Middle Miocene wetland fungi from the Adamów Lignite Mine, central Poland

Abstract

ABSTRACT The remains of fungi from a wetland environment have been found during palynological investigations of the middle Miocene lignite seam of the Adamów Lignite Mine (central Poland). One new fossil-genus Pleosporomyces and five new fossil-species (Canalisporium lignitum, Dictyosporites muriformis, Dictyosporites zeaformis, Microthyriacites radiatus, and Pleosporomyces adamowensis) are described. Fungal biota accompanying middle Miocene wetland plant associations from Adamów are represented by remains of ascomycetes and anamorphic fungi (hyphomycetes) saprophytic on decaying wood and on fallen leaves in a very humid, periodically flooded environment. These fungi most probably represent remains of fungal taxa of pocosin-like wetland communities, as suggested by the results of the palynological investigations and have grown during the accumulation of peat deposits from which the discussed lignite seam was formed. Epiphyllous taxa along with ascospores of Potamomyces sp. indicate a warm and humid climate with a high mean annual precipitation in central Poland during the formation of the 1st mid-Polish lignite seam.