The type specimen of Malvinia endoderma was collected on 25 January 1968, by John Jay Engel in the Falkland Islands.

Specifically, it was found on the east side of the summit ridge of Mount Adam in West Falklands, at an elevation between 2,200 and 2,297 ft (671 and 700 m).

Both are monospecific genera within the Ostropales and develop their fruit-bodies endobiotically within the abaxial (lower) side of their host plants' leaves.

However, Döbbeler determined that the differences between these two species in key characteristics – such as excipular structure, spore type, and iodine reaction – were significant enough to warrant their placement in separate genera.

The fungal hyphae of Malvinia are extremely delicate, less than 0.5 μm wide, and colourless, growing within the cell walls of the host plant.