Trypetheliales

Trypetheliales is an order of lichen-forming fungi, specifically within the class Eurotiomycetes. These lichens are characterized by their often inconspicuous, crustose thalli, which can be smooth, granular, or verrucose. The fruiting bodies, or apothecia, are typically apothecioid, meaning they are cup-shaped and open, though some species may exhibit lirelliform apothecia which are elongated slits. The ascospores produced by Trypetheliales fungi are usually muriform, meaning they are divided into multiple cells by both transverse and longitudinal septa.

The order is primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions, often growing on bark or rock. Many species are epiphytic, meaning they live on plants, and some are known to be endolichenic, growing within the thallus of other lichens. The ecological roles and specific host associations of many Trypetheliales species are still areas of ongoing research. Taxonomically, the order is defined by a combination of morphological and molecular characteristics. The family Trypetheliaceae is the sole family within this order, containing numerous genera. Further research is needed to fully understand the diversity and evolutionary relationships within Trypetheliales.