NAME Peronosporites
AGE    AGE span:  mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Phycomycetes, Peronosporales.
FIGURE(S)
FIGURE REFERENCE
SPECIES, AUTHORITY Peronosporites W.G. Smith 1877, p. 499.
LOCATION
ORIG DESCRIPTION* ORIGINAL DIAGNOSIS: [combined description] One of the most instructive groups of threads and fruit, or more properly speaking, mycelia and zoosporangia (or oogonia), as seen within the vascular axis of Lepidodendron, is shown in fig. 97, enlarged 250 diameters. Beginning with the mycelium, a close examination of this shows that it is furnished with numerous joints or septa. If, therefore, any reliance is to be placed upon the modern distinguishing characters of the now living species of Peronospora and Pythium, as furnished by a septate or aseptate mycelium, then the fossil parasite belongs to Peronospora, and cannot belong to Pythium or any of the Saprolegnieae. The oogonia do not agree with those of Cystopus. Within many of the fossil oogonia of the group illustrated, the differentiation of the protoplasm into zoospores is clearly seen; but if any doubt could exist as to the exact nature of this differentiation, then other oogonia (or zoosporangia) on the same slide show the contained zoospores with a clearness not to be exceeded by living specimens of the present time. One of the most perfect groups of these Palaeozoic bladders containing the once mobile spores is shown in fig. 98, enlarged to 400 diameters, and the wonderful fact becomes manifest that the bladder is exactly the same in size and character with average oogonia of the present day, especially with the same organisms belonging to Peronospora infestans. The contained zoospores are, moreover, the same in form and dimensions as the zoospores of Peronospora infestans when measured to the ten-thousandth of an inch. For comparison an oogonium and a group of free zoospores enlarged to 400 diameters, and belonging to the fungus of Potato disease, is illustrated in Fig. 99. On examination it will be seen that the organisms are apparently identical. The average number of zoospores in each oogonium is also the same, viz., seven or eight.
COMMENTS* As for the type species.
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Smith WG. 1877. A fossil Peronospora; The Gardener's Chronicle, v. 8 (October 20, 1877), p. 499-500.
K&J REMARKS
TYPE TYPE: Peronosporites antiquarius W.G. Smith 1877, p. 499 (no holotype designated).
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Peronosporites;
SERIAL NUMBER 1288
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.