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Penicillium

A genus of fungi (class ascomycetes, order Aspergillales), species of which yield various antibiotic substances and biologicals; e.g., citrinum yields citrinin; penicillium claviforme, penicillium expansum, and penicillium patulum yield patulin; penicillium chrysogenum yields penicillin; penicillium griseofulvum yields griseofulvin; penicillium notatum yields penicillin and notatin; penicillium cyclopium and penicillium puberulum yield penicillic acid; penicillium purpurogenum and penicillium rubrum yield rubratoxin. Penicillium marneffei is a true pathogen in Southeast asia and in the bamboo rats.

Origin: see penicillus