Premium
SOURCE PLANTS FOR CARBONIFEROUS MICROSPORES: LYCOSPORA FROM PERMINERALIZED LEPIDOSTROBUS
Author(s) -
Willard Debra A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1989.tb15060.x
Subject(s) - westphalian sovereignty , sporangium , carboniferous , biology , pith , taxodium , pennsylvanian , paleozoic , botany , microspore , paleontology , spore , structural basin , pollen , stamen
Permineralized Lepidostrobus specimens were examined from the Westphalian A of England, Westphalian B (Breathitt) of the Appalachian Basin, and the Westphalian D (Desmoinesian) of the Illinois Basin and Western Interior Coal Region to correlate species of the dispersed spore genus Lycospora with source cones and cone types (“species”) with parent plants. Based on 51 specimens of Lepidostrobus oldhamius sensu Balbach, three cone types, producing three species of Lycospora , are recognized. Lycospora pellucida occurs in smaller diameter cones with a prominently coronate stele; cones are associated with Lepidophloios harcourtii from the Westphalian A‐B. Lycospora pusilla occurs in larger diameter cones with a small “pith” containing elongate, sclerified, tanniferous cells from Westphalian D coal balls. Secretory cells also are present in sporophyll trace sheaths and in subarchesporial parenchyma pads in sporangia. The suggested plant source is Lepidodendron hickii. Lycospora granulata occurs in large cones with a large “pith” composed of thin‐walled parenchyma; no secretory cells were observed in the “pith,” sporophyll traces, or subarchesporial pads. These cones are associated with Lepidophloios hallii from the Westphalian D. Association of Lycospora species with source lycopods increases the possibilities of paleoecological interpretation using microspores from Carboniferous coals.