scholarly journals Microfossils from the Lower Devonian Rhynie Chert with suggested affinities to the peronosporomycetes

2012 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 358-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Krings ◽  
Thomas N. Taylor ◽  
Edith L. Taylor ◽  
Hans Kerp ◽  
Hagen Hass ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Devonian ◽  
Microbial Mats ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Microbial Life ◽  
Opaque Material ◽  
New Information ◽  
Single Form ◽  
Rhynie Chert ◽  
Thin Walled ◽  
Size And Morphology

A conspicuous silicified microfossil, Frankbaronia polyspora n. gen. n. sp., occurs in plant litter and as an inhabitant of microbial mats from the Lower Devonian Rhynie chert, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Specimens are elongate-cylindrical, oval, or spherical, thin-walled, and may possess conical or column-like surface projections. Most specimens occur isolated, some are arranged in pairs or short chains. Each specimen contains several small spheres, each in turn with a (sub)centric opaque inclusion. Immature specimens indicate that ontogenesis in this fossil includes the formation of a single centric body of opaque material that subsequently is apportioned among the developing small spheres. Frankbaronia polyspora is quite similar in size and morphology to the oogonia containing oospores seen in certain extant members of the Peronosporomycetes. The Rhynie chert is known to contain the oldest fossil evidence of the Peronosporomycetes but only a single form (Hassiella monospora) has previously been documented. The discovery of a second putative representative of this group of organisms proves that this paleoecosystem is still an important source of new information on the paleodiversity of microbial life.

scholarly journals Fertile Prototaxites taiti : a basal ascomycete with inoperculate, polysporous asci lacking croziers

2017 ◽  
Vol 373 (1739) ◽  
pp. 20170146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosmarie Honegger ◽  
Dianne Edwards ◽  
Lindsey Axe ◽  
Christine Strullu-Derrien
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Lower Devonian ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽  
Tree Trunk ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Rhynie Chert ◽  
Thin Walled ◽  
Reproductive Characters ◽  
Scanning Electron

The affinities of Prototaxites have been debated ever since its fossils, some attaining tree-trunk proportions, were discovered in Canadian Lower Devonian rocks in 1859. Putative assignations include conifers, red and brown algae, liverworts and fungi (some lichenised). Detailed anatomical investigation led to the reconstruction of the type species, P. logani , as a giant sporophore (basidioma) of an agaricomycete (= holobasidiomycete), but evidence for its reproduction remained elusive. Tissues associated with P. taiti in the Rhynie chert plus charcoalified fragments from southern Britain are investigated here to describe the reproductive characters and hence affinities of Prototaxites . Thin sections and peels (Pragian Rhynie chert, Aberdeenshire) were examined using light and confocal microscopy; Přídolí and Lochkovian charcoalified samples (Welsh Borderland) were liberated from the rock and examined with scanning electron microscopy. Prototaxites taiti possessed a superficial hymenium comprising an epihymenial layer, delicate septate paraphyses, inoperculate polysporic asci lacking croziers and a subhymenial layer composed predominantly of thin-walled hyphae and occasional larger hyphae. Prototaxites taiti combines features of extant Taphrinomycotina (Neolectomycetes lacking croziers) and Pezizomycotina (epihymenial layer secreted by paraphyses) but is not an ancestor of the latter. Brief consideration is given to its nutrition and potential position in the phylogeny of the Ascomycota. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The Rhynie cherts: our earliest terrestrial ecosystem revisited’.

