Ceratocystis

/ˌsɛrətoʊˈsɪstɪs/ noun

Definition

A genus of fungi that includes pathogenic species capable of infecting trees and causing serious plant diseases like Dutch elm disease.

Etymology

From Greek 'keras' (horn) + 'kystis' (bladder, pouch). Named for the horn-shaped fruiting structures these fungi produce when reproducing.

Kelly Says

Dutch elm disease killed millions of elm trees across the world, and it was caused by a fungus with horn-shaped spores—pretty ironic that something so destructive has such a poetic name!

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