A cleistothecium is an almost spherical ascoma without a preformed opening, with a single- or multilayered wall. Cleistothecia are often surrounded by envelope cells or peridia. The spores are released through mechanical destruction of the cleistothecium or through swelling of internal structures that cause it to rupture. Cleistothecia are formed, for example, by the genera Emericella and Eurotium.

Back to Glossary Back to Term