Podosphaera aphanis


Podosphaera aphanis is a species complex of powdery mildews in the family Erysiphaceae. It is found across the world, wherever the host plants are found. Podosphaera aphanis sensu stricto is only found on Alchemilla.

Description

The fungus forms thin, white irregular patches on the leaves of its host. Podosphaera ''aphanis, like most Erysiphaceae, is highly host-specific and P. aphanis'' infects only one genus.

Taxonomy

The fungus was formally described in 1819 by Wallroth with the basionym Alphitomorpha aphanis. It was transferred to the genus Podosphaera by Braun and Takamatsu in 2000. The Podosphaera aphanis complex was split in 2025, creating multiple new species: Podosphaera rubi-spectabilis, infecting Rubus spectablilis and R. ursinus; Podosphaera ruborum, infecting other Rubus species; Podosphaera fragariae, infecting Eurasian Potentilla and Fragaria; and Podosphaera septentrionalis, infecting North American Geum and Agrimonia. The species on North American Potentilla and Fragaria and Eurasian Geum and Agrimonia remain unresolved.