A re-evaluation of the Eurotiales

The Ascomycota classified in the Eurotiales, Gymnoascales, and Onygenales are considered to belong to a single order Eurotiales, which includes 4 families, based on the shape, size, and symmetry of the ascospores. The Eurotiaceae and Gymnoascaceae have dorsiventrally flattened ascospores, the Onygenaceae have elongated ascospores, and those of the Amauroascaceae are spherical or nearly so. Spherical or obovate-saccate, thin-walled, unitunicate asci, aseptate, hyaline, or pale ascospores without germ pores, and the absence of ostiolate or discoid ascomata are characteristic of all Eurotiales (and the Erysiphales and Dipodascaceae). Anamorphs are often predominant; the conidia develop from meristematic hyphae, are often catenate and separate from each other or from the supporting hypha by two septa, usually with disjunctives. Terms such as phialide, separating cell, schizolytic, or rhexolytic are considered to be misleading and superfluous.