Sonapteris Pšenička, Bek et R.Rössler

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN000012

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:12

Authors: J. Pšenička, J. Bek & R. Rößler

Rank: genus

Reference: Pšenička, J., Bek, J. & Rößler, R. (2005): Two new species of Sonapteris gen. nov. (Botryopteridaceae) based on compressions from the Upper Carboniferous (Bolsovian-Westphalian D) of the Pilsen Basin, Bohemian Massif. – Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 136: 111–142.

Page of description: 114

Type

Original diagnosis/description

Globose fertile organ 10–17 mm in diameter, alternate on supporting rachis. Rachises covered by uniseriate trichomes; aphlebiae occur on main rachises. Fertile organs form globose-ovate features; sporangia solitary or in clusters, placed at the ends of ultimate rachises; sporangia ovoid, with short multiseriate stalk; prominent multiseriate (bi-triseriate) lateral annulus protrudes from one side of sporangia and occupies more than ½ length of sporangia and extending for approximately ½ or more of its circumference. Annulus horizontally or vertically elongated; dehiscence longitudinal, along a narrow region extending from near the pedicel to the distal region; thin-walled cells of sporangium outside dehiscence zone polygonal; Circular, oval to triangular trilete spores. Exine of the proximal and distal surface can be laevigate, verrucate, microverrucate, granulate and microgranulate. The length of the trilete laesurae from one-half to three-quarters of the radius. In situ spores can be compared to some species of dispersed spore genera Granulatisporites (Ibrahim) Potonié and Kremp, Verrucosisporites (Ibrahim) Smith and Butterworth, Apiculatisporis Potonié and Kremp, Planisporites (Knox) Potonié and Leiotriletes (Naumova) Potonié
and Kremp.

Etymology

In honour of Mrs. Soňa Pšeničková, famous and broadminded wife of the first author.