Protothelenellaceae

The Protothelenellaceae are a family of mostly lichen-forming fungi in the order Baeomycetales. The family was established in 1985 and includes three genera with about 22 species worldwide. These fungi typically form thin crusts on rocks, soil, mosses, plant debris, or wood, and are found on nearly every continent. Most family members produce flask-shaped fruiting bodies embedded in their crusty thalli, with spores that have internal dividing walls. The family's evolutionary relationships have been debated, with some scientists arguing whether certain genera should be separated into their own family. DNA studies have helped clarify these relationships, though the exact position of Protothelenellaceae within the larger fungal tree of life remains not yet fully resolved.