Helotiales

order of fungi

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June 29, 2026

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The Helotiales are an order of fungi belonging to the subclass Euascomycetes. These fungi are distinguished by their asci, which are not operculate (meaning they lack a lid) and are arranged within a disk-shaped or goblet-shaped structure called an apothecium. The apothecium can be brightly colored or dark and dull.1

Many fungi within the Helotiales order are saprophytes, meaning they obtain nutrients from dead organic matter. However, some are parasites that can affect economically important plants. The genus Helotium is the type genus for the family Helotiaceae within this order.12

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fungus
Annotated classification
Order Helotiales Pathogenic on plants, saprotrophic, endophytic, mycorhizzal, mycoparasitic, or symbiotic on roots; inoperculate asci with distinct hymenium; apothecia disk-shaped to goblet-shaped; example genera include Dactylella, Hymenoscyphus, and Ascocoryne. Order Rhytismatales
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Order Helotiales Pathogenic on plants, saprotrophic, endophytic, mycorhizzal, mycoparasitic, or symbiotic on roots; inoperculate asci with distinct hymenium; apothecia disk-shaped to goblet-shaped; example genera include Dactylella, Hymenoscyphus, and Ascocoryne. Order Rhytismatales
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