NAME Asterina kosciuskensis
AGE Early Miocene.   AGE span: 23.03...15.97 mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Ascomycetes, Microthyriales.
FIGURE(S)
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FIGURE REFERENCE Selkirk DR. 1975. Tertiary fossil fungi from Kiandra, New South Wales; Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, v. 100, p. 70-94.
SPECIES, AUTHORITY A. kosciuskensis Selkirk 1975, p. 73, pl. 2, figs. 7-9; pl. 3, fig. 7.
LOCATION Kiandra, New South Wales, Australia.
ORIG DESCRIPTION* Colonies up to 4 mm diameter, amphigenous. Mycelium dark. Hyphae straight, cells 19-47 µm long and 4.5-10 µm wide, branches at 90 degrees, alternate or unilateral. Hyphopodia one-celled, alternate or unilateral, subglobose to cylindrical with broadly rounded apex, 9-15 µm long and 5-10 µm wide; mostly at right angles to cells bearing them, often slightly antrorse, occasionally reflexed; distinct pore up to 2.5 µm diameter towards distal end, usually surrounded by a thickened rim. Perithecia scattered or crowded, up to 450 µm diameter, composed of radiating hyphae; margin fimbriate, paler than central area. Central portion of wall multi-layered, margin single-layered. Spores ovate-elliptical, 1-septate, constricted, cells of unequal length, walls thin, granular. Walls of spore become thick and dark after germination and further septa may develop.
COMMENTS* Colonies are often confluent and the surface of some leaves is almost entirely covered by mycelium. Cells in hyphae on the lower surface of leaves are generally longer than those in the upper surface. Walls of individual cells are often sinuate. Branches usually arise from cells without hyphopodia. If the hyphopodium is present the branch arises opposite it. Pores in hyphopodia presumably represent the position of penetration of the host by haustoria, but no haustorial structures are visible beneath the cuticle. Many large perithecia have cracks radiating from the centre, or else the wall is irregularly broken. In modern Asterina spp. spores escape through radial or irregular fissures (Doidge, 1920), and splits in fossil perithecia may represent dehiscence. In two cases split perithecia contain spores, but it is possible that splits may be due to mechanical damage to the brittle fertile material.

A complete series of stages in fructification development is often present in a single colony. Fructifications first appear as small lobed outgrowths of medial hyphal cells or terminal on short lateral branches. Older fructifications form a plate of radiating hyphae under, or to one side of, the hyphae (pl. 2, figs. 2-4).
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Selkirk DR. 1975. Tertiary fossil fungi from Kiandra, New South Wales; Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, v. 100, p. 70-94.
K&J REMARKS
TYPE
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Asterina kosciuskensis
SERIAL NUMBER 61
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.