Fungalpedia – Note 2714, Roselliniella
Roselliniella Vain.
Citation when using this data: Meng QF et al. – Fungalpedia.
Index Fungorum, Faceoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig 1.
Classification: Hypocreales genera incertae sedis, Hypocreomycetidae, Sordariomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi
The genus name Roselliniella first appeared in Vainio (1921c), where it was referenced as a comparison to Rosellinia Sect. Lichenicolae Sacc., but without specifying any species. Initially, Roselliniella was treated as a later synonym of Adelococcus by Theissen et al. (1918) until Hafellner (1985b) revived it as a distinct genus. Matzer et al. (1990) later revised Roselliniella, adding six new species and three additional combinations, and designated R. nephromatis as the type species, transferring it from Sphaeria nephromatis P. Crouan & H. Crouan.
This genus is characterized by lichenicolous, perithecial, black ascomata with unitunicate asci that are cylindrical to club-shaped, long-stalked, and rounded or tapering at the apex, with thin walls. Each ascus contains 2–8 uniseriate ascospores, which can be 1–5-celled, not constricted at the septa, and vary in shape, elliptical, oval, lemon-shaped, spindle-shaped, or potato-shaped. Young ascospores are hyaline, while mature ones are brown and smooth-walled (Matzer et al. 1990).
Since Matzer et al (1990), eleven new species have been described by many researchers, bringing the total to 21 recognized species in Roselliniella (Index Fungorum 2025). Initially, this genus was placed within the Sordariales based on its asci, ascospores, and interascal filaments (Hoffmann et al. 2000). However, subsequent phylogenetic analysis by Hawksworth et al. (2010b), based on LSU sequences from Roselliniella atlantica and R. euparmeliicola, repositioned the genus within the Hypocreales.
Type species: Roselliniella nephromatis (P. Crouan & H. Crouan) Matzer & Hafellner (Matzer et al. 1990).
= Sphaeria nephromatis P. Crouan & H. Crouan (Crouan et al. 1867b).
Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Roselliniella.
Figure 1 – Roselliniella nephromatis redrawn from Matzer et al. (1990). Section of ascoma. Scale bar = 50 μm.
References
Hafellner J. 1985b – Studien über lichenicole Pilze und Flechten IV. Die auf Brigantiaea-Arten beobachteten Ascomyceten. Herzogia 7, 163–180.
Hawksworth DL, Millanes AM, Wedin M. 2010b – Roselliniella revealed as an overlooked genus of Hypocreales, with the description of a second species on parmelioid lichens. Persoonia 24, 12–17.
Hoffmann N, Hafellner J. 2000 – Eine Revision der lichenicolen Arten der Sammelgattungen Guignardia und Physalospora (Ascomycotina). Bibliotheca Lichenologica 77, 1–181.
Matzer M, Hafellner J 1990 – Eine Revision der lichenicolen Arten der Sammelgattung Rosellinia (Ascomycetes). J. Cramer, 37, 1–138.
Theissen Fv, Sydow H. 1918 – Vorentwürfe zu den Pseudosphaeriales. Annales Mycologici 16 (1–2), 1–34.
Vainio EA. 1921c – Lichenographia Fennia I. – Pyrenolichenes iisque proximi Pyrenomycetes et Lichenes imperfecti. Acta Societatis pro Fauna et Flora Fennica 49 (2), 1–274.
Entry by
Meng QF, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand and School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Guizhou 563000, China.
Published online 16 July 2026