NAME Palaeomycites frodinghamii
AGE Jurassic.   AGE span: 199.6...145.5 mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Chytridiomycetes, Chytridiales; or: Zygomycetes, Endogonales; or: Oomycetes, Peronosporales.
FIGURE(S)
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Pl.20fig.9.jpg
FIGURE REFERENCE Ellis D. 1915. Fossil micro-organisms from the Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks of Great Britain; Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, v. 35, p. 110-132.
SPECIES, AUTHORITY P. frodinghamii (Ellis) Kalgutkar & Jansonius 2000
LOCATION Great Britain.
ORIG DESCRIPTION* As for the genus Phycomycites [combined description] The mycelium consisted of branched hyphae. The hyphae saprophytic upon the organic fragments in the ore were of two dimensions, the larger measuring about 3.5 µm and the smaller measuring about 2 µm. Their diameter was round, and their membrane was thin and delicate; septa were not observed anywhere. Unlike modern forms of this morphology, however, branching took place with more or less uniform regularity. Commonly, a thick strengthening cushion is present at the point of insertion of a branch, which is eminently characteristic of the species.

There were variations from these dimensions caused by variation in the amount of deposited ferric hydroxide. When fully developed, the sporangium was roughly spherical, and measured on the average about 24 µm in diameter. There was no columella similar to that of modern mucors, though the hypha expands a little outwards at the point where it joins the sporangium. In a large number of cases the terminal sporangia were borne on relatively long stalks and are shown in various stages of development (figs. 8-10). Most of the sporangia were too thickly encrusted with iron to permit of a close observation of their contents. A broken sporangium was found to contain four large spores in the tetrad position (fig. 12). The spores were spherical, with a delicate limiting membrane. In fig. 13 are shown two expanded bodies which might conceivably have been sexual bodies, viz. antheridium and oogonium. It is impossible to offer more than a suggestion that these were sexual bodies. They were certainly borne on adjacent hyphae; but in view of the peculiar habit of this plant of forming protuberances at different points on its hyphae, no conclusions as to the sexual nature of these bodies can be drawn until far more evidence can be brought forward. [For more details, refer to original paper.]
COMMENTS* The nature of the hyphae, of the sporangia, and of the spores of Phycomycites frodinghamii imply its relationship to the modern fungal group Phycomycetes. The essential features in its life-history are the loose felted hyphae devoid of transverse membranes, and the formation of sporangia at the end of comparatively long stalks, each sporangium enclosing a very small number of spores. This mould was considered to show chemotactic affinity for iron-compounds as demonstrated by the present day iron-bacteria, some algae and some protozoa.
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Ellis D. 1915. Fossil micro-organisms from the Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks of Great Britain; Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, v. 35, p. 110-132.
K&J REMARKS
TYPE
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Phycomycites frodinghamii Ellis 1915, p. 111. No holotype designated [line drawings Text-figs. 1-13].; Palaeomycites frodinghamii
SERIAL NUMBER 1213
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.