22 research outputs found
Voltziopsis, a southern conifer of lower Triassic age
Shoots ascribed to Voltziopsis africana Seward
are described, with cuticular detail. These compare
very closely with the shoot system, with an attached
seed cone, caned V. wolganensis sp. nov., which is
associated with pollen of the Strotersporites Wilson
sort. The shoot called, Brachyphyllum angustum
Walkom is redescribed though Walkom's specimens
cannot be found, and proves to be so close
to the species referred to Voltziopsis that it is
reclassified V. angusta (Walkom) comb. nov. The
material considered comes from the Lower Triassic
of New South Wales, and reasons are given for considering
all Voltziopsis specimens Lower Triassic
also. The classification of Voltziopsis in the Coniferales
is discussed
Rissikia and mataia podocarpaceous conifers from lower mesozoic of southern lands
The genus Rissikia gen. nov. consisting of leafy
shoots and detached pollen and seed cones is
described, with two species, R. media (Tenison
Woods) com. nov. and R. apiculata sp. nov. Also
described is Mataia gen. nov. with one species
M. podocarpoides (Ettinghausen) com. nov. These
are all ascribed to the Podocarpaceae, and the
evolution of the Family, particularly of the epimatium
is discussed
Brachyphyllum crassum complex of fossil conifers
The holotype of Brachyphyllum crassurn Tenison
Woods, is re-examined, and this species reclassified
as Araucaria crassa (Tenison Woods) com. nov.; it
is probably Tertiary in age. Of shoots referred to
A. crassa one belongs to the Taxodiaceae,Athrotaxus
tasmnanica com. nov. also almost certainly Tertiary;
while the other, Jurassic in age, is referred to
Pagiophyllum feistrnanteli Halle, which is redescribed.
Another group of shoots sometimes confused
with A, crassa. is described as Allocladus gen.
nov., with three species Al. rajmahalense (Feistmantel)
com. nov. Al. milneanus (Tenison Woods)
com. nov. and Al. cribbii sp. nov. The supposed
cone of Al. milneanus is examined, and doubt is
thrown on its ascription to Allocladus. It is renamed
Conites tenison-woodsi nom. nov
Conifer from the Jurassic of east Antarctica
The genus Nothodacriurn gen nov. is described,
with one species, N. warrenii sp. nov., from the
uppermost Beacon Group, of Jurassic age. Also
described is the pollen cone M asculostrobus warrenii
sp. nov., which may belong with N. warrenii. These
fossils are ascribed to the Podocarpaceae, and
their position in the Family is discussed
On the nomenclature of Pterechus johnstoni (Feistmantel)Com. Nov.
The holotype of the species hitherto called Pteruchus africanus Thomas is redescnbed and refigured; on grounds of priority this species must now be called Pteruchus johnstoni (Felstmantel) com. nov. The specimen named Stachyopitys annularioides Shirley is redescribed and considered to be identical with P. johnstoni
On Pachypteris pinnata (Walkom) from Tasmania
Material from the Rhaetian of Tasmania referred to Thinnfeldia pinnata Walkom is described. The leaf is of thick substance, once pinnate, and probably abscissed. It shows a moderately thick cuticle with most stomata on the lower leaf surface, papillae over the stomatal pit, an unmodified leaf margin, and irregular subsidiary cells. With this information the leaf fits better in Pachypteris Brongniart than Thinnjeldia
Ettingshausen, and is transferred to Pachypteris. It is readily distinguishable from other adequately known species of the genus