{{Short description|Genus of fungi}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Asterophora parasitica - Lindsey.jpg | image_caption = ''Asterophora parasitica'' | taxon = Asterophora | authority = Ditmar (1809) | type_species = ''Asterophora lycoperdoides'' | type_species_authority = (Bull.) Ditmar (1809) | synonyms_ref = <ref name="urlMycoBank: Asterophora"/> | synonyms = ''Asterosperma'' <small>Pers. (1818)</small><br> ''Nyctalis'' <small>Fr. (1825)</small><br> ''Stellifera'' <small>Léman (1827)</small> | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = ''A. lycoperdoides''<br> ''A. mirabilis''<br> ''A. parasitica''<br> ''A. salvaterrensis'' }}
'''''Asterophora''''' is a genus of fungi that grow as parasites on mushrooms. The genus contains four species, which have a widespread distribution, especially in temperate areas.<ref name=Kirk2008/> The most recently described species, ''A. salvaterrensis'', was found in ''Pinus pinaster'' forests in Galicia (northwest Iberian Peninsula).<ref name=BlancoDios2011/> ''Asterophora'' species are characterized by the massive production of chlamydospores<ref name="urlTom Volk's FotM: December 2005"/> in their fruit bodies and by the production of carminophilous lysosomes in their basidia. A frequently used but synonymous genus name is ''Nyctalis''. The chlamydospores have been classified in the genus ''Ugola'', which is an anamorphic name.
==References== {{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=BlancoDios2011>{{cite journal |vauthors=Blanco-Dios JD |title=''Asterophora salvaterrensis'' (Basidiomycota, Agaricales), a new species from Galicia (Spain) |journal=Mycotaxon |year=2011 |volume=118 |pages=83–88 |doi=10.5248/118.83|doi-access=free }}</ref>
<ref name=Kirk2008>{{cite book |vauthors=Kirk PM, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA |title=Dictionary of the Fungi. |edition=10th |publisher=CAB International |location=Wallingford, UK |year=2008 |page=64 |isbn=978-0-85199-826-8}}</ref>
<ref name="urlMycoBank: Asterophora">{{cite web |url=http://www.mycobank.org/MycoTaxo.aspx?Link=T&Rec=7267 |title=''Asterophora'' Ditmar 1809 |publisher=International Mycological Association |work=MycoBank |accessdate=2010-12-30}}</ref>
<ref name="urlTom Volk's FotM: December 2005">{{cite web |url=http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/dec2005.html |title=''Asterophora lycoperdoides'', the star bearing powder cap mushroom |author=Volk T. |date=December 2005 |work=Fungus of the Month |accessdate=2010-12-30}}</ref>
}}
{{commons-inline|italic=1}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q245108}}
Category:Lyophyllaceae Category:Parasitic fungi Category:Agaricales genera
{{Agaricales-stub}} {{parasite-stub}}