Fungalpedia – Note 2309, Karstenula
Karstenula. Speg.
Citation when using this data: Hongsanan S et al. 2020 – Fungalpedia, Ascomycota.
Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank
Classification: Didymosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales, Pleosporomycetidae, Dothideomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi
Notes – Karstenula is an ambiguous genus, due to its morphological similarities with different families (Zhang et al. 2012b, Ariyawansa et al. 2014d). For instance, Karstenula species share some similarities with Didymosphaeria in having ascomata seated in a subiculum or beneath a clypeal thickening and sometimes apical cells become reddish or orange-brown (Barr 1990a). The ascomata of Karstenula rhodostoma are similar to those found in Byssosphaeria and Herpotrichia, such as the paler area around the ostiole and even in peridium and development under a subiculum. However, based on multi-gene phylogenies Ariyawansa et al. (2014d) revealed that Karstenula is in Didymosphaeriaceae, but further collections are needed for resolve the ambiguity of this genus.
Type species: Karstenula rhodostoma (Alb. & Schwein.) Speg., Decades Mycologicae Italicae 7–12: no. 94 (1879).
Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Karstenula.
References
Barr ME. 1990a – Melanommatales (Loculoascomycetes). North American Flora 13(II), 1–129.
Zhang Y, Crous PW, Schoch CL, Hyde KD. 2012b – Pleosporales. Fungal Diversity 53, 1–221.
Entry by
Sinang Hongsanan, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, People’s Republic of China, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50002, Thailand
Published online 9 April 2026