Asterina is a large genus of fungi in the Asterinaceae family.^[2] It was then placed in Asterinales order later.^[3] The genus was circumscribed by French mycologist Joseph-Henri Léveillé in 1845.^[4]

The genus was originally introduced as a member of the Sphaeriaceae family (a former family with parasitic fungi having globose and sometimes necked or beaked perithecia) with four species; Asterina azarae, Asterina compacta, Asterina pulla and the type Asterina melastomatis.^[5]

It is currently the largest genus in Asterinaceae family, but only nine species have DNA sequence data available in GenBank due to its unculturable character. Species in the genus generally have circular thyriothecia (an inverted ascocarp) with stellate dehiscence (division), lateral appressoria (infecting cell), globose asci (sexual spore), and dark brown, 1-septate (wall) ascospores.^[5]

The generally have cosmopolitan distribution, worldwide.^[1] Including China,^[6][7] New Zealand,^[8] Kenya,^[9] India,^[10] and Panama (South America).^[11]

They are generally are found as pathogens on plants, such as Asterina gaiadendricola is found on Gaiadendron punctatum (Loranthaceae family) and Asterina schlegeliae on Schlegelia parviflora (Schlegeliaceae), Asterina consobrina on Solanum aphyodendron Solanaceae), Asterina fuchsiae on Fuchsia paniculata (Onagraceae) and Asterina phenacis on Phenax mexicanus (Urticaceae). While both Asterina manihotis and Asterina ciferriana were both found on Caesalpinia bonduc, (Fabaceae).^[11]

Six species (Asterina indodeightonii, Asterina mioconsobrina, Asterina miosphaerelloides, Asterina neocombreticola, Asterina neoelaeocarpi and Asterina presaracae), where found on fossil angiosperm leaf remains recovered from the Siwalik sediments (mid-Miocene to early Pleistocene) of Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalayas. Found on plant genera resembling the genera of Actinodaphne (Lauraceae), Anthocephalus (Rubiaceae), Combretum (Combretaceae), Lindera (Lauraceae) and Unona (Annonaceae).^[10]

As of 27 August 2023^[update], the GBIF lists up to 740 species,^[1] while Species Fungorum lists about 727 species (out of 931 records).^[12] About 1,085 species were accepted by Wijayawardene et al. in 2020.^[3]