Well-preserved floras from the Alpine EarlyMiddle Triassic are rare, and thus our understanding of the vegetation in this area during this period of time continues to be incomplete. As a result, every new find represents a significant piece of information that deserves thoughtful consideration. Anisian (Middle Triassic) sphenophytes and pteridosperms have recently been recovered from the Kühwiesenkopf locality (Monte Prà della Vacca) in northern Italy. The sphenophytes are represented by stem fragments, strobili and isolated sporangiophore heads of Equisetites, as well as by a few specimens of Neocalamites sp. and Echinostachys sp. The pteridosperms include abundant remains of the peltasperm foliage type Scytophyllum bergeri. A second Scytophyllum species in this flora, S. apoldense, is regarded as conspecific with S. bergeri based on epidermal anatomy; the two morphotypes are interpreted as sun and shade leaves of a single biological species. The seed-bearing disc Peltaspermum bornemannii sp. nov. probably represents the female reproductive structure of S. bergeri. Additional pteridosperm remains include foliage assignable to Sagenopteris sp. and Ptilozamites sp., in both cases perhaps the earliest records of these genera.
Generally, lycophytes are not well represented in Anisian floras. Nonetheless, four different genera, each with one species, have been distinguished in the Anisian flora from Kühwiesenkopf (Monte Prà della Vacca), Italy. They were well preserved and yielded leaf cuticles in all four taxa and in situ spores in two of them. Lycopia dezanchei gen. et sp. nov. is the most common form; it is characterized by a dichotomising creeping prostrate rhizome (representing the primary shoot axis) from which arise aerial axes, apically bifurcated and covered with bundles of long leaves. This taxon cannot be attributed to any of the lycophyte orders, but most resembles Lycopodiales. Two representatives of the Isoetales have been found, of which Isoetites brandneri sp.nov. is abundant. This species is characterized by a short stem, which is unusual for this genus. In situ immature microspores and megaspores were found in some specimens. Lepacyclotes bechstaedtii sp. nov. has a quadrilobe corm with fertile scales inserted in whorls or slightly helicoidally. Short sterile leaves arise distally from the corm in some specimens. Selaginellales are very rare in the flora; Selaginellites leonardii sp. nov. is represented by a strobilus that yielded both micro-and megaspores. Some sterile fragments have been found associated, but never in organic connection.
This papers deals with the description of the ferns found in the recently discovered Anisian locality of Kühwiesenkopf (Monte Prà della Vacca). A revision of the genera and species involved has been undertaken where necessary. Because of transitional material found at Kühwiesenkopf, the number of Neuropteridium species found in the European Middle Triassic floras is reduced from five to three: N. voltzii (Brongniart) Schimper, N. elegans (Brongniart) Schimper and N. grandifolium (Schimper et Mougeot) Compter. The fertile material attributed to this genus is transferred from the illegitimately published genus Crematopteris Schimper and Mougeot to the genus Scolopendrites Goeppert, in two species: S. scolopendrioides (Brongniart) comb. nov. and S. grauvogelii sp. nov. Anomopteris mougeotii Brongniart is unequivocally recorded for the first time from Italy. Gordonopteris lorigae gen. et sp. nov. is described for tripinnate fern fronds without the aphlebiae typical for the bipinnate genus Anomopteris but in which both sterile and fertile pinnule resemble closely those from that genus. Two probable marattialean ferns are described and recorded for the first time from the Middle Triassic of Italy: Marattiopsis sp. and Marantoidea sp. The nomenclature of the latter genus is discussed. Some ferns attributed to morphogenera are also described, namely: Sphenopteris schoenleiniana (Brongniart) Presl, Cladophlebis remota (Presl) comb. nov. and Cladophlebis sp. Moreover, two specimens from Kühwiesenkopf are described under gen. et sp. indet. as we are unsure if they are ferns or seed ferns. Similar material has been described from the Scythian of China as Neuropteridium curvinerve Wang and Wang.
Maria Ogilvie Gordon was one of the most prolific researchers of the later 19th century. Born and bred in Scotland she was the first woman to obtain a DSc from the University of London and a PhD from Munich University. Much of her research was in the Tyrol, in the high Alps between Austria and Italy. By 1900 she had published over 19 papers, many of them in German. However, it was not until later in life that she received recognition for her work. This paper explores her background, context and the work she undertook, and the contribution she made to the advancement of structural geology and palaeontology in the Alps.
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