Biology

Is Phellinites digiustoi the oldest homobasidiomycete?

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The oldest generally accepted fossil of mushroom-forming fungi (homobasidiomycetes) is Phellinites disgiustoi, from the Jurassic of Patagonia. The next-oldest homobasidiomycete fossil does not occur until about 70 million years later, in the mid-Cretaceous. The goal of this project was to reassess the identity of Phellinites and refine the minimum-age estimate for the origin, but there are no hypae, spores, or other fungal structures. Rather, Phellinites was found, and so it is plausible that Phellinites is the bark of an Araucaria-like tree. The minimum age of the mushroom-forming fungi, based on direct fossil evidence, is revised to the mid-Creaceous.

Publication Title

American Journal of Botany

Publication Date

1997

Volume

84

Issue

7

First Page

1005

Last Page

1011

ISSN

0002-9122

DOI

10.2307/2446291

Keywords

Araucariaceac, Basidiomucetes, Cerrocuadrado, Fossil, Paleomycology, Periderm, Phel linites digiustoi

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