Protoscyphaceae Kutorga & D. Hawksw., Syst. Ascom. 15(1–2): 70 (1997).
MycoBank number: MB 81924; Index Fungorum number: IF 81924; Facesoffungi number: FoF 07900, 2 species.
Parasitic on living leaves of Miconia thomasiana. Sexual morph: Ascostromata superficial, solitary, scattered, occurring on the lower leaf surface, discoid or cup-shaped, slightly convex or raised pulvinate, semi-immersed, flattened and thickened at the base, occurring in lesions of light brown regions and surrounded by external black mycelial, multi-locular, opening by rupturing or cracking of the apical ascostromata. Peridium thick, composed of dark cells arranged in a textura angularis. Hamathecium comprising hyaline, relatively wide, anastomosing, septate, cellular pseudoparaphyses, often with swollen cells, intermixed with reddish brown colouration, and surrounded by a gelatinous matrix. Asci 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, subglobose oblong, broadly cylindrical to subclavate, somewhat thickened at the apex, short pedicellate, with a wide, but short ocular chamber. Ascospores 2–3-seriate, muriform, oblong to oval-sub ellipsoid, hyaline, pale brown or light brown, multi-septate, constricted at the septum, surrounded by a thin gelatinous sheath. Asexual morph: Undetermined.
Type: Protoscypha Syd.
Notes: The family currently comprises a monotypic genus Protoscypha with two species and is treated in Dothideomycetes as family incertae sedis (Hyde et al. 2013; Wijayawardene et al. 2018). The family lacks molecular data to establish phylogenetic placement, especially as the type species is yet to be sequenced and no additional new taxa in this family.
Genera