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Cordosphaeridium minus

Cordosphaeridium minus (Morgenroth, 1966) Islam, 1983

Originally Cordosphaeridium inodes ssp. minus, subsequently (and now) Cordosphaeridium minus.
Holotype: Morgenroth 1966a, Pl. 5 Fig. 4-5
Locus typicus: Katharinenhof Fehmarn.
Stratum typicum: Lower Eocene (?2).
Age: Early Eocene

Original diagnosis: Morgenroth 1966a, p. 24: Cordosphaeridium inodes ssp. minus
A species of the genus Cordosphaeridium with an "inodes" like process type. Processes are distally enlarged trumpet-shaped and fibrous. No process branching. Capsule diameter approximately 20 microns smaller than Cordosphaeridium inodes.

Original description: Morgenroth 1966a, p. 24: Cordosphaeridium inodes ssp. minus
The spherical sometimes ellipsoidal capsule is composed of two layers, of which the outer has a fibrous structure. The fibers produce a relatively strong areolation of the capsule surface. Fiber bundles converge root like into the processes which are solid with occasionally hollow cavity vestiges. Distally, the processes are expanded always trumpet-like and the endings of the fiber bundles give the impression in examination of a paint brush (see Fig. 5). The length and breadth of processes shows considerable variation in the several specimens. Branching has not been observed. The specimens examined usually contain a somewhat circular pylome of approximately 20 micron diameter. In addition, one can observe ellipsoidal rounded to rhomboidal pylomes.

Remarks: Morgenroth 1966a, p. 24
The new subspecies is distinguished from Cordosphaeridium inodes Klumpp on the following characteristics: 1) The average capsule dimension for Cordosphaeridium inodes minus is about 20 microns smaller than the average of the capsule diameter of Cordosphaeridium inodes Klumpp.
2) The strong fibers produce the strong closed cup-like form of the processes.

Measurements: Capsule diameter-42 microns (36/45 microns), overall diameter-75 microns (70/84 microns), pylome diameter 20 microns (17/22 microns), process length- 11 microns - 25 microns ( 200 measurements). Number of specimens examined: 426.
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