NAME Roannaisia
AGE    AGE span:  mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Ascomycetes?, Erysiphales? or Eurotiales?
FIGURE(S)
FIGURE REFERENCE
SPECIES, AUTHORITY Roannaisia Taylor, Galtier & Axsmith 1994, p. 256.
LOCATION
ORIG DESCRIPTION* ORIGINAL DIAGNOSIS: Sporocarp with complex, two-parted peridium enclosing a globose cavity containing single, multi-layered spore; wall constructed of interlaced hyphae of different sizes; peridium sometimes separated where attached to hyphal stalk?

Etymology: The generic name Roannaisia is named for the Roannais (region of Roanne), where the samples were collected.

Monotypic.
COMMENTS* Although the discovery of Roannaisia in late Visean sediments provides another set of morphological and structural characters in the sporocarps, these features do little to clarify the systematic position of these unusual fungi. The specimens described here do provide, however, alternative hypotheses as to the phylogenetic relationships of these ancient fungi. What is needed now are specimens demonstrating early ontogenetic stages leading to the formation of the mature sporocarps. We believe that such stages are adequately preserved in the fossil record and that with increased attention directed at the fossil microflora, the precise systematic relationships of these fungi will ultimately be demonstrated.
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Taylor TN, Galtier J, Axsmith BJ. 1994. Fungi from the Lower Carboniferous of central France; Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, v. 83, p. 253-260.
K&J REMARKS
TYPE TYPE: Roannaisia bivitilis Taylor, Galtier & Axsmith 1994, p. 256, pl. 1, figs. 3-4; pl. 2, fig. 1.
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Roannaisia;
SERIAL NUMBER 1542
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.