A new species and three new combinations in Cyphellophora, with a note on the taxonomic affinities of the genus, and its relation to Kumbhamaya and Pseudomicrodochium

Cyphellophora guyanensis sp. nov., isolated from leaf litter in French Guyana, is described and illustrated. This fungus is characterized by ampulliform to flask-shaped phialides, with a conspicuous, funnel-shaped collarette, and nearly straight to falcate or slightly sigmoid, (2-)3-6 septate conidia. Cyphellophora guyanensis is compared to the other Cyphellophora species, and the latter genus is compared to Kumbhamaya and Pseudomicrodochium. Kumbhamaya indica, P. fusarioides, and P. suttonii are transferred to Cyphellophora. The phylogenetic relationships of Cyphellophora with other genera of ascomycetes and related mitosporic fungi were inferred from the analysis of the partial nuclear ribosomal DNA SSU sequences data. The analysis supports a placement of Cyphellophora in Chaetothyriales, and probably in the Herpotrichiellaceae.