It was first identified in 1929 on American elm (Ulmus americana) and was thought to belong to the order Sphaeropsidales but was later described as Cephalosporium sp.
Trichothecenes are a very large family of chemically related mycotoxins produced by various species of Fusarium, Myrothecium, Trichoderma, Trichothecium, Cephalosporium, Verticimonosporium, and Stachybotrys.