Penicillium

Penicillium
	Penicillium sp.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Eurotiomycetes
Order:	Eurotiales
Family:	Aspergillaceae
Genus:	Penicillium; Link (1809)
Type species
	Penicillium expansum; Link (1809)
Species
	over 300
Synonyms
	List Aspergillopsis Sopp (1912) ; Carpenteles Langeron (1922) ; Chromocleista Yaguchi & Udagawa (1993) ; Citromyces Wehmer (1893) ; Coremium Link (1809) ; Eladia G. Sm. (1961) ; Eupenicillium F. Ludw. (1892) ; Floccaria Grev. (1827); ; Hemicarpenteles A. K. Sarbhoy & Elphick (1968) ; Moniliger Letell. (1839) ; Pritzeliella Henn. (1903) ; Thysanophora W.B. Kendr. (1961) ; Toluromyces Delitsch (1943) ; Walzia Sorokin (1871) ;

Penicillium (/ˌpɛnɪˈsɪliəm/) is a genus of ascomycetous fungi that is part of the mycobiome of many species and is of major importance in the natural environment, in food spoilage, and in food and drug production.

Some members of the genus produce penicillin, a molecule that is used as an antibiotic, which kills or stops the growth of certain kinds of bacteria. Other species are used in cheesemaking. According to the Dictionary of the Fungi (10th edition, 2008), the widespread genus contains over 300 species.

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