Gymnosperms from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation (Brazil). I. Araucariaceae and Lindleycladus (incertae sedis)

Fossil conifers from the Early Cretaceous, most likely late Aptian, Crato Formation were studied. The excellent preservation of several of those fossils allowed detailed investigations of the leaf epidermis by light microscope (LM) and by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Members of two conifer taxa were recognized: The Araucariaceae are represented by a female cone of cf. Araucaria spec. A juvenile cone ( Araucariostrobus spec.) and sterile foliage shoots of Brachyphyllum obesum might be attributed to the Araucariaceae as well. The morpho‐genus Lindleycladus (incertae sedis) is represented by foliage shoots. The occurrence of Lindleycladus is the first record of this extinct morpho‐genus in the Southern Hemisphere. Anatomical features of these conifers are interpreted as adaptations to a warm seasonally dry climate. Taphonomic problems concerning these conifer remains are discussed.