Pseudomitrulaceace, fam. nov., and three new species of Pseudomitrula expand the known diversity of South American earth tongues.

Pseudomitrula species form a distinct clade in Helotiales, leading to the establishment of a new family, Pseudomitrulaceae, with four species including three newly described.

• Why it matters: Understanding the diversity and classification of earth tongues like Pseudomitrula is crucial for fungal taxonomy and ecological studies, especially in underexplored regions like South America.
• What they did: Researchers collected dozens of Pseudomitrula specimens from southern South America, performed phylogenetic analyses using ITS and 15-locus data, and described three new species with detailed morphology.
• The result: The findings clarify Pseudomitrula’s placement within Helotiales, expand South American fungal diversity knowledge, and establish Pseudomitrulaceae as a new family, facilitating future taxonomic and ecological research.