NAME Microthyriella diporata
AGE Late Miocene.   AGE span: 11.608...5.332 mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Ascomycetes, Microthyriales.
FIGURE(S)
Image of
Pl.26fig.14.jpg
FIGURE REFERENCE Rao KP, Ramanujam CGK. 1976. A further record of microthyriaceous fungi from the Neogene deposits of Kerala in South India; Geophytology, v. 6, p. 98-104.
SPECIES, AUTHORITY M. diporata Rao & Ramanujam 1976, p. 101, pl. 2, fig. 15.
LOCATION Lignite from Warkalli, India.
ORIG DESCRIPTION* Free mycelium lacking. Ascomata flattened, irregular in shape, highly variable in size, ranging between 50-150 µm; cells of the ascomata 5-10 µm in diameter, pentagonal to hexagonal, irregularly arranged and porate, pores mostly two per cell, 2.5-3.5 µm wide, circular and randomly disposed.
COMMENTS* Fruit bodies of this type are fairly common and exhibit a wide variation in their shape and size. Since no other dehiscence mechanism was observed in any of the fruit bodies examined, the pores in the cells can be supposed to function as secondary ostioles helping in the release of spores (Dilcher, 1965). Microthyriella fungosa from the Eocene of Tennessee, USA. (Dilcher, 1965) is distinguishable in the possession of only one pore per cell.
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Rao KP, Ramanujam CGK. 1976. A further record of microthyriaceous fungi from the Neogene deposits of Kerala in South India; Geophytology, v. 6, p. 98-104.
K&J REMARKS As the name also indicates, the species was conceived as being characterized by having two pores per cell. However, Kalgutkar and Jansonius (2000) could distinguish only one pore per cell in the photograph.
TYPE
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Microthyriella diporata
SERIAL NUMBER 940
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.