| Abstract Detail
Paleobotanical Section Karafit, Steven J. [1], Stockey, Ruth A. [1]. Paralygodium (Schizaeaceae) from the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian) of Vancouver Island, Canada. MORE than 30 specimens of permineralized fertile pinnules with abaxially borne sporangia have been discovered in calcareous marine nodules from the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian) Comox Formation from the Eden Main locality on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Isolated pinnules 1.6-3.0 mm wide x 2.1-3.6 mm long are lobed and abaxially rolled to form irregular globose structures. Pyriform sporangia 216-300 μm wide x 360-468 μm long occur in two rows on the abaxial surface of pinnule lobes. Sporangia have an apical annulus of 15-18 cells. Spores are tetrahedral and trilete, 33-42 μm in diameter, with straight to concave interradial sides, laesurae extending nearly to the equator, and a psilate exine. The fertile pinnules are compared to those of Anemia poolensis and two previously described species of Paralygodium, and show closest similarities to P. vancouverensis from the Eocene of British Columbia. This discovery extends the range of variation of Paralygodium from the Upper Cretaceous of Japan to North America and adds to the diversity of extinct schizaeaceous ferns.
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1 - University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, Biological Sciences Centre, Cw 405, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
Keywords:
Anemia
Paralygodium
Schizaeaceae
Cretaceous
fossil
fern.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 17-5
Location: 266/Holt
Date: Monday, July 31st, 2006
Time: 2:00 PM
Abstract ID:412 |
