Rhytisma acerinum (Pers.) Fr.
(Sycamore Tar-spot, Tar-spot Fungus)

Interactions where Rhytisma acerinum is the dominant partner and gains from the process

The following relationships have been collated from the published literature (see 'Interaction References').

Stage Summary Taxon Vernacular Classification References Darwin Classification of Active Taxon Active Taxon Active Vernacular Active Taxon Uncertain Active State Active Part Active Stage Relationship Relationship Uncertain Relationship Geography Darwin Classification of Passive Taxon Passive Taxon Passive Vernacular Passive Taxon Uncertain Passive State Passive Part Passive Stage Passive Taxon's significance to Active Taxon Indoors etc Season
apothecium (embedded in stroma) embedded in stroma apothecium may be found on rotting, over-wintered leaf UK/Ireland Acer maples Sapindales: Sapindaceae Pests, Diseases & Disorders of Garden Plants, Buczacki, S. & Harris, K., 1998
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Leotiomycetes/Rhytismatales/Rhytismataceae/Rhytisma acerinum/Rhytisma acerinumsycamore tar-spot, tar-spot fungusembedded in stromaapothecium Plant / resting place / onUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Sapindales/Sapindaceae/Acer/Acermaplesrotting, over-winteredleaf (4-6)
Melasmia coelomycetous spermatial anamorph (epiphyllous) epiphyllous stroma of Melasmia coelomycetous spermatial anamorph causes spots on live leaf UK/Ireland Acer maples Sapindales: Sapindaceae Pests, Diseases & Disorders of Garden Plants, Buczacki, S. & Harris, K., 1998
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Leotiomycetes/Rhytismatales/Rhytismataceae/Rhytisma acerinum/Rhytisma acerinumsycamore tar-spot, tar-spot fungusepiphyllousstromaMelasmia coelomycetous spermatial anamorph Foodplant / spot causerUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Sapindales/Sapindaceae/Acer/Acermaplesliveleaf (7)8-9)
apothecium (embedded in stroma) embedded in stroma apothecium may be found on rotting, over-wintered leaf UK/IrelandMinor Acer campestre Field Maple Sapindales: Sapindaceae British Ascomycetes, Dennis, R.W.G., 1978
Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Leotiomycetes/Rhytismatales/Rhytismataceae/Rhytisma acerinum/Rhytisma acerinumsycamore tar-spot, tar-spot fungusembedded in stromaapothecium Plant / resting place / onUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Sapindales/Sapindaceae/Acer campestre/Acer campestrefield maplerotting, over-winteredleafMinor (4-6)
Melasmia coelomycetous spermatial anamorph (epiphyllous) epiphyllous stroma of Melasmia coelomycetous spermatial anamorph causes spots on live leaf UK/IrelandMinor Acer campestre Field Maple Sapindales: Sapindaceae British Ascomycetes, Dennis, R.W.G., 1978
Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
Teaching techniques for mycology: 18. Rhytisma acerinum, cause of tar-spot disease of sycamore leaves, Weber, R.W.S. & Webster, J., 2002
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Leotiomycetes/Rhytismatales/Rhytismataceae/Rhytisma acerinum/Rhytisma acerinumsycamore tar-spot, tar-spot fungusepiphyllousstromaMelasmia coelomycetous spermatial anamorph Foodplant / spot causerUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Sapindales/Sapindaceae/Acer campestre/Acer campestrefield mapleliveleafMinor (7)8-9)
apothecium (embedded in stroma) embedded in stroma apothecium may be found on rotting, over-wintered leaf UK/IrelandMajor Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore, Great Maple Sapindales: Sapindaceae Pests, Diseases & Disorders of Garden Plants, Buczacki, S. & Harris, K., 1998
British Ascomycetes, Dennis, R.W.G., 1978
Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
Teaching techniques for mycology: 18. Rhytisma acerinum, cause of tar-spot disease of sycamore leaves, Weber, R.W.S. & Webster, J., 2002
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Leotiomycetes/Rhytismatales/Rhytismataceae/Rhytisma acerinum/Rhytisma acerinumsycamore tar-spot, tar-spot fungusembedded in stromaapothecium Plant / resting place / onUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Sapindales/Sapindaceae/Acer pseudoplatanus/Acer pseudoplatanussycamore, great maplerotting, over-winteredleafMajor (4-6)
Melasmia coelomycetous spermatial anamorph (epiphyllous) epiphyllous stroma of Melasmia coelomycetous spermatial anamorph causes spots on live leaf UK/IrelandMajor Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore, Great Maple Sapindales: Sapindaceae Pests, Diseases & Disorders of Garden Plants, Buczacki, S. & Harris, K., 1998
British Ascomycetes, Dennis, R.W.G., 1978
Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
Teaching techniques for mycology: 18. Rhytisma acerinum, cause of tar-spot disease of sycamore leaves, Weber, R.W.S. & Webster, J., 2002
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Leotiomycetes/Rhytismatales/Rhytismataceae/Rhytisma acerinum/Rhytisma acerinumsycamore tar-spot, tar-spot fungusepiphyllousstromaMelasmia coelomycetous spermatial anamorph Foodplant / spot causerUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Sapindales/Sapindaceae/Acer pseudoplatanus/Acer pseudoplatanussycamore, great mapleliveleafMajor (7)8-9)

Interactions where Rhytisma acerinum is the victim or passive partner (and generally loses out from the process)

The following relationships have been collated from the published literature (see 'Interaction References').

Filters:

Affected Part Summary Taxon Vernacular Classification References Darwin Classification of Active Taxon Active Taxon Active Vernacular Active Taxon Uncertain Active State Active Part Active Stage Relationship Relationship Uncertain Relationship Geography Darwin Classification of Passive Taxon Passive Taxon Passive Vernacular Passive Taxon Uncertain Passive State Passive Part Passive Stage Passive Taxon's significance to Active Taxon Indoors etc Season Summary
stroma is associate of apothecium Lachnum rhytismatis a discomycete Helotiales: Lachnaceae Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
/Fungi/Ascomycota/Leotiomycetes/Helotiales/Lachnaceae/Lachnum rhytismatis/Lachnum rhytismatisa discomyceteapothecium Fungus / associate /Fungi/Ascomycota/Leotiomycetes/Rhytismatales/Rhytismataceae/Rhytisma acerinum/Rhytisma acerinumsycamore tar-spot, tar-spot fungusstroma (10-4)apothecium is associated with stroma

Author & YearTitleSource
Buczacki, S. & Harris, K., 1998Pests, Diseases & Disorders of Garden PlantsCollins Photoguide, 2nd edition edition, Collins
Dennis, R.W.G., 1978British AscomycetesRevised and enlarged edition, 585pp, J. Cramer
Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook2nd (New Enlarged) edition, 868pp, The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd
Weber, R.W.S. & Webster, J., 2002Teaching techniques for mycology: 18. Rhytisma acerinum, cause of tar-spot disease of sycamore leavesMycologist Vol 16 (3): 120-123.

Rhytisma acerinum (Sycamore Tar-spot, Tar-spot Fungus) may also be included in 'feeds on' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

Rhytisma acerinum (Sycamore Tar-spot, Tar-spot Fungus) may also be included in 'fed on by' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesRhytisma acerinum (Sycamore Tar-spot, Tar-spot Fungus)
GenusRhytisma (tar-spot fungi)
FamilyRHYTISMATACEAE (a family of ascomycetes)
OrderRHYTISMATALES (an order of ascomycetes)
SubclassLEOTIOMYCETIDAE (powdery mildews)
ClassLEOTIOMYCETES (a class of fungi)
SubphylumPEZIZOMYCOTINA (a subphylum of ascomycetes)
PhylumASCOMYCOTA (spore shooters, ascomycete)
KingdomFUNGI (true fungi)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Rhytisma acerinum (Sycamore Tar-spot, Tar-spot Fungus)

Identification Works

Handling & MagnificationAuthorYearTitleSource
Forest Research 2009 Path News Issue 19: October 2009
Forest Research 2004 Path News Issue 9: October 2004
Minter, D. 1990 First Steps: Little Black Spots Mycologist Vol 4(1): 38-39.
Weber, R.W.S. & Webster, J. 2002 Teaching techniques for mycology: 18. Rhytisma acerinum, cause of tar-spot disease of sycamore leaves Mycologist Vol 16 (3): 120-123.

Rhytisma acerinum (Sycamore Tar-spot, Tar-spot Fungus) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

General Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
Alexander, R. 1988 Urban Tar-spot Vol 02 (1)
Pugh, G.J.F. 1987 Urban Tar-spot of Sycamore. Vol 01 (3)

Literature listed under the following higher taxa may also be relevant to Rhytisma acerinum (Sycamore Tar-spot, Tar-spot Fungus):

BioImagesBioImages (www.bioimages.org.uk) has 92 images of Rhytisma acerinum (Sycamore Tar-spot, Tar-spot Fungus)
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