Petrofilaments in palynological preparations.
Microscopic structures (petrofilaments) may develop during palynological laboratory processing procedures that are superficially similar to secondary wall thickenings and elaters. These filaments form from angular bodies that resemble fungal spores and resin bodies. The angular bodies are a type of hydrocarbon called asphaltene and extrude the filaments when compounds in the bodies react with solvents in the mounting medium. They may be misinterpreted as fossils and so are illustrated here for the first time in the published literature.
Graham
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Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242 USA;
Wood
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Elsik
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