NAME Meliolinites anfractus
AGE Early Eocene.   AGE span: 55.8...40.4 mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Ascomycetes, Erysiphales.
FIGURE(S)
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Pl.13fig.1.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 M. anfractus (Dilcher) Kalgutkar & Jansonius 2000
LOCATION Western Tennessee, USA.
ORIG DESCRIPTION* Colonies 1-3 mm in diameter, subdense to dense. Hyphal cells 4-9 x 14-37 µm. Lateral walls of hyphae sinuous; often the hyphae appear undulating. Capitate hyphopodia 10-15 x 14-28 µm, generally alternate, occasionally unilateral, rarely opposite, may spread straight out from the hyphae but usually stalk cells noticeably bent disposing the hyphopodia distally. Stalk cells 5-11 x 4-11 µm, generally cylindrical with straight or undulating lateral walls, rarely cuneate. Head cells 10-15 x 10-17 µm, rarely entire or angular, most often lobate. Mycelial setae 3-6 µm wide and 300 µm long, absent to moderately abundant, scattered, arise directly from hyphal cells and arch upward, straight to slightly curved, apex not seen. Spores 20 x 50 µm, slightly bent, psilate, 3-septate (4 celled), may produce hyphae from any or all of the 4 cells, 2 central cells largest, 2 smaller end cells have rounded ends. No mucronate hyphopodia or perithecia found. Found only on upper epidermis of Sapindus sp.
COMMENTS* Meliola anfracta is superficially similar to modern forms of Meliola nidulans (Schw.) Cooke, parasitic on the Cornaceae of North America; M. niessliana Wint., parasitic on the Ericaceae of Europe; and M. custutae Hansf., parasitic on Convolvulaceae. Various forms of microthyriaceous fungi were found growing in close association with M. anfracta (pl. 1, fig. 4). Both Stevens (1918) and Hansford (1946) report parasitism of modern meliolaceous forms by other fungi. The close association of M. anfracta and microthyriaceous forms in the fossil material may represent such a form of parasitism, although no proof of actual parasitism is evident in the material examined. Both M. anfracta and the microthyriaceous forms seem to have flourished in this close association. The known modern forms of Meliolaceae usually occur on a limited number of host plants; therefore Hansford (1961) lists the modern forms by host plant only. No modern form of Meliola that is parasitic on members of the Sapindaceae is in any way similar to the fossil form M. anfracta. Because of the difference of its host family and the differences in the general appearance and the habit of its colonies, M. anfracta is placed in a new species.
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Dilcher DL. 1965. Epiphyllous fungi from Eocene deposits in Western Tennessee, U.S.A.; Palaeontographica, Abt. B, v. 116, p. 1-54.
K&J REMARKS 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.
TYPE
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Meliola anfracta Dilcher 1965, p. 7, pl. 2, fig. 2, 8 [lectotype selected by Kalgutkar & Jansonius 2000].; Meliolinites anfractus
SERIAL NUMBER 916
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.