Molecular phylogenetic analyses and micromorphology reveal placement of the enigmatic tropical discomycete in (Sclerococcales, Eurotiomycetes).

is an enigmatic, monotypic, and rarely reported genus of Ascomycota of uncertain placement. The morphologically unique grows on dead wood and forms compound ascomata composed of thick, black, gelatinous somatic tissue that branches out from a common base. Multiple apothecia are located on the branches, mostly toward the tips, and are composed of 8-spored asci and paraphyses embedded in a gelatinous matrix that turns blue in Melzer's reagent. The species was previously known from only three collections from Guyana (holotype), Trinidad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and no sequences exist. Due to its peculiar morphology, taxonomic affinities of have been debated, with different authors having placed it in Helotiaceae, Leotiaceae, or Leotiomycetes incertae sedis. Recent collections of this species resulting from long-term field work in Guyana and Cameroon led us to revisit the morphology and phylogenetic position of this fungus. Newly generated sequences of were added to an Ascomycota-wide six-locus data set. The resulting phylogeny showed to be a member of order Sclerococcales (Eurotiomycetes). Next, a four-locus (18S, ITS, 28S, mtSSU) phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that is congeneric with . A new combination is proposed for this species, . Micromorphological features, including the gelatinous hymenium composed of asci with amyloid gel cap and septate brown ascospores, are in agreement with . New combinations are proposed for two additional species: and . Finally, Dactylosporales is considered a later synonym of Sclerococcales.