Clavicipitaceae


The Clavicipitaceae are a family of fungi within the order Hypocreales. A 2008 estimate placed 43 genera in the family, but a study in 2020 has increased this number to 50.

Phylogeny

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of multigene DNA sequence data indicates the taxon Clavicipitaceae is paraphyletic, and consists of three well-defined clades, at least one of which is shared with members of another fungal family. The most recent common ancestor of the three clades also include Hypocreaceae as a descendant.
The issue seems to have been resolved in Sung et al.. Clavicipitaceae becomes restricted to "clade A". Cordycipitaceae is resurrected to hold "clade C". Ophiocordycipitaceae is created to hold "clade B".

Evolution

The evolution within the Clavicipitaceae is marked by interkingdom host jumping, and the range of this large and heterogeneous fungal group spans mutualistic plant symbionts, as well as parasites of plants, insects, and other fungi. This situation has since been corrected

Significance

Many of its members produce alkaloids toxic to animals and humans. One of its most infamous species is Claviceps purpurea, which has historical significance as the cause of St. Anthony's fire, also known as ergotism. Ergotism is caused by ergot alkaloids, such as ergotamine and ergocristine, which are chemical derivatives of lysergic acid. Metarhizium species are widely used in the biological control of insect pests.

Genera

Several genera, especially those previously described as "anamorphic" are now re-classified into other families, in light of current molecular and other evidence. As of November 2024, the following genera are placed in the family Clavicipitaceae:Aciculosporium Allocordyceps Aschersonia - Sung clade A2Atkinsonella Balansia - Sung clade A1Balansiopsis Berkelella Cavimalum Claviceps - Sung clade A1Commelinaceomyces Conoideocrella Corallocytostroma Drechmeria Dussiella Ephelis Epichloe Epicrea - Sung clade A1Harposporium Helicocollum Helminthascus Heteroepichloe Hypocrella - Sung clade A2Keithomyces Konradia Linearistroma Loculistroma Marquandomyces Metacordyceps Metapochonia Metarhiziopsis Metarhizium - Sung clade A3Moelleriella Morakotia Mycomalus MycophilomycesMyriogenospora Neoaraneomyces Neobarya Neocordyceps Nigelia Nigrocornus Orbiocrella

Nomenclatural note

As of April 2025, MycoBank holds the unusual opinion that Clavicipitaceae should be synonymized to Clavicipiteae, a subfamily under Hypocreaceae. This does not match the phylogenetic tree and reassignment of Sung.