Amphisphaeriaceae

Taxobox


image_caption="Pelotia" fungi, a species of Amphisphaeriaceae
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Ascomycota
classis = Ascomycetes
ordo = Xylariales
familia = Amphisphaeriaceae

"Amphisphaeriaceae" is a family of fungi that is mainly found in parts of New Zealand, South America, Asia and parts of Europe. It includes only 36 known genera, and has over 23 rejected synonyms, including "Amphispaerieae".

Origins and controversies

This family of fungi was established as "Amphispaerieae" to contain the previously unclassified genera "Caryospora", "Strickeria", "Ohleria", and "Amphisphaeria", among others. However, the name was forgotten over time. In 1964, the name was reintroduced as the current "Amphisphaeriaceae", and genera such as "Apiorynchostoma", and again, "Amphisphaeria". There was plenty of controversy about which order the Amphisphaeriaceae should be placed in. In 1973, "Amphisphaeriaceae" was placed under the Order "Sphaeriales" (and some sources still classify it as such).In 1983, however,Amphisphaeriaceae was placed in under the Order "Amphisphaeriales", along with "Cainiaceae", and "Hyponectriaceae". After much study, however, "Cainiaceae" was merged with "Amphisphaeriaceae", and were considered Xylariaceous. Because of this, Amphisphaeriaceae was officially placed in the Order "Xylariales" in 1993.

Current status

At present, "Amphisphaeriaceae" is a large, complicated family of ascomycetes. The asciare cylindrical or club-shaped, and they have a simple top ring that is amyloid (starchy), or sometimes nonamyloid. A problem with "Amphisphaeriaceae" is that many of its genera have not been linked to anamorphs.Many fungi that are part of the family are fatal to plants, causing them to die. In fact, several genera of Amphisphaeriaceae have been listed as invasive species.

Works cited

* http://zipcodezoo.com/Key/Amphisphaeriaceae_Family.asp
* http://www.invasive.org/listview.cfm?list=4
* http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=42641
* http://www.fungaldiversity.org/fdp/sfdp/FD_1_147-157.pdf
* http://beta.uniprot.org/taxonomy/97129
* http://www.invasive.org/browse/family.cfm?id=902