Conago sp. 1

Greguš, Josef & Kvaček, Jiří, 2015, Revision Of Cenomanian Flora From The Maletín Sandstone, Acta Musei Nationalis Pragae Series B 71 (3 - 4), pp. 315-364 : 325

Conago sp. 1

Pl. 8, Fig. 7–9

S t r a t i g r a p h y: Peruc-Korycany Formation, Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous.

M a t e r i a l s t u d i e d: GBA_79; GPIT/PL_724;

MMT(M)/G_439, 478; NHMW_31a, 31b.

O c c u r r e n c e: Maletín.

D e s c r i p t i o n. Ovuliferous cones of ovoid shape with main central axis bearing 2–3 pairs of distally peltate ovuliferous scales with mucronate projections. Specimen no. GPIT/PL_724 (Pl. 8, Fig. 7) described by Heer (1869, p. 11, pl. 1, fig. 12) as Sequoia fastigiata is a longitudinally fractured ovoid ovuliferous cone 15× 11 mm large. On the main axis, there are two pairs of peltate ovuliferous scales. Ovuliferous scales are 6 mm long and 3.5 mm wide at their widest part. Due to the longitudinal fracture, the mucronate projection is not apparent.

Specimen NHMW_31 (part and counterpart NHMW_ 31a, b, Pl. 8, Fig. 8) shows three pairs of ovuliferous scales, arranged on the main axis in various angles. Size of ovuliferous cones is 27× 18 mm and 22× 18 mm. Ovuliferous cone scales are peltate up to 8 mm long and up to 5 mm wide at their widest part. Uppermost pair of cone scales is tilted at an angle of 60–70° to the main axis, middle pair is vertical to the axis and lower pair is again tilted at an angle of 60–70° to the base. In the apical part, there is a terminal scale with similar shape and size. Both ovuliferous cones are borne on a 13–15 mm long peduncle. The ovuliferous cone no. GBA_79 (Pl. 8, Fig. 9) is transversally fractured.

D i s c u s s i o n. This species is classified by Heer (1869) together with coniferous shoots of the genus Sequoia . However, its isolated occurrence precludes its attribution to either Sequoia or Thuites . Conago sp. 1 differs from Conago sp. 2 in having elliptical shape of cone and oppositely arranged scales. This character distinguishes them also from microsporangiate cones of Masculostrobus SEWARD, 1911 emend. GRAUVOGEL-STAMM et SCHAARSCHMIDT, 1978 . Peltate ovuliferous scales and their opposite arrangement suggest that the ovuliferous cones may be assigned to the family Cupressaceae .

Conago sp. 2

Pl. 8, Fig. 10

S t r a t i g r a p h y: Peruc-Korycany Formation, Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous.

M a t e r i a l s t u d i e d: GBA_47.

O c c u r r e n c e: Maletín.

D e s c r i p t i o n. Specimen no. GBA_47 (Pl. 8, Fig. 10) is two impressions of ovuliferous cones of spheroid shape, preserved in the slab next to each other. The left ovuliferous cone (12× 11 mm) is clearly attached to the 17 mm long peduncle. The right ovuliferous cone (11× 11 mm) is at the same distance from peduncle as the left one. Both cones were originally probably attached to the same axis. Poorly preserved peltate cone scales are rhombical, arranged helically on the central axis of the cone. Its cone scales are 3–4 mm wide and 2–3 mm high.

D i s c u s s i o n. Conago sp. 2 differs from sp. 1 in having a spheroid shape of the cone, and cones scales arranged helically. It differs from microsporangiate cones of the genus Masculostrobus in having spheroid shape and in larger cone scales.