An endophyte is an organism, usually a fungus or bacterium, that lives inside a plant during most or all of its life cycle. Many grass species contain endophytic fungi belonging to the order Ascomycetes (family Clavicipitaceae, tribe Balansieae). Endophytes of the genus Balansia are found in various warm-season grass genera such as bluestems (Andropogon), lovegrasses (Eragrostis), and dallisgrass and bahiagrass (Paspalum). Endophytes of the genus Epichloe and its asexual descendant Neotyphodium are found in the cool-season grasses—bentgrasses (Agrostis), fescues (Festuca), ryegrasses (Lolium), and bluegrasses (Poa).