vetorasitus

Vetorasitus is a genus of fungi belonging to the family Cystostereaceae. These fungi are saprobic, meaning they obtain nutrients from dead organic matter, and are typically found growing on wood. The genus was first described by Josef Rick in 1940.

Species within Vetorasitus are characterized by their fleshy, often resupinate to effused fruiting bodies that can become somewhat leathery with age. They typically lack distinct stems and are found closely appressed to their substrate. The hymenium, the spore-bearing surface, is smooth or slightly wrinkled and produces basidiospores that are generally hyaline and smooth. Microscopic features, such as the presence or absence of cystidia and the structure of the hyphal system, are important for species identification.

The distribution of Vetorasitus species is primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. Their ecological role involves the decomposition of woody debris, contributing to nutrient cycling in these ecosystems. Research on Vetorasitus is ongoing, with efforts focused on further taxonomic clarification and understanding their specific ecological roles and phylogenetic relationships within the fungal kingdom.