Leal-Dutra, Caio A., Griffith, Gareth W., Neves, Maria Alice, McLaughlin, David J., McLaughlin, Esther G., Clasen, Lina A., and Dentinger, Bryn T. M.
Pterulaceaewas formally proposed to group six coralloid and dimitic genera: Actiniceps(=Dimorphocystis), Allantula, Deflexula, Parapterulicium, Pterula,and Pterulicium. Recent molecular studies have shown that some of the characters currently used in Pterulaceaedo not distinguish the genera. Actinicepsand Parapteruliciumhave been removed, and a few other resupinate genera were added to the family. However, none of these studies intended to investigate the relationship between Pterulaceaegenera. In this study, we generated 278 sequences from both newly collected and fungarium samples. Phylogenetic analyses supported with morphological data allowed a reclassification of Pterulaceaewhere we propose the introduction of Myrmecopterulagen. nov. and Radulomycetaceaefam. nov., the reintroduction of Phaeopterula, the synonymisation of Deflexulain Pterulicium,and 53 new combinations. Pterulais rendered polyphyletic requiring a reclassification; thus, it is split into Pterula, Myrmecopterulagen. nov., Pteruliciumand Phaeopterula. Deflexulais recovered as paraphyletic alongside several Pterulaspecies and Pterulicium,and is sunk into the latter genus. Phaeopterulais reintroduced to accommodate species with darker basidiomes. The neotropical Myrmecopterulagen. nov. forms a distinct clade adjacent to Pterula, and most members of this clade are associated with active or inactive attine ant nests. The resupinate genera Coroniciumand Meruliciumare recovered in a strongly supported clade close to Pterulicium. The other resupinate genera previously included in Pterulaceae, and which form basidiomes lacking cystidia and with monomitic hyphal structure (Radulomyces, Radulotubusand Aphanobasidium), are reclassified into Radulomycetaceae fam. nov. Allantulais still an enigmatic piece in this puzzle known only from the type specimen that requires molecular investigation. A key for the genera of Pterulaceaeand Radulomycetaceaefam. nov. is also provided here.