[Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes]
(dematiaceous anamorphic fungi)

This is a purely artificial classification (some would call it a "dumping ground") for anamorphic fungi (ie fungi where the stage that produces sexual spores is not formed or is unknown), where the asexual spores (conidia) or the spore-bearing hyphae (conidiophores) are pigmented and where the asexual spores are not formed in a closed body.

Over the years, members have been gradually removed as laboratory cultures have yielded the sexual states. More recently DNA studies have superseded this and the classification will eventually disappear. Nevertheless "dematiaceous hyphomycete" remains a useful descriptive term for the pigmented asexual states of many ascomycetes.