Sphenophyllum parvifolium Libertín, Bek, Jun Wang bis, Opluštil, Pšenička et Frojdová

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN000561

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:561

Authors: M. Libertín, J. Bek, J. Wang, S. Opluštil, J. Pšenička & J. Votočková Frojdová

Rank: species

Genus: Sphenophyllum Brongn.

Reference for this name: Libertín, M., Bek, J., Wang, J., Opluštil, S., Pšenička, J. & Votočková Frojdová, J. (2021): New data about three sphenophylls and their spores from the volcanic tuff of Wuda, Taiyuan Formation, Carboniferous-Permian boundary, China. – Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 294: 104484. Not public

Types

Original diagnosis/description

Sterile axes monopodially branched, with swollen nodes. Each node typically has six leaves.Wedge-shaped leaves on the lateral branches are very small and relatively narrowaround 5mmlong, sometimes divided into two lobes by a shallow indentation in the central area, the depth of the indentation is twice the length of the teeth. Distal margin of leaves straight or slightly convex, with 5–8 blunt teeth. Teeth can sometimes be separated in pairs from other teeth by shallow notches. The leaves on the proximal axes are linear and divided into two spine-like forked lobes, each ending in a hook-tip. Cylindrical cones with a sterile apex. Sporangiophores arranged in whorls, attached on the adaxial side of bract. Two oval- to heartshaped sporangia emerge laterally fromthe apex of the sporangiophore. Sterile bracts divided into two narrow lanceolate lobes.Wedge-shaped apical leaf of cones with blunt teeth on the distal margin. Monolete laevigate thin-walled spores; amb oval to circular.

Etymology

The specific epithet parvifolium is composed of parvi and folia, meaning tiny leaf.

Stratigraphy

Permian, Cisuralian, Asselian
Asselian, Cisuralian, Lower Permian;
uppermost part of the Taiyuan Formation Age: Approximately 298 Ma, Carboniferous-Permian boundary.

Locality

China
Wuda Coalfield, Wuhai, Inner Mongolia, China (N39°29′13.8″, E106°39′00.0″)