Lepidophloios grangeri B.A. THOMAS , 1977

Cleal, Christopher J., Strullu-Derrien, Christine & Spencer, Alan R. T., 2024, Early Coal Swamp Vegetation From The Serpukhovian Lower Clackmannan Group Of Scotland, Fossil Imprint 80 (1), pp. 35-67 : 43

Lepidophloios grangeri B.A. THOMAS, 1977

Text-fig. 5b

1895 (?) Lepidophloios macrolepidotus GOLDENB. ; Kidston, p. 560. [see Remarks for details]

1964 Lepidophloios laricinus (STERNB.) STERNB. ; Crookall, p. 310, pl. 74, fig. 6. [see Remarks for details]

1977 Lepidophloios grangeri B.A. THOMAS , p. 286, pl. 36, figs 1–4.

D e s c r i p t i o n. Stems with helically arranged leaf cushions. Cushions rhomboidal, laterally elongate, 10–12 mm tall, 22–25 mm wide, broader than long, with smooth surface and no keel. Ligule pit apertures immediately adjacent to upper angles of leaf scars. For details of cuticle see Thomas (1977).

R e m a r k s. Only one specimen is known of this species. It was originally assigned to L. macrolepidotus and L. laricinus (see Synonymy), but differs from both species in the ligule being positioned much closer to the leaf scar and the stomatal density being higher ( Thomas 1977). Another specimen of Lepidophloios shoot was described by Galtier and Scott (1986) from the basal Limestone Coal Formation, but in a different mode of preservation, and so was not assigned to Thomas’s species.

O c c u r r e n c e. Craw Coal (Limestone Coal Formation), No. 4 Mine, Grange, Boness, Linlithgowshire.

Figures

Text-fig. 5. a: Lepidostrobophyllum veltheimianum (GEINITZ) STRULLU-DERRIEN, CLEAL, DUCASSOU, A.R.T.SPENCER, STOLLE et LESHYK; New Braidbar Quarry, Giffnock, East Renfrewshire; below Orchard Limestone, Upper Limestone Formation; BGS Kidst.2625. b: Lepidophloios grangeri B.A.THOMAS; Craw Coal, No. 4 Mine, Grange, Boness, Linlithgowshire; Limestone Coal Formation; BGS Kidst.1828. c: Stigmaria stellata (GÖPP.) GÖPP.; above Steam Coal, Stripeside Pit, Herbertshire Colliery, Denny, Stirlingshire;