Requienellaceae

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Requienellaceae are a family of fungi in the order Pyrenulales. They are found widely and grow on the wood and bark of trees. The family was defined in 1986 by Jean Boise, based on studies of Trematosphaeria. The type genus is Requienella, and other genera include Acrocordiella, Lacrymospora, and Parapyrenis.

Taxonomy notes: Requienellaceae has been placed in different orders in the past (Melanommatales or Pyrenulales, depending on the classification). Requienella seminuda is the type species. The name Requienella has sometimes been misspelled as Requinella. Trematomyces was once used for some species but is now considered part of Requienella, and Acrocordiella was moved into Requienellaceae.

Morphology: Requienellaceae fungi form dark, spherical fruiting bodies (ascomata) about 0.5–1.25 mm in diameter. They are usually embedded in bark at first and then emerge. They have unbranched, sparsely septate pseudoparaphyses and asci with a distinctive broad cylindrical tip that stains in a characteristic way. The spores (ascospores) are brown, multi-septate with distosepta, and show bilateral symmetry. In the type species Requienella seminuda, spores are about 20–34 μm long and have 4–8 compartments.

Habitat: They grow on the bark of trees such as olive (Olea), ash (Fraxinus), and cherry (Prunus). They do not form lichens with algae.

Diversity: The 2024 Outline of Fungi lists 16 species in 4 genera within Requienellaceae.