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Enigmadinium cylindrifloriferum
Enigmadinium cylindrifloriferum Wrenn and Hart, 1988
Acritarch.
Holotype: Wrenn and Hart, 1988, fig.24, no.1; Fensome et al., 1993, p.1087, fig.1
Locus typicus: Seymour Island, Antarctica
Stratum typicum: Early Eocene
Original diagnosis: Wrenn and Hart, 1988, p.354
A species of Enigmadinium characterized by tapering cylindrical or branched, nontabular processes. The process terminations are complexly branched into as many as eight finger-like projections that are encrusted with submicron sized granules.
Original description: Wrenn and Hart, 1988, p.354
Shape: A subcircular chorate dinocyst bearing numerous hollow, nontabular processes. The central body probably was originally spherical.
Phragma: The endophragm is smooth to finely granular and usually wrinkled. Granules are less than 1 Ám in diameter. The periphragm is smooth. Both wall layers are <0.5 Ám thick. The periphragm gives rise to as many as 40 nontabular processes. The process shafts may be subconical (tapering distally), cylindrical, or branched midway along their length. Two process shafts also may arise from a common base. The process terminations are closed distally and complexly branched. Each branch may be bifurcate. The more elaborate process terminations form up to eight distal branches, each of which bifurcates into two subbranches whose tips often bifurcate or trifurcate yet again. The processes, and especially their terminations, are heavily encrusted with submicron granules. The more complex terminations are reminiscent of flowers. The process base is broader than the rest of the process except for the distally flared, branching termination. Each process base may form a ring where it contacts the central body. Some processes arise from two or more roots which join to form the shaft.
Paratabulation: None evident.
Paracingulum: None evident.
Parasulcus: None evident.
Archeopyle: Ruptures observed in the central body suggest an apical archeopyle. However, a distinct archeopyle has not been observed.
Size: Range of 10 specimens: overall length 39(44)51 Ám, overall width, 23(33)40 Ám, length of endocyst 29(37)48 Ám, width of endocyst 20(28)41 Ám, length of processes 8-10 Ám, width of processes 0.5-5 Ám, thickness of endophragm <0.5 Ám, thickness of periphragm <0.5 Ám.
Acritarch.
Holotype: Wrenn and Hart, 1988, fig.24, no.1; Fensome et al., 1993, p.1087, fig.1
Locus typicus: Seymour Island, Antarctica
Stratum typicum: Early Eocene
Original diagnosis: Wrenn and Hart, 1988, p.354
A species of Enigmadinium characterized by tapering cylindrical or branched, nontabular processes. The process terminations are complexly branched into as many as eight finger-like projections that are encrusted with submicron sized granules.
Original description: Wrenn and Hart, 1988, p.354
Shape: A subcircular chorate dinocyst bearing numerous hollow, nontabular processes. The central body probably was originally spherical.
Phragma: The endophragm is smooth to finely granular and usually wrinkled. Granules are less than 1 Ám in diameter. The periphragm is smooth. Both wall layers are <0.5 Ám thick. The periphragm gives rise to as many as 40 nontabular processes. The process shafts may be subconical (tapering distally), cylindrical, or branched midway along their length. Two process shafts also may arise from a common base. The process terminations are closed distally and complexly branched. Each branch may be bifurcate. The more elaborate process terminations form up to eight distal branches, each of which bifurcates into two subbranches whose tips often bifurcate or trifurcate yet again. The processes, and especially their terminations, are heavily encrusted with submicron granules. The more complex terminations are reminiscent of flowers. The process base is broader than the rest of the process except for the distally flared, branching termination. Each process base may form a ring where it contacts the central body. Some processes arise from two or more roots which join to form the shaft.
Paratabulation: None evident.
Paracingulum: None evident.
Parasulcus: None evident.
Archeopyle: Ruptures observed in the central body suggest an apical archeopyle. However, a distinct archeopyle has not been observed.
Size: Range of 10 specimens: overall length 39(44)51 Ám, overall width, 23(33)40 Ám, length of endocyst 29(37)48 Ám, width of endocyst 20(28)41 Ám, length of processes 8-10 Ám, width of processes 0.5-5 Ám, thickness of endophragm <0.5 Ám, thickness of periphragm <0.5 Ám.