''Epichloë occultans'' is a hybrid asexual species in the fungal genus ''

Epichloë ''Epichloë'' is a genus of ascomycete fungi forming an endophytic symbiosis with grasses. Grass choke disease is a symptom in grasses induced by some ''Epichloë'' species, which form spore-bearing mats ( stromata) on tillers and suppress t ...

''. A systemic and seed-transmissible grass symbiont first described in 2000, ''Epichloë occultans'' is a natural allopolyploid of ''

Epichloë baconii ''Epichloë baconii'' is a haploid sexual species in the fungal genus ''Epichloë''. A systemic grass symbiont first described in 1993, ''Epichloë baconii'' is a sister lineage to '' Epichloë stromatolonga''. ''Epichloë baconii'' is found ...

'' (the ''

Lolium ''Lolium'' is a genus of tufted grasses in the bluegrass subfamily (Pooideae). It is often called ryegrass, but this term is sometimes used to refer to grasses in other genera. They are characterized by bunch-like growth habits. ''Lolium'' is ...

'' associated clade) and '' Epichloë bromicola''. ''Epichloë occultans'' is found in Europe and North Africa, and has been introduced into

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

and elsewhere, where it has been identified in the grass species ''Lolium multiflorum'' and ''

Lolium rigidum ''Lolium rigidum'' is a species of annual grass. Common names by which it is known include annual ryegrass, a name also given to Italian ryegrass (''Lolium multiflorum''), rigid ryegrass, stiff darnel, Swiss ryegrass and Wimmera ryegrass. It is ...

''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q79151633 occultans Fungi described in 2000 Fungi of Europe Fungi of New Zealand Fungi of North America