PHIPPS, CARLIE J.1*, THOMAS N. TAYLOR1, EDITH L. TAYLOR1, and WILLIAM C. REMBER2. 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Natural History Museum/Biodiversity Research Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045; 2Department of Geology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844. - Fossil fungi from the Miocene of Idaho.
The excellent preservation of the Miocene Clarkia locality in north
central Idaho has provided for many investigations of the floral
components, including their chemical and ultrastructural constituents,
and reconstructions of the paleoecosystem. Although fungi and fungal
spores were noted in several early studies, a concerted examination of
the plant fossils suggested that epiphyllous fungi were rare,
partially contradicting other evidence of a warm and humid
environment. Recent collections suggest that epiphyllous fungi are in
fact abundant at the locality. Phragmothyrites has been
previously noted in the literature; Stomiopeltites,
Entopeltacites, and a number of other fungi, predominantly from
the Dothideales, are also present. The thyrothecia of
Phragmothyrites were found mainly on Persea, Lithocarpus,
Betula, and Magnolia, and are uniquely characterized by
concentric cell divisions. Stomiopeltites perithecia are
non-radiate and ostiolate, and were found on Betula, Smilax and
Zeusiphoides. Entopeltacites hyphae were found on leaves
of Persea. Other fungi present include non-radiate,
non-ostiolate cleistothecia and hyphae similar to Thielavia on
almost all plant genera, and plectenchymatous stromata with
similarities to the Capnodiaceae on legume pods. These findings
support the warmer interpretations of the environment and indicate
that a thriving epiphyllous fungal community was present in this
paleoecosystem.
Key words: Clarkia, Dothideales, fungi, Idaho, Miocene