FUNGI FROM THE LOWER DEVONIAN RHYNIE CHERT: CHYTRIDIOMYCETES

1992 ◽  
Vol 79 (11) ◽  
pp. 1233-1241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas N. Taylor ◽  
Winfried Remy ◽  
Hagen Hass
Keyword(s):  
Lower Devonian ◽  
Rhynie Chert

The first zosterophyll from the Lower Devonian Rhynie Chert, Aberdeenshire

1991 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Lyon ◽  
Dianne Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Lower Devonian ◽  
New Genus ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Early Devonian ◽  
Precise Positioning ◽  
Cortical Zone ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Rhynie Chert

ABSTRACTFragmentary remains of a vascular sporophyte from the Rhynie Chert are described as a new genus and species, Trichopherophyton teuchansii. The plant, which is characterised by the possession of unicellular spinous hairs, exarch xylem and laterally attached, marginally dehiscent sporangia, is assigned to the Zosterophyllophytina, but lack of information on the arrangement of sporangia prevents its more precise positioning within the subdivision. Unusual features include the combination of circinate tips to axes with almost terete xylem strands, and the lack of a thick-walled outer cortical zone. Associated axes, lacking spinous hairs, but having papillate or rhizoid-like epidermal emergences, are interpreted as likely rhizomes of Trichopherophyton. Features, such as unicellular spinous hairs, rhizoid-like emergences, circinate tipsand parenchymatous cortex are considered in relation to the functioning and growth of aplant inhabiting an early Devonian wetland.

A new vascular plant from the Lower Devonian Windyfield chert, Rhynie, NE Scotland

1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 331-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare L. Powell ◽  
Dianne Edwards ◽  
Nigel H. Trewin
Keyword(s):  
Lower Devonian ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Rhynie Chert ◽  
Microbial Film

AbstractTwo plants are described from fragmentary remains preserved in the Windyfield chert, situated c. 600 m from the classic Rhynie chert locality. Both are sometimes coated by a microbial film. The larger, fertile axes are placed in the new genus and species Ventarura lyonii. They possess a distinctive, sclerenchymatous middle cortex and terete xylem, and marginally dehiscent, lateral sporangia. The new taxon is similar to the Rhynie zosterophyll Trichopherophyton teuchansii, but is placed in a new genus on sporangial differences. Associated smaller axes with unicellular epidermal outgrowths lack the middle cortex of the larger axes and often have medullated protosteles. They are interpreted as subterranean rhizomes and probably belong to the new fertile taxon, but organic continuity between the two has not been demonstrated.

Depositional environment and preservation of biota in the Lower Devonian hot-springs of Rhynie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

1993 ◽  
Vol 84 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 433-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel H. Trewin
Keyword(s):  
Lower Devonian ◽  
Hot Springs ◽  
Hot Spring ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Shallow Subsurface ◽  
Floral Variation ◽  
Spring System ◽  
Volcanic Debris ◽  
Animal Communities

ABSTRACTThe Lower Devonian plant- and arthropod-bearing cherts of the Rhynie area of Aberdeenshire, NE Scotland, were deposited from silica-rich waters emanating from the hot-springs of a precious-metal (Au) bearing epithermal system. Cherts were deposited at temperatures up to 100°C. The hot-springs were active in the waning phase of local volcanism and reworked volcanic debris is associated with the hot-spring system. Plant and animal communities inhabited a low energy alluvial plain with small ponds. Hot-springs deposited surficial sinter and silicified standing plants and underlying plant litter in a generally terrestrial setting, but aquatic organisms were present in low temperature pools within areas of sinter deposition. Silicification also affected plants and sediment in the shallow subsurface. The cherts display massive, vuggy, laminated, lenticular, nodular and brecciated textures in laterally impersistent beds. Faunal and floral variation between beds is of local significance, possibly reflecting general water availability. Variations in preservation of plants reflect not only degrees of imperfection in the permineralisation process, but also silicification at different times in the cycle of plant growth and decay.

scholarly journals An unusual microfungus in a fungal spore from the Lower Devonian Rhynie chert

Palaeontology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 753-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL KRINGS ◽  
NORA DOTZLER ◽  
JOYCE E. LONGCORE ◽  
THOMAS N. TAYLOR
Keyword(s):  
Lower Devonian ◽  
Fungal Spore ◽  
Rhynie Chert
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