A highly branched black clump of fruiting bodies arising from stem galls. They were about 5 to 12 mm long and stretching out like large magnetised iron-filings.
Spotted arising from stem galls (seen as thickened split lumps) on branches of tea-tree shrubs (Leptospermum sp.) in a reserve - Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne.
This fungus ( basidiomycota) is a parasite on the female gall inducing Eriococcid insect Callococcus leptospermi.
Photo and description of this specimen can also be seen on Bruce Fuhrer's " A field guide to Australian Fungi".