Palaeosclerotium, a pennsylvanian age fungus combining features of modern ascomycetes and basidiomycetes

Science. 1976 Apr 2;192(4234):66-8. doi: 10.1126/science.192.4234.66.

Abstract

Fruiting bodies described previously as sclerotia of Palaeosclerotium pusillum are cleistothecium-like, enclosed structures, containing spores within an ascus. The cleistothecia are composed of hyphae having dolipore-like septa and are attached to vegetative hyphae having clamp connections. The unique combination of ascomycete-like reproductive bodies and basidiomycete-like hyphae present in this Pennsylvanian fungus suggests that there already existed, during the Middle Pennsylvanian period, a group of fungi intermediate between the Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes.