''Curvularia protuberata'' is a species of

fungus A fungus (plural, : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of Eukaryote, eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and Mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified ...

in the family

Pleosporaceae Pleosporaceae is a family of sac fungi. The taxonomic relationship of this family to associated genera is still not determined. Genera As accepted by GBIF; * '' Acrothecium'' (13) * ''Alternaria'' Nees ex Wallroth, 1816 (841) * '' Alternariaste ...

. It forms a mutualistic relationship with ''

Dichanthelium lanuginosum ''Dichanthelium lanuginosum'' is a species of rosette grass native to North America. It is most common in the central and eastern United States. It is found in a variety of habitats, mostly in open, dry areas. A variety, ''D. lanuginosum'' var. ...

'' (panic grass) and Curvularia thermal tolerance

virus A virus is a wikt:submicroscopic, submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living Cell (biology), cells of an organism. Viruses infect all life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and ...

that allows the grass to grow in soils that are far warmer than it normally tolerates. The mutualism allows the grass to thrive in soil that is 65 °C in

Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park is an American national park located in the western United States, largely in the northwest corner of Wyoming Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is border ...

. Experiments have shown that the plant can only survive when it is infected by ''C. protuberata'' and when ''C. protuberata'' is also infected with the virus. This is an example of a tritrophic interaction, as three organisms are interacting.

References

Pleosporaceae Fungi described in 1965 Fungus species {{Pleosporales stub