NAME Traquairia ornata
AGE (Davis & Leisman): Carboniferous-Pennsylvanian; (Stubblefield & Taylor): Middle Pennsylvanian.   AGE span: 318.1...299 mya
K&J CLASSIFICATION (2000) Ascomycetes, Eurotiales.
FIGURE(S)
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Pl.30fig.3.jpg
FIGURE REFERENCE Davis B, Leisman GA. 1962. Further observations on Sporocarpon and allied genera; Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, v. 89, p. 97-109.
SPECIES, AUTHORITY T. ornata Davis & Leisman ex Stubblefield & Taylor 1983, p. 395.
LOCATION Palmer mine, about 3 miles northeast of Arma, Kansas, USA.
ORIG DESCRIPTION* (Davis & Leisman) Central spherical cavity 450-550 µm in diameter. Wall around cavity of hypha-like cells (12-25 µm in diameter), elongated tangentially. Hyphae usually 2-4 layers deep, unbranched, interlaced. Hyphae converge at thickened central areas over surface. Straight or occasionally curved spines up to 250 µm in length project radially from each central area. Ornate projections from walls of spines with bifid apices and measuring ca. 20 µm in length. Amorphous gelatin-like sheath around periphery. One to three membranes border cavity, one being most common. Membranes cuticle-like in appearance, with pores 2-4 µm in diameter. Cavity either empty or with one sphere 200-245 µm in diameter.

EMENDED DESCRIPTION: (Stubblefield & Taylor, 1983, p. 395): Cleistothecial cavity up to 550 µm in diameter. Evenly distributed spines up to 250 µm long, distal ends unbranched and occasionally curved, secondary processes large and conspicuous, with frequent dichotomous divisions and occasional lateral projections; processes continuous with extensively branched, coarse hyphal filaments that form a poorly developed network. Individual filaments threadlike. Cleistothecial cavity typically empty, or containing a single, poorly preserved, spherical mass.
COMMENTS* (Davis & Leisman): The genus Mycocarpon was used in accordance with the criteria set up by Hutchinson (1955). Twelve specimens of this species were found, 5 in close proximity in coal ball # 2803; no connections, however, could be found among any of these specimens. Many were invaginated or slightly oblong, probably as a result of the fossilization process. Some hyphae apparently extended slightly into the cavity. Occasional spheres (35-65 µm in diameter) were found attached to the peripheral layer of hyphae (fig. 4). These spheres were homogeneous and gave no indication of their function. Under close observation, the gelatin-like maze around the periphery was seen to be continuous with the bifid apices of the ornamental projections from the spines (figs. 3, 4).
PUBLICATION REFERENCE Davis B, Leisman GA. 1962. Further observations on Sporocarpon and allied genera; Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, v. 89, p. 97-109.

Stubblefield SP, Taylor TN. 1983. Studies of Paleozoic fungi. I. The structure and organization of Traquairia (Ascomycota); American Journal of Botany, v. 70, p. 387-399.
K&J REMARKS
TYPE T. ornata Davis & Leisman ex Stubblefield & Taylor 1983, p. 395; holotype: figs. 1-4 in Davis & Leisman 1962 [slides 2643b(5), 1-19, stored in Paleobotanical Collections, Department of Biology, Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas].
ALL NAMES (Including synonyms) Mycocarpon ornatum Davis & Leisman 1962, p. 97, figs. 1-4 (nom. nud.); holotype [as cited to be on slides 2805A(2)-1 through 44] not illustrated.; Traquairia ornata
SERIAL NUMBER 1710
PUBLIC COMMENTS
 *For source, see Publication Reference.