Sagenopteris trapialensis Elgorr., Escapa et Cúneo

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN003085

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:3085

Authors: A. Elgorriaga, I. H. Escapa & N. R. Cúneo

Rank: species

Genus:

Reference: Elgorriaga, A., Escapa, I. H. & Cúneo, N. R. (2019): Southern Hemisphere Caytoniales: vegetative and reproductive remains from the Lonco Trapial Formation (Lower Jurassic), Patagonia. – Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 17: 1477–1495., link

Page of description: 1479

Illustrations or figures: figs 2-4

Types

Original diagnosis/description

Compound petiolate leaves bearing four leaflets, up to 58 mm long and 18 mm wide, with an average length/width (L/W) ratio of 2.5:1. The central pair of leaflets is nearly symmetrical, elliptic to obovate, emerging at 20–45; the lateral pair is smaller, asymmetrical, oblong to ovate, with an emergence angle of 75–90. Both types of leaflets have rounded apexes, straight to slightly undulate margins, occasionally with up to two lateral lobes. Petioles slender, with straight margins gently tapering upwards. Leaflets with a strong midrib, visible up to three- to four-fifths of leaflet length. Secondary veins emerging from midrib at c. 9–19, dichotomizing and anastomosing frequently forming obliquely oriented areolae with a L/W ratio of 8.5–11:1. Leaflets with anastomoses of Z, X, H and compound types, dichotomies simple. Bud- and scalelike leaves small, the former having a broad petiole with curved margins, clasping base and leaflets with diffuse venation; scale-like leaves with tapering upwards petioles with a broad base.

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the Lonco Trapial Formation. Lonco Trapial means ‘cougar’s head’ in the Mapuche language.

Stratigraphy

Jurassic, Lower Jurassic, Pliensbachian
Lonco Trapial Formation, Pliensbachian–Toarcian, Early Jurassic.

Locality

Argentina
Taquetren A and Taquetren B localities, Chubut Province, Patagonia.