Triassic fungi with suggested affinities to the Endogonales (Zygomycotina)

Fruiting structures of several fungi are described from permineralized peat deposits of Triasic age. Specimens appear to be spores and sporangia of members of the extant order Endogonales (Zygomycotina). Large spherical spores resembling chlamydospores of Glomus, zygospores of Endogone and possible sporangia are reported. It is evident that many fossil Endogonaceae were saprophytes. We suggest that this family contained members which were important terrestrial saprophytes in the Paleozoic and Mesozoic, but may have been replaced in that niche by more successful ascomycetes during the Cenozoic.