NAME Sporocarpon spinatum
AGE Early-Middle Pennsylvanian.   AGE span: 311.7...307.2 mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Ascomycetes, Eurotiales.
FIGURE(S)
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Pl.29fig.8.jpg
FIGURE REFERENCE Baxter RW. 1960. Sporocarpon and allied genera from the American Pennsylvanian; Phytomorphology, v. 10, p. 19-25.
SPECIES, AUTHORITY S. spinatum Baxter 1960, p. 20, figs. 1-3.
LOCATION Pittsburg-Midway Coal Mine near Halowell, Kansas, USA.
ORIG DESCRIPTION* Spherical structure with an apparent maximum diameter of 700-800 µm and a spherical central cavity of 350-400 µm in diameter. Wall of the sphere is 4-6 µm thick. Cells loosely arranged are round-oval in shape, showing wheel-shaped patterns in tangential sections. Peripheral cells prolonged as spine-like hairs up to 300 µm long are, however, usually broken to shorter lengths. External walls of peripheral cells are thicker than others, possibly possessing cuticle. Smaller spheres may be produced as "bud-like" outgrowths. [For details, refer to original paper.]
COMMENTS* Sporocarpon spinatum differs from S. cellulosum Williamson 1878, emend. Hutchinson 1955, in the shape and arrangement of cell walls and from S. asteroides Williamson 1878, emend. Hutchinson 1955, in its absence of multicellular conical rays. The specific name refers to the spine-like projections of the peripheral cells.
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Baxter RW. 1960. Sporocarpon and allied genera from the American Pennsylvanian; Phytomorphology, v. 10, p. 19-25.
K&J REMARKS
TYPE
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Sporocarpon spinatum
SERIAL NUMBER 1616
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.