Capronia and its anamorphs: exploring the value of morphological and molecular characters in the systematics of the Herpotrichiellaceae

Characters employed in the taxonomy of Capronia are discussed in light of r esults of recent investigations of the systematics of this genus. Capronia is an anamorph-rich taxon and asexual spore states are important in the ide ntification of members of this genus. However, the complete life-histories of the majority of Capronia species are unknown and the construction of a c omprehensive taxonomy is hampered by the scarcity of specimens and cultures . Molecular phylogenies based on analyses of rDNA sequences demarcate these fungi from ascomycetes with morphologically similar anamorphs, but often f ail to clearly resolve species and genera within the Herpotrichiellaceae. T he stromatic Capronia species and species with fusoid or elongate ascospore s in particular warrant further taxonomic study.