The Order Neolectales is a unique and basal group of fungi within the phylum Ascomycota, specifically classified under the class Neolectomycetes and the subclass Neolectomycetidae. This order is monotypic, comprising a single genus, Neolecta, which includes species such as Neolecta irregularis and Neolecta vitellina. These fungi are characterized by their bright, unbranched to lobed, club-shaped fruiting bodies that can reach up to 7 cm in height. Despite their superficial resemblance to "earth tongues" like Geoglossum, Neolecta species are phylogenetically distinct and belong to a different lineage within the Ascomycota.