Schizaeopsis ekrtii J.Kvaček, Dašková et Pátová

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN000298

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:298

Authors: J. Kvaček, J. Dašková & R. Pátová

Rank: species

Reference: Kvaček, J., Dašková, J. & Pátová, R. (2006): A new schizaeaceous fern, Schizaeopsis ekrtii sp. nov., and its in situ spores from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of the Czech Republic. – Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 140: 51–60.

Page of description: 53

Illustrations or figures: pls 1, 2

Types

Original diagnosis/description

Frond more than 7 times dichotomouslydivided from the base. Both sterile and fertile fronds having narrowly lanceolate segments. Each segment forking in its terminal part into narrow strips. The sterile segments terminating with acute or rounded tips. Venation dichotomously branched, each terminal segment entered by one vein. The fertile segments terminated with sporangiophores bearing one row of semi-circular sporangia tightly packed together. Laminae of sporangiophores lined with trichomes, their tips terminating with cluster of long trichomes. Sporangia containing spores assigned to Cicatricosisporites–Appendicisporites–Plicatella Complex. Spores tetrahedral, and trilete with triangular amb. Leasurae raised, extending 2/3 of the spore radius. Muri smooth, arranged in three sets on both proximal and distal sides of the spore. The muri having anastomoses in each radial region extending from the equator towards the distal pole. Radial regions raised forming keels extending equatorially into the auriculae.

Etymology

Named after our colleague Boris Ekrt, who found the best-preserved specimens of the described fossil fern.

Stratigraphy

Cretaceous, Upper Cretaceous, Cenomanian
Peruc-Korycany Formation, Unit 2 (sensu Uličný and Nichols 1997: AMOCO Field course guide book)

Locality

Czech Republic
Horoušany, Kamenná Panna (50°07′17″, 14°44′09″E)