The Cainiaceae is revived to accommodate Atrotorquata, Arecophila, Cainia, Ceriophora and Reticulosphaeria, all of which are described and illustrated. Ommatomyces is also included in the family and discussed. The essential characteristics of the family are ascomata which are usually immersed under a clypeus, unitunicate asci with a complex, J+, apical apparatus comprising a series of rings, and brown ascospores which may have longitudinal germ slits, striations, reticulate ornamentations and/or germ pores.