Psaronius

Galtier, Jean, Ronchi, Ausonio & Broutin, Jean, 2011, Early Permian silicified floras from the Perdasdefogu Basin (SE Sardinia): comparison and bio-chronostratigraphic correlation with the floras of the Autun Basin (Massif central, France), Geodiversitas 33 (1), pp. 43-69 : 56

Psaronius sp.

( Fig. 7A, B )

Fragments of root mantle of Psaronius trunks are common elements; they occur in about half of the specimens either as portions of the inner root mantle ( Fig. 7A ) where the roots are cohesive with an interstitial tissue, or as isolated larger roots from the outer zone of the trunk ( Fig. 7B ) showing a characteristic aerenchymatous cortex and stellate xylem strand. In the absence of information on the stele of the stem a specific attribution is, however, impossible.

Figures

FIG. 7. — Silicified plants from the Permian of Sardinia:A, B, Psaronius sp.; A, part of the inner root mantle of a trunk,transverse section showing the small roots and interstitial tissue (SAR 13BB01); B, transverse section of one large free root of the outer zone; note the broad aerenchymatous cortex (SAR10A01); C, D, rachises of fronds borne by Psaronius; C, Stewartiopteris sp.1, rachis with a broad C-shaped xylem strand (arrows) and middle cortex with small lacunae (SAR59AT01); D, Stewartiopteris sp. 2., rachis with a different cortex bearing a probable third order one (R3) with fertile pinnule attached (SAR46B01); E, F, foliage of fronds borne by Psaronius; E, accumulation of fronds showing vegetative (above) and fertile pinnules (below) seen in transverse section (SAR40C1T01); F, part of a fertile pinna seen in paradermal section (SAR03A1T02). Scale bars: 2 mm.