detectability, it is suspected that the species population size is in continuing decline as it is associated with an increasingly threatened Nothofagus forest (Miranda et al., 2017; CONAF 1999 and 2020). Also, considering its ectomycorrhizal habit (generation time is 50 years), it is possible to assume that the area suitable for the specific forest which harbors this species will decrease by 15% in the next 30 years (year 2050) and, consequently, it is suspected that size population of T. rosannae will conservatively decline at least the same proportion. Then, it is assessed as Near Threatened (NT A3c).

Tomentellopsis rosannae Kuhar & Gresl. 2022, in Kuhar, Nouhra, Smith, Caiafa & Greslebin, Lilloa 59(Supl.): 119 (2022)
Typification Details: Holotype FLAS F-65322

Tomentellopsis rosannae is considered a rare species and its size population could be in decline as it is associated with an increasingly threatened Nothofagus forest.

So far this species is only known from four sites in Argentina (Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, near Ushuaia city, Estancia Moat, Lago Escondido) and two in Chile (Villarrica National Park and holotype was found in Puyehue National Park) (1998 to 2019). It is believed that the species is associated to Nothofagaceae species forests.

Tomentellopsis rosannae is considered a rare species. It has very small-sized resupinate basidiomes; on litter of Drymis winteri,  Nothofagus antarctica, N. betuloides, and N. pumilio. No abundant records of this species have been found and the size population is not easy to infer, considering its low detectability. On the other hand, the species is in decline as it is associated with an increasingly threatened Nothofagus forest (Miranda et al., 2017; CONAF 1999 and 2020). Also, considering its ectomycorrhizal habit (generation time is 50 years), it is possible to suspect that the area suitable for the specific forest which harbors this species will decrease by 15% in the next 30 years (year 2050).

Thus far known only from Nothofagus forests in the Andean Patagonia, Chile and Argentina.
Tomentellopsis completes it’s life cycle producing basidiomes on litter that is in intimate contact with soil. Putatively ectomycorrhizal with Nothofagus species.

This species is associated with an increasingly threatened Nothofagus forest due to forest fires (intentional and accidental), invasive non-native plant species (Pinus sp.), and cattle. Cattle farming and other interventions lead to proliferation of grasses in the forest might disrupt the life cycle that of fungal species like T. rosannae that need to find an aboveground substrate to establish the basidiome.

All of the known sites of Tomentellopsis rosannae are within protected areas (national parks), in both Chile and Argentina. But this forests are threatened by anthropogenic activities, including grazing by cattle, invasive plant species and fire.

No evidences of a mycorhyzal trophic mode for this species have been published beside the coocurrence with Nothofagus and its taxonomic position (Kuhar et al. 2022). Also no attempts for isolation or culture have been made. More knowledge on these questions would facilitate the development of conservation strategies.

No uses or trade are known so far.

Kuhar, F.; Nouhra, E.; Smith, M.; Caiafa, M.; Greslebin, A. 2022. Tomentellopsis rosannae sp. nov. (Basidiomycota, Thelephorales), first species in the genus described from the Southern Hemisphere. Lilloa 59 (Suplemento): 115-123.

CONAF. 2020. Catastro de los Recursos vegetacionales y Uso de la Tierra.
Miranda, A.; Altamirano, A.; Cayuela, L.; Lara, A.; González, M. 2017. Native forest loss in the Chilean biodiversity hotspot: revealing the evidence. Reg Environ Change 17:285–297DOI 10.1007/s10113-016-. 1010-7

CONAF. 1999. CATASTRO Y EVALUACIÓN DE RECURSOS VEGETACIONALES NATIVOS DE CHILE. Informe Nacional con Variables Ambientales. PROYECTO CONAF - CONAMA – BIRF.