An arthroconidial hyphomycete on living leaves of kudzu (Pueraria montana, Fabaceae), originally described by Sawada in 1959 as Ovularia puerariae, was rediscovered. This anamorph is connected to an unknown Marasmius teleomorph belonging to section Globulares, which develops on the same living leaves. Ultrastructure and LSU rDNA sequence analysis of the anamorph confirm this connection. The fungus does not have only a unique biology among agarics, comparable only to Mycena citricolor, but also has the potential for application as a control agent of kudzu. During comparison with similar anamorph genera, Illosporium graminicola was found to be a synonym for Beniowskia sphaeroidea.

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Background: Based on traditional and folk medicine, mushrooms have been developed into anti-cancer therapeutics. In this article, a brief overview is given of the most important medical mushroom species and their specific anti-cancer functions and mechanisms. Taiwanofungus camphoratus (Antrodia cinnamomea), is a medical fungus chosen  to examine  the process from ethnomedicine to developing new products for the market based on scientific, analytic, and experimental evidence. The bioactive compounds have indirect effects in cancer treatment by benefiting the immune system as well as having direct cytotoxic effects on cancer cells.Taiwanofungus camphoratus is a fungus endemic to Taiwan and one of the most popular known alternative remedies for liver cancer in Taiwan. To date, more than 150 liver cancer patients have survived using T. camphoratus. The treatment has caused tumor shrinking, as well as the disappearance of a tumor altogether in some cases. The ratio between male and female patients has been nearly equal, with ages ranging between 20-79 years. The most effective candidates are those between the ages of 40-60 years.The complex mixture of bioactive compounds in natural fruit bodies is a challenge for artificial production in vitro. Particular problems in developing T. camphoratus into therapeutics for the global market are its rarity in nature and its close dependence on an endemic tree in Taiwan. These challenges can help promote new solutions which could be utilized in the future with other medical fungiKeywords: Medicinal mushrooms, anti-cancer therapeutics, Taiwanofungus camphoratus, liver cancer.