NAME Vizella memorabilis
AGE (Dilcher) Early Eocene.   AGE span: 55.8...48.6 mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Ascomycetes, Microthyriales.
FIGURE(S)
Image of
Pl.27fig.6.jpg
FIGURE REFERENCE Dilcher DL. 1965. Epiphyllous fungi from Eocene deposits in Western Tennessee, U.S.A.; Palaeontographica, Abt. B, v. 116, p. 1-54.
SPECIES, AUTHORITY V. memorabilis (Dilcher) Selkirk 1972, p. 142.
LOCATION (Dilcher) Western Tennessee, USA.
ORIG DESCRIPTION* Epicuticular colonies 90-450 µm in diameter, may originate from germination of 2-celled spore. Initial hyphal cell produces hyphae in two opposite directions. Hyphae dichotomize at short intervals, forming an anastomosing network. Angles of dichotomies become progressively narrower distally in the colonies. Hyphal cells 3-6 x 6-24 µm. Lateral hyphal walls thin, slightly sinuous; end walls markedly thickened. Incomplete septations apparent in end walls. Lateral walls often disintegrate leaving persistent, conspicuous end walls. Hyphopodium-like lateral branches most often unicellular, occasionally multicellular, arise medially from hyphal cells, may be unilateral, alternate or opposite. Evidence of haustorial penetration of the host leaf present in several of the hyphopodium-like branches. Hyphal cells occasionally parasitize host leaf directly. Reproductive multicellular lateral branches also produced by hyphal cells. Both hyphopodium-like and reproductive lateral branches consist of cells shorter and wider than the hyphal cells, 6-17 x 5-15 µm. Fruiting body formed by irregular proliferation of cells from short reproductive lateral branch or, rarely, by medial hyphal cell. Mature fruiting body composed of dense mass of randomly oriented hyphal cells, often hyphae radiate out in all directions from margin. At maturity the center of the fruiting body arches away from the host leaf and a distinct ostiole develops. Two types of fruiting bodies occur: 1) Large fruiting body (ascocarp) 88-150 µm in diameter in which 2-celled spores occur. Spores are 5-10 x 11-14 µm composed of two unequal cells, a smaller hyaline cell 2.5-3.5 x 2.5-3.5 µm and a larger brown cell 6-8 x 8-12 µm often encircled by a conspicuous hyaline band. 2) Smaller fruiting body (pycnidium) 48-110 µm in diameter, in which single-celled spores occur. Spores are 2-3 x 6-7 µm, brown with no hyaline band evident. Found on upper and lower surface of leaves of Sapindus sp. and Chrysobalanus sp.
COMMENTS* (Dilcher): Arnaud's original description in 1918 of single species of Manginula perseae still stands as the only record of this genus except for the present report of Shortensis memorabilis for which both the perfect and imperfect stages are known. On the basis of the perfect stage in this fossil form, it is placed in a new genus Shortensis.

The modern form Manginula perseae and this fossil species are similar in general habitat, in appearance, and in pycnidial and mycelial characteristics. However, there are important differences in the development of their hyphal tissue, hyphopodia, ostiole and pycnidiospores, which justify a species distinction. In M. perseae the mycelia, hyphopodia and pycnidia are subcuticular; in S. memorabilis they are epicuticular. The hyphae of M. perseae consist of light long cells alternating with short darker cells that give rise to "stigmopodia" (hyphopodia); this regular arrangement and color of hyphal cells was not observed in the fossil material. Pseudo- to true hyphal dichotomies are characteristic of S. memorabilis, while Arnaud stated that only pseudodichotomies are present in the hyphal branching of M. perseae. Distinct ostioles are found in S. memorabilis. Arnaud illustrated a large irregular opening in a mature pycnidium of M. perseae. The pycnidiospores also differ in size and banding. Manginula perseae has large (6-7 x 11-12 µm) banded pycnidiospores while those of S. memorabilis are smaller (2-3 x 6-7 µm) and are not banded.

(Lange): Arnaud's account (specifically, the figures he provided) is adequate for subsequent recognition of Manginula: hence his description (in French, but in 1918) constitutes valid publication of the genus. Since the genus Shortensis was created "... for species of Manginula for which perfect stages are known," it is superfluous and, if applied to present-day species, might appear to be invalid by present lack of a Latin diagnosis. The name Manginula is therefore retained, and the name Shortensis is regarded as a synonym. Shortensis memorabilis referred to by Dilcher (1965) is transferred to Manginula.
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Dilcher DL. 1965. Epiphyllous fungi from Eocene deposits in Western Tennessee, U.S.A.; Palaeontographica, Abt. B, v. 116, p. 1-54.

Lange RT. 1969. Recent and fossil fungi of the Manginula-Shortensis group; Australian Journal of Botany, v. 17, p. 565-574.
K&J REMARKS See extensive discussion in remarks from Kalgutkar and Jansonius (2000) under Manginula Arnaud 1918. Although Dilcher did not designate a holotype, but syntypes (all resulting from a single collection), Kalgutkar and Jansonius (2000) consider that the name was validly published, in accordance with ICBN Art. 8.1, which states that: "for small herbaceous plants and most non-vascular plants, the type may consist of more than one individual ... conserved permanently on one ... microscope slide, or in one equivalent preparation, e.g. a box ...." Fossil plants are not excepted from this tolerant Rule.

Kalgutkar and Jansonius (2000) select a lectotype from these syntypes; it is permanently preserved in the paleobotanical collections of the Peabody Natural History Museum, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Lange assumed (in the AUTHOR'S COMMENTS above) that the one-celled spores with a clear band described by Arnaud were in fact not pycnospores, but degraded two-celled ascospores; and that, hence, Manginula is a perfect stage. However, Selkirk was not fully convinced by that argument, and transferred the perfect fossil Shortensis memorabilis to Vizella. He did maintain Manginula for modern species representing the imperfect stage, and assigned imperfect fossil species to Entopeltacites.
TYPE Shortensis memorabilis Dilcher 1965, p. 30, pl. 17, figs. 135-137; pl.20, figs. 157-159; pl. 21, figs. 160-161 [lectotype designated by Selkirk 1972; non: pl. 19, fig. 147, designated by Jansonius & Hills (1976), card no. 2592].
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Shortensis memorabilis Dilcher 1965, p. 30, pl. 17, figs. 135-137; pl.20, figs. 157-159; pl. 21, figs. 160-161
Manginula memorabilis (Dilcher 1965) Lange 1969, p. 565.; Vizella memorabilis
SERIAL NUMBER 1777
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.