Scolecopteris cf. parvifolia Millay, 1979

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 : 58

Scolecopteris cf. parvifolia Millay, 1979

( Fig. 8C )

This may represent a second type of fertile parts with large pinnules (6 to 8 mm long and 2-2.5 mm wide), bearing two rows of up to 14 synangia, each consisting of 4 to 5 sporangia. The lamina is thin (200 µm) without a well-marked palisade or spongy tissue; sporangia (up to 0.9 mm long) are borne on a short vascularised pedicel(250 µm broad) and they are united around this pedicel in their proximal region. The sporangia tips are solid and bluntly pointed. This fertile structure is similar to that of S. parvifolia as defined by Millay (1979: pl. 10, fig. 66) from the Pennsylvanian American coal balls.

Figures

FIG. 8. — Silicified plants from the Permian of Sardinia:A, Pecop- teris sp., transverse section of one vegetative pinnule showing thick lamina with palisade and aerenchyma mesophyll.Note the hair (arrow) attached near the lower extremity (SAR15B1T02); B, Scolecopteris cf. elegans Zenker, oblique transverse section of one pinnule showing two synangia attached on the left side. Note the thick lamina similar to that of Pecopteris sp. (A) but long thin pinnule extension on the right (SAR40C01); C, Scolecopteris cf. parvifolia Millay, part of a longitudinal section of one pinnule passing through several synangia. Note the relatively thin lamina, synangia borne on a short vascularised pedicel and solid tips of sporangia (SAR56AT02); D, E, Scolecopteris cf. alta Millay; D, longitudinal section of a synangium showing the characteristic central column; E, transverse sections of synangia, the one above is through the basal part of the synangium, the other is through the distal region showing only four dehiscent sporangia (SAR01C2B02). Scale bars: 0.5 mm.