Fungalpedia – Note 3202, Astrocystis

 

Astrocystis. Berk. & Broome, J. Linn.

Citation when using this data: Jayawardena RS et al. 2023– Fungalpedia.

Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank

Classification: Xylariaceae, Xylariales, Xylariomycetidae, Sordariomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi

Notes: Astrocystis was introduced by Berkeley and Broome (1873) and typified by Astrocystis mirabilis. Index fungorum (2022) lists 28 epithets in Astrocystis, while four of them have been excluded from this genus. Species of this genus mainly exist in saprobes on monocotyledonous substrates, such as bamboo, palm and Smilax (Laessøe and Spooner 1993). Astrocystis is characterized by uni- to multi-peritheciate stromata, carbonaceous peridium, asci with a relatively short stipe and small, amyloid, stopper-shaped ascal ring (Pinnoi et al. 2010). It is widely accepted that Astrocystis bear similar morphology with Rosellinia, while the former genus can be distinguished from the latter by small and cylindrical or funnel-shaped apical ring of asci. Rosellinia has conspicous, barrel-shaped apical apparatus (Dulymamode et al. 1998).

Type species: Astrocystis mirabilis Berk. & Broome, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 14(no. 74): 123 (1873) [1875]

Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Astrocystis.

 

References

Dulymamode R, Cannon PF, Peerally A 1998 – Fungi from Mauritius: three Astrocystis species from Pandanus. Mycol Res 102:1325–1330.

Laessoe T, Spooner BM 1993 – Rosellinia & Astrocystis (Xylariaceae): new species and generic concepts. Kew Bulletin 1–70.

Pinnoi A, Phongpaichit P, Jeewon R, Tang AMC, Hyde KD, Jones EBG 2010 – Phylogenetic relationships of Astrocystis eleiodoxae sp. nov.(Xylariaceae). Mycosphere 1:1–9.

 

Entry by

Jayawardena Ruvishika Shehali, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand, School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand

 

Published online 18 September 2026

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