Sequences from the 18s rDNA gene of representatives of the capnodiaceous sooty mold families Antennulariellaceae, Capnodiaceae, and Metacapnodiaceae as well as 14 ascomycete taxa representing the Plectomycetes, Dothideales, Pyrenomycetes, and Pleosporales, and yeast outgroups were analyzed. Sooty mold capnodiaceous ascomycetes comprising were found to be a monophyletic group, the Capnodiales. The convergent origin of the bitunicate ascus associated with the periphysoid sterile element is validated. The major Capnodiales characters are the foliicolous habit, darkly pigmented hyphae, and a distinctive periphysoid sterile element associated with a fissitunicate type of bitunicate ascus.Key words: ascomycetes, Capnodiales, periphysoid sterile elements.