pikematelaceae

Pikematelaceae is a family of fungi that has been proposed to comprise a small group of filamentous, saprotrophic species. The family is currently based on molecular phylogenetic analyses that identify a distinct lineage, with the type genus Pikematelia. Because the taxonomic status of Pikematelaceae is debated, its circumscription has varied among studies, and a formal, universally accepted placement remains lacking. Most authors place this lineage within the phylum Ascomycota, although its exact relationship to other families within the group is unsettled.

Morphology and ecology: Members described so far are known only from environmental isolates and short culture studies. They form septate hyphae and reproduce asexually by conidia; a sexual stage has not been reliably observed. They are typically found in soil and leaf litter, where they participate in the decomposition of plant material. The known distribution includes temperate regions in the northern hemisphere, though records are sparse.

Taxonomic significance: Pikematelaceae illustrates challenges in fungal systematics when molecular data reveal distinct lineages with few morphological differences. Ongoing sequencing and broader sampling may clarify its rank and relationships and potentially expand or revise the family in the future.

Notes: The name derives from the type genus Pikematelia; as a provisional family, it may be reclassified as new data become available.