Maiaspora D.A.Mamontov, D.McLean, O.A.Orlova et O.A.Gavrilova

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN000610

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:610

Authors: D. A. Mamontov, D. McLean, O. A. Orlova & O. A. Gavrilova

Rank: genus

Reference: Mamontov, D. A., McLean, D., Orlova, O. A. & Gavrilova, O. A. (2019): Maiaspora: a new miospore genus with enigmatic sculpture from the late Visean of European Russia. – Papers in Palaeontology 7(online)(1): 263–306.

Page of description: 280

Type

Original diagnosis/description

Spores radial, trilete, acavate, azonate. Amb triangular with straight or concave sides, rounded apices. Laesura straight with delicate labra, three-quarters or four-fifths of the spore radius in length. Exospore is relatively thin. Proximal and distal surfaces are covered by biform sculpture with a reticulum decorated by apiculate elements (verrucae, coni, tuberculae) to produce a metareticuloid sculpture. Muri are low, slightly sinuous and clearly tapered at the top, more or less triangular in vertical cross-section. Lumina are polygonal. Distinct, circular or elliptical scrobiculae occur at the bases of the lumina and open as vertical, funnel-like tunnels (Fig. 5).

Etymology

From Maia, a beautiful mountain nymph of ancient Greek mythology. The genus is dedicated to Professor Maia V. Oshurkova who made major contributions to Soviet and Russian Palaeozoic palynology and palaeobotany.