Gymnascella dankaliensis is a moderate to slow growing fungus commonly found in the soil of warmer climates.^[1][2] It is characterized by round yellow, orange or red-brown ascospores encircled by undifferentiated filaments.^[1] They have been found in ear, nail and skin infections.^[2] Their metabolites have been isolated and shown to have cytotoxic and anti-tumor properties .^[3][4]

Colonies vary greatly in colour, texture and growth rate. Colonies first appear white, then turn a pale yellow or olive and as they mature become yellow-brown to orange brown.^[5] The texture can be either cottony, fine, knotted or wispy.^[2] Growth rate of colonies varies from moderately slow to rapid.^[2][5]

Gymnascella dankaliensis has irregular, indistinct filaments.

Gymnascella dankaliensis has been reported in the soil of climates and the marine sponge Halichondria japonica.^[2][6]

Since the late 1990s, multiple cytotoxic compounds have been isolated from Gymnascella dankaliensis such as: