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IRMNG taxon detailsPrototaxites J.W. Dawson, 1859 †
Celluloxylon J.W. Dawson, 1881 † · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Nematophycus Carruthers, 1872 † · unaccepted (illegitimate substitute name)
Nematophyton J.W. Dawson, 1888 † · unaccepted (illegitimate substitute name)
fossil only
Not documented
Taxonomic remark Large Devonian fossil "logs" initially described as conifer wood, then green or brown alga, then a fungus (Hueber, 2001),...
Taxonomic remark Large Devonian fossil "logs" initially described as conifer wood, then green or brown alga, then a fungus (Hueber, 2001), then rolled-up mats of liverworts (Graham et al, 2010, refuted by Taylor et al., 2010); actual affinities still not established according to Taylor et al., 2009. Retallack & Landing, 2014 interpret Prototaxites as a giant lichen, in which case this genus would belong to the kingdom Fungi. Hueber, 2001 assigns to as Fungi: Basidiomycetes: Prototaxales: Prototaxaceae, however Nelsen & Boyce, 2022 see no close extant relatives within Fungi although they consider a fungal placement most likely. Vajda et al., 2023 maintain within Fungi but interpret as a prostrate form, not erect tree-like structures. [details]
IRMNG (2025). Prototaxites J.W. Dawson, 1859 †. Accessed at: https://www.irmng.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1323984 on 2025-09-11
Date action by
basis of record
Farr, E. R.; Zijlstra, G. (eds). (1996-current). Index Nominum Genericorum (ING). A compilation of generic names published for organisms covered by the ICN: International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants. [previously: organisms covered by the International Code for Botanical Nomenclature] (2007 version). , available online at https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/botany/ing/ [details]
additional source Taylor, T. N.; Taylor, E. L.; Decombeix, A.-L.; Schwendemann, A.; Serbet, R.; Escapa, I.; Krings, M. (2010). The enigmatic Devonian fossil Prototaxites is not a rolled-up liverwort mat: Comment on the paper by Graham et al. (AJB 97: 268-275). <em>American Journal of Botany.</em> 97(7): 1074-1078., available online at https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1000047 [details] additional source Retallack, G.; Landing, E. (2014). Affinities and architecture of Devonian trunks of Prototaxites loganii. <em>Mycologia.</em> 106(6): 1143-1158., available online at https://doi.org/10.3852/13-390 [details] additional source Hueber, F. M. (2001). Rotted wood–alga–fungus: the history and life of Prototaxites Dawson 1859. <em>Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology.</em> 116(1-2): 123-158., available online at https://doi.org/10.1016/s0034-6667(01)00058-6 note: as Fungi: Basidiomycetes: Prototaxales: Prototaxaceae, however see note [details] additional source Vajda, V.; Cavalcante, L.; Palmgren, K.; Krüger, A.; Ivarsson, M. (2023). <i>Prototaxites</i> reinterpreted as mega-rhizomorphs, facilitating nutrient transport in early terrestrial ecosystems. <em>Canadian Journal of Microbiology.</em> 69(1): 17-31., available online at https://doi.org/10.1139/cjm-2021-0358 [details] verified source for family Nelsen, M. P.; Boyce, C. K. (2022). What to do with <i>Prototaxites</i>?. <em>International Journal of Plant Sciences.</em> 183(6): 556-565., available online at https://doi.org/10.1086/720688 [details] name verified source Farr, E. R.; Zijlstra, G. (eds). (1996-current). Index Nominum Genericorum (ING). A compilation of generic names published for organisms covered by the ICN: International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants. [previously: organisms covered by the International Code for Botanical Nomenclature] (2007 version). , available online at https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/botany/ing/ [details] current name source Taylor, T. N.; Taylor, E. L.; Krings, M. (2009). Paleobotany: The Biology and Evolution of Fossil Plants. Second Edition. Academic Press, 1252 pp. , available online at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780123739728 [details] extant flag source Farr, E. R.; Zijlstra, G. (eds). (1996-current). Index Nominum Genericorum (ING). A compilation of generic names published for organisms covered by the ICN: International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants. [previously: organisms covered by the International Code for Botanical Nomenclature] (2007 version). , available online at https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/botany/ing/ [details] habitat flag source Taylor, T. N.; Taylor, E. L.; Decombeix, A.-L.; Schwendemann, A.; Serbet, R.; Escapa, I.; Krings, M. (2010). The enigmatic Devonian fossil Prototaxites is not a rolled-up liverwort mat: Comment on the paper by Graham et al. (AJB 97: 268-275). <em>American Journal of Botany.</em> 97(7): 1074-1078., available online at https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1000047 [details] Unreviewed
Descriptive info Devonian Lower Erian; Peninsula of Gaspé, Québec, Canada. (Index Nominum Genericorum) [details]Taxonomic remark Large Devonian fossil "logs" initially described as conifer wood, then green or brown alga, then a fungus (Hueber, 2001), then rolled-up mats of liverworts (Graham et al, 2010, refuted by Taylor et al., 2010); actual affinities still not established according to Taylor et al., 2009. Retallack & Landing, 2014 interpret Prototaxites as a giant lichen, in which case this genus would belong to the kingdom Fungi. Hueber, 2001 assigns to as Fungi: Basidiomycetes: Prototaxales: Prototaxaceae, however Nelsen & Boyce, 2022 see no close extant relatives within Fungi although they consider a fungal placement most likely. Vajda et al., 2023 maintain within Fungi but interpret as a prostrate form, not erect tree-like structures. [details]
To WoRMS (from synonym Nematophyton J.W. Dawson, 1888 †)
To WoRMS (from synonym Nematophycus Carruthers, 1872 †) |
