Filamentous green algae from the Early Devonian Rhynie chert

A relatively neglected element of the biota of the Lower Devonian Rhynie chert Lagerstätte are filamentous green algae exceptionally preserved by silicification. Palynological processing of sediments associated with the cherts has yielded palynomorphs that we also interpret as the remains of filamentous green algae and one such taxon is described herein. Cells occur individually, in masses or joined end-to-end as an unbranched filament. The cells are characterised by end walls that form a ‘collar’ structure and inner bodies interpreted as reproductive structures. Because of a lack of preserved characters taxonomic precision is limited, although we suggest the fossils are most likely either zygnematalean or oedogonialean algae that inhabited ponds or lakes and were either attached to substrates and/or free-floating.