-ˈsfirēə noun
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from lept- + Greek sphaira sphere + New Latin -ia — more at sphere
: a genus of ascomycetous fungi that is commonly placed in the family Sphaeriaceae, is characterized by the production of dark ascospores with five or more septa, and includes saprophytes and a few fungi that are associated with leaf spots or rots of economic plants