Kalgutkar, R. M., and J. Jansonius (2000) Synopsis Of Fossil Fungal Spores, Mycelia And Fructifications. American Association Stratigraphic Palynologists Foundation, Contributions Series Number 39.

SUMMARY/abstract

In this Synopsis we bring together some 950 validly published names of species, attributed to some 230 genera (plus some 70 names of extant genera, as well as many nomina nuda, and junior synonyms and homonyms). We propose twelve new genera: Axisporonites, Biporipsilonites, Disparidicellites, Hilidicellites, Kumarisporites, Mathurisporites, Mossopisporites, Multicellites, Ramasricellites, Saccisporonites, Trihyphites and Varmasporites. We propose one new species: Ctenosporites sherwoodiae. Transfers of species to more appropriate genera resulted in 31 junior homonyms, for which we provided the following nomina nova: Dicellaesporites largelongatus, D. perelongatus; Dictyosporites paradkarii; Didymoporisporonites gigas; Diporicellaesporites macellus, D. minifusiformis; Diporisporites pergranulatus; Dyadosporites antarcticus, D. neoconstrictus; Fusiformisporites duenasii; Hilidicellites dubius, H. trivedii; Hypoxylonites kumarii; Inapertisporites clarkei, I. edigeri, I. neopunctatus, I. triporatus; Kutchiathyrites canadensis; Monoporisporites doubingerae, M. mathurii, M. nemagnus, M. neoglobosus, M. perpsilatus, M. singularovalis; Multicellaesporites? songii; Pluricellaesporites cooksoniae, P. edigeri, P. malevisus, P. mexicanus; Scolecosporites modicus; Staphlosporonites billelsikii. The names of one genus and several species, not validly published in their respective protologues, are here validly published "ex Kalgutkar & Jansonius": Asterinites Doubinger & Pons (with A. colombiensis, A. tellezii), Biporipsilonites bellulus (Ke & Shi), Cercosporites torulosus (Trivedi & Verma), Dicellaesporites longus Trivedi & Verma, Diporisporites planus Martínez-Hernández & Tomasini-Ortiz, Microthyriacites baqueroensis Martinez, Palambages colonica Trivedi & Verma, Pluricellaesporites dentatus Trivedi & Verma, P. minutus Trivedi & Verma and P. planus Trivedi & Verma. Our transfers also resulted in some 350 new combinations: too many to list in this abstract.

While we tried to include all papers of interest particularly to (paleo)palynologists, this Synopsis will also be of benefit to mycologists who find the literature on fossil remains not easily accessible. The latter also may appreciate a brief survey of megascopic remains reported in the literature. Still, we did not cover many of the earlier (nineteenth century) publications.

We give a summary introduction into paleomycology, as well as some mycological fundamentals, for palynologists; a brief section on palynological practices may be of benefit to mycologists. The discussions dealing with the morphology of fungal spores are concluded with a section "Description of fungal spores", which provides a checklist of features to be observed and reported on. Technical terms are explained in a Glossary.

The main part of this Synopsis is the systematics section, where the descriptions of genera and species are given in alphabetic order; junior synonyms and homonyms are included, with cross-references to new names or combinations. The types of nearly all species are illustrated with a line drawing. In an Appendix we list all specific epithets together with, in capitals, the names of genera to which they are now attached, and those used in earlier binomials, in lower case.

Organization of this Synopsis

In this volume we compile the more recent worldwide literature on fossil fungal remains, as far as known to us. Although some papers as old as the beginning of the 19th century have been consulted, we have no illusion that our survey is complete (see below). We document the wide diversity of all those fossil fungal palynomorphs, mycelia and fructifications, of which the names had, or have, been validly published. For a small number of genera and species their names are here validly published for the first time. We include a small number of generic nomina nuda, that have been (or might be) considered as validly published.

This publication provides an immediate and quick reference to the names of genera and species, furnished with descriptions and figures. It aims to stimulate the interest of mycologists in the ancestral forms of living fungi, as well as to guide palynologists to a better understanding of the morphology, classification and biostratigraphic application of fossil fungi. We do not include forms described in "open nomenclature" (e.g. "Inapertisporites sp. A", or "Pluricellaesporites sp. 2"). Superseded binomials are listed, and are provided with cross references to the correct names. For the species, only the locations of types are cited, except in instances involving synonymy or emended/enlarged concepts. For each taxon, we cite the original diagnosis (for genera) or description (for species), as well as later emendations. We also cite supplementary comments of the original authors, generally verbatim (without changing the nomenclature they used, into the rationalized nomenclature presented in our Synopsis). For some entries, we provide a "diagnosis as here emended", and/or add "our remarks"; we always clearly identify our own opinions or contributions.

Because we did not see most of the original material, we refrained from emending species concepts. However, the grouping of species into (more or less artificial) genera is a more subjective exercise. We have rationalized some past practices, which makes for more coherent generic circumscriptions and groupings. Nevertheless, we have not split these groupings farther than absolutely necessary; that task will remain for future mycologists/palynologists, after they have studied the original (or additional new) material.

In the heading of each species we cite the page and figure number of the type specimen, in the original paper (protologue). Centered on the next line, we give, in bold, the plate and figure number of our own illustration of the species. A professional illustrator made the majority of line drawings in the Synopsis. These were augmented by illustrations borrowed from the Genera File of Fossil Spores (Jansonius & Hills, 1976 et seq.); those too simplistic for the present purpose were upgraded by Jansonius. All drawings were scanned, and then sized by computer to a uniform magnification. Most spores are at 700x magnification, some small forms at 1000x. Most microthyriaceous fruiting bodies are at 500x; others at a variety of magnifications. Computer-produced scales allow a quick resolution of the actual, and relative, sizes.

We received slides, negatives and photographs from some authors whose original descriptions seemed to be at odds with their original photographs, or whose published illustrations did not sufficiently show the necessary detail. Descriptions adjusted as a result of that, have been so identified.

The plates are arranged in a morphological order: first the inaperturate unicellate (aseptate) spores, which are followed by mono-aperturate, di-aperturate and multi-aperturate amerospores. Next the inaperturate dicellate spores, the mono-aperturate ones, etc. Then, mutatis mutandis, the same for pluricellate spores, where curvature of linear forms, and manner of aggregation of non-linear forms play a role. These are followed by the spherical aggregations, and aggregations with more than one axis. Next are the sporangia of the mycorrhizal fungi, the fruiting bodies of the microthyriaceous fungi and those of the Paleozoic Sporocarpon group, as well as a miscellany of various fruiting structures, including some mushrooms. Some late additions had to be accommodated onto the last two plates.

The "Glossary" may help palynologists to better understand the mycological descriptions. Our comprehensive "Bibliography" may include references not directly cited in our text. We do not provide references to the works in which modern genera were published to which fossil species have been assigned; neither do we cite the diagnoses of such modern genera.