Multicellites

Fungalpedia – Note 237, Multicellites (Fossil Fungi)

Citation when using this entry: Saxena RK & Hyde KD. 2024 (in prep) – Fungalpedia, Fossil Fungi.

Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig. 1

Classification: Fossil Ascomycota, Fungi Incertae sedis

Multicellites was proposed by Kalgutkar & Jansonius (2000) to include multicellate, uniserial, and inaperturate fungal spores with three to many cells. Terminal cells are usually rounded, and spore walls are usually smooth and of medium thickness, usually thinner than the septa (or septal bases). Septa generally perforate, or with septal folds. Kalgutkar & Jansonius (2000) designated Multicellites tener (Ke & Shi 1978) Kalgutkar & Janson. 2000 (=Multicellaesporites tener Ke & Shi 1978) as the type species of this genus. They accepted the generic diagnosis of Multicellaesporites, as emended by Kumar (1990), who stated that the genus has a tendency to bear a longitudinal slit or furrow. Kalgutkar & Jansonius (2000) retained only those species under Multicellaesporites which show some kind of longitudinal split (slit or furrow) and transferred all other species to Multicellites. The generic name is derived from the main diagnostic characteristic, that is, the presence of many (Latin multus) cells in each linear spore. There are 46 species listed in Index Fungorum (2024) under this genus.