NAME Multicellites pandus
AGE Middle Eocene.   AGE span: 48.6...37.2 mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Fungi Imperfecti, Phragmosporae.
FIGURE(S)
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FIGURE REFERENCE Sheffy MV, Dilcher DL. 1971. Morphology and taxonomy of fungal spores; Palaeontographica, Abt. B, v. 133 p. 34-51.
SPECIES, AUTHORITY M. pandus (Sheffy & Dilcher) Kalgutkar & Jansonius 2000
LOCATION Puryear clay pit, one-half mile south of Puryear, Henry County, Tennessee, USA.
ORIG DESCRIPTION* Pentacellate spore 6.8 x 13.5 µm, curved at one end, cells decrease in size toward opposite end, slight constriction between cells. Psilate, wall 0.5 µm thick.
COMMENTS* Multicellaesporites pandus appears to have two bodies attached by a lightly pigmented wall. Individual bodies are dicellate and tricellate with opaque septa. The specific name pandus means bent, crooked, or curved, which describes the shape of the spore. The shape and septation of this spore resembles the material which Bradley (1931, pl. 19, fig. 5) referred to Septonema; however, the latter consists of two elongated spores and has larger dimensions.
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Sheffy MV, Dilcher DL. 1971. Morphology and taxonomy of fungal spores; Palaeontographica, Abt. B, v. 133 p. 34-51.
K&J REMARKS This kind of spore is commonly found to form a chain. Apparently, they could be 2- or 3-celled, or even more celled (depending on the developmental stage of the spore). Bending or curvature of spores, in this group, is not a particularly diagnostic character. In Kalgutkar and Jansonius's (2000) opinion, the type specimen is neither 5-celled, nor curved; rather, the upper 3-celled spore, is attached to a 2-celled spore, while there is a slight angle at the point of attachment. They appear to be part of a chain, that may have been longer; the 2-celled and 3-celled spores could have been broken apart.
TYPE
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Multicellaesporites pandus Sheffy & Dilcher 1971, p. 44, pl. 16, fig. 45.; Multicellites pandus
SERIAL NUMBER 1128
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.