Microphyllopteris sp.

Halamski, Adam T., 2013, Latest Cretaceous leaf floras from southern Poland and western Ukraine, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 58 (2), pp. 407-443 : 412

Microphyllopteris sp.

Fig. 3B, D.

1971 Didymosorus comptoniifolius Debey et Ettingsh. ; Karczmarz and Popiel 1971: 644–645, pl. 1: 1–2.

1998 Gleichenia zippei (Corda) Heer ; Drygant 1998: 143, pl. 1: 1–2.

Material.—Fragmentary leaves L PB−K.21 (formerly 37921), Pidtemne; L PB−K.60, L’viv; ZPAL Pl 4/1/6, Krasnobród.

Description.—The subparallel position of the fragmentarily preserved last order pinnae is suggestive of a pinnate arrangement ( Fig. 3D). Pinnae fragments up to ca. 20 mm long, rachis very slender, up to 0.2 mm wide; pinnulae either (sub)opposite or alternating, obliquely inserted, subtriangular, with either both margins straight or basiscopic one convex and acroscopic one concave, with acute tip, up to 3 mm long and 1.5 mm wide. Pinnules coalescent up to one third of their length.

Remarks.— Microphyllopteris sp. differs from Matonidium sp. (see above) in possessing subopposite, acuminate pinnules and a finer rachis. Although organic connections of the pinnae are not preserved, their preservation suggests that the arrangement was pinnate in the former taxon and palmate in the latter. Either forking (diagnostic of the Gleicheniaceae ) or fertile structures could not be observed, wherefore the assignment to any family is not possible.