NAME Brachysporisporites inuvikensis
AGE Late Paleocene - Early to Middle Eocene.   AGE span: 58.7...40.4 mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Fungi Imperfecti, Phragmosporae.
FIGURE(S)
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FIGURE REFERENCE Parsons MG, Norris G. 1999. Paleogene fungi from the Caribou Hills, Mackenzie Delta, northern Canada; Palaeontographica, Abt. B, v. 250, p. 77-167.
SPECIES, AUTHORITY B. inuvikensis Parsons & Norris 1999, p. 127, pl. 6, fig. 16.
LOCATION Caribou Hills, Mackenzie River delta, northern Canada.
ORIG DESCRIPTION* Drop-shaped (roughly obovate) tetracellate, monoporate fungal spores. Pore 2.5-3.5 µm in diameter. Spores widen rapidly and uniformly from the pore so that the pore-bearing cell is broad at the base and passes unconstricted onto the next cell rather than forming a narrow neck. Spores not constricted at the minor septa, or very slightly so. Minor septa curved. Ratio of length of major:mid:proximal septa approximately 5:3:2. Spores may or may not be constricted at the major septum; the latter is slightly to markedly thick. The two distal cells make up the bulk of the spore. Spore wall psilate to faintly granulate except at the pore cell where it has fine transverse wrinkles.

Generally the spores are barely constricted at the major septum, but in some specimens this septum is quite thick, and the constriction so pronounced that the distal cell appears to be partially separating from the other cells. Rarely the most distal cell is distorted, almost shrunken in appearance.

Dimensions, based on twenty-seven specimens: length 24-39 µm, width 17-26 µm.
COMMENTS* B. inuvikensis is similar to B. catinus (Elsik & Jansonius 1974) Jansonius 1976, but proportionally narrower, with a smaller distal cell. Brachysporisporites pyriformis Lange & Smith 1971 has more of a "neck" at the proximal end and broadens noticeably from the middle septum, whereas B. inuvikensis widens more uniformly from the pore. Named for the community of Inuvik.
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Parsons MG, Norris G. 1999. Paleogene fungi from the Caribou Hills, Mackenzie Delta, northern Canada; Palaeontographica, Abt. B, v. 250, p. 77-167.
K&J REMARKS
TYPE
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Brachysporisporites inuvikensis
SERIAL NUMBER 126
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.