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Cordosphaeridium inodes ssp. minimum
Cordosphaeridium inodes ssp. minimum Morgenroth, 1966
Taxonomic senior synonym at specific rank: Hystrichosphaeridium (now Minisphaeridium) latirictum, according to Fensome et al. (2009, p.44). Originally Cordosphaeridium inodes subsp. minimum, subsequently Cordosphaerdium minimum.
Holotype: Morgenroth, 1966, pl.5, figs.6-7
Age: Early Eocene
Original description: Morgenroth, 1966, p. 25: Cordosphaeridium inodes ssp. minimum
Diagnosis: A small species of the genus Cordosphaeridium. Capsule ellipsoidal. Set with frim strands. The broad processes taper distally in a trumpet-shaped fashion.
Description: The tin-walled, ellipsoidal capsule is bilayered. Its dimensions aer c. 40 µm below those of C. inodes and c. µm below those of C. inodes ssp. minus. The outer layer consists of firm strands, which cause a strong areolation of the capsule surface. They construct the broad, massive processes, which clearly show their fibrous structure. The processes hardly vary in length, width or form. the taper distally in a trumpet-shaped fashion. Single isolated cavities may be present. One specimen possesses a weakly ellipsoidal pylome (diameter 8 µm).
Dimensions: capsule 22x25 µm, process length 8-11 (6/11) µm. (7 measurements, 7 specimens studied.)
Benedek, 1972, p. 25-26: Cordosphaeridium minimum
Morgenroth (1966), strictly following the original diagnosis, has conceived the form as a subspecies of C. inodes. However, the differences are so substantial, that I consider it to be an independent species of the genus Cordosphaeridium.
The thin-walled capsule is ellipsoidal with an uneven membrane surface. From it, the processes originate as fibrous bundles. They taper distally in an umbrella-like fashion and fray. An opening has not been obsserved. C. minimum is essentially smaller than related species. The dimensions, however, vary up to a certain degree.
Dimensions: capsule diameter 22 (16-28 µm, process length 8/12 µm (10 measurements). 22 specimens studied.
Affinities:
Morgenroth, 1966, p. 25
In spite of the small dimensions and the coarsely fibrous outer layer of the ccapsule, the matching specimens were designated as as subspecies of C. inodes, because the process type strongly reminds of that of C. inodes, and especially of that of C. inodes minus. The seven specimens studied all have the same capsule diameter. The maximum variation in process length is 3µm within a specimen.
Taxonomic senior synonym at specific rank: Hystrichosphaeridium (now Minisphaeridium) latirictum, according to Fensome et al. (2009, p.44). Originally Cordosphaeridium inodes subsp. minimum, subsequently Cordosphaerdium minimum.
Holotype: Morgenroth, 1966, pl.5, figs.6-7
Age: Early Eocene
Original description: Morgenroth, 1966, p. 25: Cordosphaeridium inodes ssp. minimum
Diagnosis: A small species of the genus Cordosphaeridium. Capsule ellipsoidal. Set with frim strands. The broad processes taper distally in a trumpet-shaped fashion.
Description: The tin-walled, ellipsoidal capsule is bilayered. Its dimensions aer c. 40 µm below those of C. inodes and c. µm below those of C. inodes ssp. minus. The outer layer consists of firm strands, which cause a strong areolation of the capsule surface. They construct the broad, massive processes, which clearly show their fibrous structure. The processes hardly vary in length, width or form. the taper distally in a trumpet-shaped fashion. Single isolated cavities may be present. One specimen possesses a weakly ellipsoidal pylome (diameter 8 µm).
Dimensions: capsule 22x25 µm, process length 8-11 (6/11) µm. (7 measurements, 7 specimens studied.)
Benedek, 1972, p. 25-26: Cordosphaeridium minimum
Morgenroth (1966), strictly following the original diagnosis, has conceived the form as a subspecies of C. inodes. However, the differences are so substantial, that I consider it to be an independent species of the genus Cordosphaeridium.
The thin-walled capsule is ellipsoidal with an uneven membrane surface. From it, the processes originate as fibrous bundles. They taper distally in an umbrella-like fashion and fray. An opening has not been obsserved. C. minimum is essentially smaller than related species. The dimensions, however, vary up to a certain degree.
Dimensions: capsule diameter 22 (16-28 µm, process length 8/12 µm (10 measurements). 22 specimens studied.
Affinities:
Morgenroth, 1966, p. 25
In spite of the small dimensions and the coarsely fibrous outer layer of the ccapsule, the matching specimens were designated as as subspecies of C. inodes, because the process type strongly reminds of that of C. inodes, and especially of that of C. inodes minus. The seven specimens studied all have the same capsule diameter. The maximum variation in process length is 3µm within a specimen.