Aberlemnia caledonica (D.Edwards) Gonez et Gerrienne

Plant Fossil Names Registry Number: PFN000859

Act LSID: urn:lsid:plantfossilnames.org:act:859

Authors: P. Gonez & P. Gerrienne

Rank: species

Basionym: Cooksonia caledonica D.Edwards

Genus: Aberlemnia Gonez et Gerrienne

Reference: Gonez, P. & Gerrienne, P. (2010): Aberlemnia caledonica gen. et comb. nov., a new name for Cooksonia caledonica Edwards 1970. – Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 163: 64–72.

Page of description: 71

Types

Original diagnosis/description

Incomplete plant at least 6·7 cm. high. Naked dichotomously branching axes 0·4–1·8 mm. wide {average 0·65 mm.). Term inal spherical to oval sporangia, some also reniform. Border (0·1–0·2 mm. wide) sometimes present. Globose sporangia 1·2–2·0 mm. high (average 1·7 mm.) by 1·3–2·2 mm. wide (average 1·8 mm.). Oval ones 1·1– 1·8 mm. high (average 1·6 mm.) by 1·8–3·0 mm. wide (average 2·4 mm.). Axis widens slightly below sporangium.

Emended diagnosis

Gonez et Gerrienne (2010: Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 163: 71):
axes 0.4–1.8 mm wide (x̄ = 0.65 mm), branches length decreasing distally. Distalmost axis segment 1.4–4.4 mm long (x̄ = 3 mm) and 0.4–0.9 mm wide (x̄ = 0.62 mm). Circular sporangia 1.2–2 mm high (x̄ = 1.7 mm) and 1.3–2.2 mm wide (x̄ = 1.8 mm). Oval and reniform sporangia 1.1–1.8 mm high (x̄ = 1.6 mm) and 1.8–3 mm wide (x̄ = 2.4 mm). Sporangial border 0.14–0.35 mm wide.

Stratigraphy

Devonian, Lower Devonian
Cairnconnan Group, Dittonian Stage Lower Old Red Sandstone of Scotland

Locality

United Kingdom
Aberlemno Quarry, Aberlemno, approximately 1½ miles north-north-west of Turin Hill, Angus; Nat. Grid Ref. 527551