Cephaleuros parasiticus is a plant pathogenic member of the chlorophyta, or green algae. It infects several commercially important crops including tea. Unlike the majority of pathogenic Cephaleuros species, it penetrates the epidermis of plants and is not constrained to subcuticular growth. It has sometimes been misidentified as Cephaleuros virescens. Cortex penetration and the name red rust of tea are marked differentiators of C. parasiticus from its relative C. virescens, which does not penetrate the epidermis. It has been renamed several times as more phylogenetic information has become available.

...