Why Mycophoris is not an orchid seedling, and why Synaptomitus is not a fungal symbiont within this fossil

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftKommentar/debatForskningfagfællebedømt

A recent publication in Botany introduced two new taxa: a fossil orchid seed (Mycophoris) and a fossilized basidiomycete fungus (Synaptomitus) in an alleged relationship with this orchid, encased in 15–20 million year old Dominican amber (Poinar, G. 2017. Two new genera, Mycophoris gen. nov., (Orchidaceae) and Synaptomitus gen. nov. (Basidiomycota) based on a fossil seed with developing embryo and associated fungus in Dominican amber. Botany, 95: 1–8). From the working knowledge of extant orchid seeds, seedlings, and mycorrhiza shared among us, we cannot support these interpretations. Here we analyse: (i) why Mycophoris may not be an orchid seed, (ii) why Mycophoris is not a germinating seed, (iii) why fungal hyphae and a symbiotic fungus are absent in Mycophoris, and (iv) why Synaptomitus is likely not a fossil basidiomycete.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftBotany
Vol/bind95
Udgave nummer9
Sider (fra-til)865-868
Antal sider4
ISSN1916-2790
DOI
StatusUdgivet - sep. 2017

ID: 182888424