Spirographaceae

Spirographa is a genus of parasitic fungi. It is the sole genus in the monotypic family Spirographaceae, belonging to the order Ostropales. These obligate parasites live exclusively on lichens and produce distinctive fruiting bodies that develop within their host's tissue, characterised by ascospores arranged in a loose spiral pattern. The genus is distinguished by its unique spore features, including some species that produce spores with long, thread-like appendages, and unusual Y-shaped or geometric asexual reproductive structures.