Abstract
Diminutive, silica-permineralized lycopsid axes, from a Guadalupian (Middle Permian) silicified peat in the Bainmedart Coal Measures of East Antarctica are described and assigned to Paurodendron stellatum sp. nov. Axes consist only of primary-growth tissues with a vascular system characterized by an exarch actinostele with 6–20 protoxylem points. Stems have a relatively narrow cortex of thin-walled cells that are commonly degraded, but the root cortex typically contains more robust, thick-walled cells. The stems bear helically inserted, elliptical–rhombic, ligulate microphylls. Roots possess an eccentrically positioned monarch vascular strand. Paurodendron stellatum is one of a very small number of anatomically preserved lycopsid axes described from the Gondwanan Permian and represents the first post-Carboniferous record of this genus. Based on dispersed vegetative remains, megaspores and microspores, herbaceous lycopsids, such as P. stellatum, appear to have been important understorey components of both low- and high-latitude mire forests of the late Palaeozoic
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-15 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology |
Volume | 220 |
Early online date | 19 Apr 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2015 |
Bibliographical note
paper arising from PhD at UoB by B. J. SlaterKeywords
- Heterosporous lycopsida
- Isoëtales
- Bainmedart coal measures
- Lycopsid anatomy
- Megaspore
- Gondwana