Fungalpedia – Note 167, Cucurbitariaceites (Fossil Fungi)
Cucurbitariaceites R.K. Kar, R.Y. Singh & S.C.D. Sah.
Citation when using this data: Saxena RK & Hyde KD. 2024 (in prep) – Fungalpedia, Fossil Fungi.
Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig. 1
Classification: Dothideales, Fossil Ascomycota, Fungi
The monotypic fossil genus Cucurbitariaceites was described by Kar et al. (1972) from the Tura Formation (Palaeocene, 66–56 mya) in Nongwal Bibra, Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India. This genus is characterized by subcircular to circular Pseudoperithecia, outer region darker than inner, laevigate. Asci are equal or unequal in size, cylindrical to somewhat bulging at the tips in the mature stage. No true paraphysis was observed, but in some specimens, the basal part of asci may join together to form a broad, irregular, mesh-like structure. Cucurbitariaceites bellus has been recorded from various states of India, e.g. Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Mandal et al. 1996), Arunachal Pradesh (Mandaokar 2000a), Assam (Mandaokar 1991, 1993, 2005, Chakraborty 2004), Kerala (Varma & Patil 1985), Meghalaya (Tripathi 1989; Saxena et al. 1996), Mizoram (Mandaokar 2000b, 2002a, 2003, Kar et al. 2010) and Nagaland (Mandaokar 2002b).
Type species: Cucurbitariaceites bellus R.K. Kar, H.P. Singh & S.C.D. Sah.
Figure 1 – Cucurbitariaceites bellus. Scale bar = 50 μm. Redrawn from Kar et al. (1972).
References
Chakraborty M. 2004 – Palynology of the Lakadong Sandstone (Late Palaeocene) exposed around Bhalukurung, North Cachar Hills, Assam. Palaeobotanist 53(1-3), 113–121.
Kar R, Mandaokar BD, Kar RK. 2010 – Fungal taxa from the Miocene sediments of Mizoram, northeast India. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 158, 240–249.
Kar RK, Singh RY, Sah SCD. 1972 – On some algal and fungal remains from Tura Formation of Garo Hills, Assam. Palaeobotanist 19(2), 146–154.
Mandal J, Chandra A, Kar RK. 1996 – Palynological findings from the mud volcanoes of Baratang Island (Andaman and Nicobar Islands). Geophytology 25, 77–81.
Mandaokar BD. 1991 – Palynology of Miocene rocks around Maibong, Assam. Geophytology 20(1), 24–29.
Mandaokar BD. 1993 – A palynological investigation of the Tikak Parbat Formation (Oligocene) of Dangri Kumari Colliery, Dibrugarh District, Assam, India. Tertiary Research 14(4), 127–139.
Mandaokar BD. 2000a – Palynology of coal bearing sediments of the Tikak Parbat Formation (Oligocene) from Namchik River Section, Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Tertiary Research 20(1-4), 37–46.
Mandaokar BD. 2000b – Palynology and palaeoenvironment of the Bhuban Formation (Early Miocene) of Ramrikawn near Aizawl, Mizoram, India. Palaeobotanist 49(2), 317–324.
Mandaokar BD. 2002a – An interpretation of the palynology and palaeoecology of the Early Miocene Dulte Formation, Mizoram, India. Palaeobotanist 51(1-3), 113–121.
Mandaokar BD. 2002b – Palynological investigation of the Tikak Parbat Formation (Late Oligocene) of Borjan area, Nagaland, India. Minetech 23(1-2), 19–33.
Mandaokar BD. 2003 – Palynology and palaeoecological consideration of Middle Bhuban Formation (Miocene), Lawngtlai, Mizoram, India. Gondwana Geological Mag., Special Volume 6, 185–193.
Mandaokar BD. 2005 – Palynostratigraphy of the coal-bearing sediments of the Tikak Parbat Formation from Ledo Colliery, Makum Coalfield, Assam, India. Minetech 26(1), 46–55.
Saxena RK, Tripathi SKM, Prasad V. 1996 – Palynofloral investigation of the Tura Formation (Palaeocene) in Nongwal Bibra area, East Garo Hills, Meghalaya. Geophytology 26(1), 19–31.
Tripathi SKM. 1989 – Algal and fungal remains from Jowai-Sonapur Road Section (Palaeocene-Eocene), Meghalaya. Palaeobotanist 37(1), 63–74.
Varma YNR, Patil RS. 1985 – Fungal remains from the Tertiary carbonaceous clays of Tonakkal area, Kerala. Geophytology 15(2), 151–158.
Entry by
Ramesh K. Saxena, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, India
(Edited by Kevin D. Hyde, Samaneh Chaharmiri-Dokhaharani, & Achala R. Rathnayaka)
Published online 30 October 2023
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