Nematoplexus
Nematoplexus rhyniensis is an enigmatic fossil from the Rhynie Chert of Devonian. It consists of silicified, thalloiden remains incomplete and fragmentary preserved, partially degraded. The morphology and size of the organism are unknown. The organism consists of a network of interwoven, not septate and septate tubes of two or three different sizes. Most of the larger, non- septate tubes have circular or schraubige thickened. Some of the narrow, smooth-walled tubes have conspicuous septa with a central elliptical hole. These pores are similar to those in Prototaxites. The tubes of Nematoplexus are not branched. Branches occur only in the so-called branching nodes. There are several tubes come together and form dense, highly branched groups. Their biological significance is unclear.
One interpretation sees Nematoplexus rhyniensis as structurally -preserved fossil of Nematothallus.
Documents
- Thomas N. Taylor, Edith L. Taylor, Michael Krings: Paleobotany. The Biology and Evolution of Fossil Plants. Second Edition, Academic Press 2009, ISBN 978-0-12-373972-8. Page 183
- Extinct plant
- Eukaryotes
- Eukaryota