Sonapteris pilsensis Pšenička, Bek et R.Rössler

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN000014

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:14

Authors: J. Pšenička, J. Bek & R. Rößler

Rank: species

Genus: Sonapteris Pšenička, Bek et R.Rössler

Reference: Pšenička, J., Bek, J. & Rößler, R. (2005): Two new species of Sonapteris gen. nov. (Botryopteridaceae) based on compressions from the Upper Carboniferous (Bolsovian-Westphalian D) of the Pilsen Basin, Bohemian Massif. – Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 136: 111–142.

Page of description: 124

Illustrations or figures: pls VII–X

Types

Original diagnosis/description

Primary rachis 4 mm wide, with longitudinal striations and punctae. Two longitudinal striations are prominent. Secondary pinna rachises 2 mm wide, with longitudinal striations and punctate. Central rachis of sporangial mass 1 mm wide. Ultimate rachises 0.5–0.2 mm wide. Large pinnule-like organs (? "aphlebia") borne at the site of a attachment of secondary pinna rachis to main rachis, more than 35 mm long, 15 mm wide, showing elongated lobes with weak midvein and open venation. More than 2200 sporangia tightly packed in globose-ovate fertile organs. Fertile organs probably pinnate, alternate on secondary pinna rachis, 10–15 mm in diameter. Sporangia or clusters of sporangia extend terminally from ultimate rachises. Number of sporangia per cluster 2–7. The sporangia are ovoid, elongated, 580 (720) 877 μm long and 282 (388) 519 μm wide. The multicellular lateral annulus is biseriate, and vertically elongated near the base. The ordinary thin-walled cells of sporangium wall are polygonal, sometimes elongated. The cells of the epidermis of the ultimate rachis are tetragonal, elongated, with straight anticlinal wall, but without hair bases.
Circular, triangular to oval trilete spores 20 (40.4) 58 μm in diameter. Rays of the trilete extend for one-half to two-thirds of the radius. Laevigate, scabrate,
microgranulate, granulate, microverrucate, verrucate, baculate, spinate, and clavate exine 1–2 μm thick. Sculpture elements up to 5 μm high, 3 μm wide.

Etymology

According to the town Pilsen, centre of the Pilsen Basin and one of historical centre of coal mining in the Czech Republic.

Stratigraphy

Carboniferous
the Upper Carboniferous (Westphalian D), Kladno Formation, Nýřany Member

Locality

Czech Republic
Nýřany locality (near Pilsen) of the Pilsen Basin