Hypochnella

Hypochnella is a genus of corticioid (crust-like) fungi. It is one of several genera that were doubtfully placed in the order Atheliaceae based on microscopic morphological simultaneous with core Atheliaceae genera. However, a molecular study with emphasis on Atheliales, including samples across most agaricomycete orders, retrivied the species Hypochnella violacea within the order Polyporales. Although a close relationship between Hypochnella violacea and genus Australohydnum was suggested, resolving the phylogenetic position of Hypochnella within Polyporales was outside the scope of the study. The genus contains two described species.

== Description == Members of Hypochnella form thin, membrane-like annual basidiocarps on various decaying biological substrates, notably heavily decayed wood. They can range in colour from greyish to various shades of purple or violet depending on i.a. humidity, and are resupinate to effuse in shape. The hymenal surface is hypochnoid and without sterile elements. The basidiosprores are pale brown and ellipsoid to amygdaliform (almond-shaped), or subsylindrical in Hypochnella verrucospora. They are distinctively thick-walled and amyloid compared to other corticoid fungi. Other types of spores are not known, and no anamorphs have been observed.