Aarabia brevicaulis Mey.-Berth. et Gerrienne

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN003657

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:3657

Authors: B. Meyer-Berthaud & P. Gerrienne

Rank: species

Genus: Aarabia Mey.-Berth. et Gerrienne

Reference for this name: Meyer-Berthaud, B. & Gerrienne, P. (2001): Aarabia, a new Early Devonian vascular plant from Africa (Morocco). – Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 116(1–2): 39–53.

Page of description: 43

Illustrations or figures: Pl.I-III

Original diagnosis/description

Small plants at least 9 cm in height, comprising 1.5-5 mm wide axes. n + 1 laterals produced at 7-25 mm long intervals and diverging at 38-55° from main axis. Proximal n + 2 laterals produced on long n + 1 axes at 2.5-5.5 mm long intervals and diverging at 90-100°. Distal n + 2 laterals separated by intervals reaching 15 mm. Short laterals borne on main axis and at base of long laterals; consisting of a 2 mm long axis dividing into 2 short recurved segments. Sporangia 1.8-4 mm long, 1.0-1.4 mm wide.

Etymology

Brevicaulis refers to the occurrence of foreshortened laterals on all orders of axes.

Stratigraphy

Devonian, Lower Devonian, Emsian
early Emsian based on associated Dacryoconarid tentaculites.

Locality

Morocco
20 km northwest of Azrou and 1 km east of Jbel ben Aarab, Central Morocco, N. Africa