| Abstract Detail
Paleobotanical Section Bomfleur, Benjamin [1], Serbet, Rudolph [2], Krings, Michael [3], Taylor, Edith [4], Taylor, Thomas [5]. What is Dejerseya? The Triassic foliage morphotype Dejerseya lobata comprises entire-margined to partly pinnate leaves with secondary veins forming fan-shaped to pinnate clusters within the lobes. The leaves are unevenly amphistomatic,and stomata are composed of moderately sunken guard cells surrounded by papillate subsidiary cells. Associated reproductive organs are assigned to new species of Matatiella (ovulate organs) and Townrovia (pollen organs). The ovulate organ is characterized by pinnately arranged, primarily shield-shaped megasporophylls divided into three to four narrow lobes, each with a single recurved naked ovule on the lower surface. The pollen organ arises from a reproductive bud, and consists of a slender axis bearing pinnately arranged, stalked, elongate receptacles, each with about 20 unilocular, club-shaped pollen sacs. Pollen is non-taeniate bisaccate and monosulcate, and corresponds most closely with Falcisporites australis. Co-occurrence data indicate that the isolated organs derive from a single natural plant species. Based on structural similarities with well-established peltasperm taxa, we suggest that this new seed fern, in addition to several other enigmatic pteridosperm fossils from Gondwana, represents a member of a previously unrecognized group of Mesozoic peltasperms. Paleoecological analyses indicate that these plants were opportunistic, early-successional inhabitants of stressed wetland environments in polar latitudes during the Triassic. Broader Impacts:
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1 - University of Kansas, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Haworth Hall, 1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
2 - University Of Kansas, Division Of Paleobotany, NAT HIST MUS & BIODIV RES INST, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
3 - Bayerische Staatssammlung Für Paläontologie Und Ge, Richard-Wagner Strasse 10, Munich, Germany, D-80333, Germany
4 - University Of Kansas, Department Of Ecology And Evolutionary Biology, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Haworth Hall, Lawrence, KS, 66045-7600, USA
5 - University Of Kansas, Department Of Ecology And Evolutionary Biology, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Haworth Hall, Lawrence, KS, 66045-2106, USA
Keywords:
whole-plant reconstruction
Matatiellaceae
Antarctica
Triassic
Peltaspermales.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 21
Location: Lindell C/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 4:30 PM
Number: 21004
Abstract ID:40 |
