Coricladus quiteriensis gen. et sp. nov., a new conifer in Southern-Brazil Gondwana (Lower Permian, Paraná Basin)

Abstract

A new taxon of conifers (Coricladus quiteriensis) is described based on megafloristic remains from the roofshale level at the Quitéria Outcrop (Rio Bonito Formation -Lower Permian -Southern Paraná Basin -Rio Grande do Sul -Brazil). This megafloristic community is included in the Botrychiopsis Zone -Botrychiopsis valida Sub-Zone (Kungurian/Roadian). The assemblage, preserved as impressions, do not present remains of epidermic characters, and is composed mainly of isolated vegetative branches with spirally disposed acicular leaves, presenting a conspicuous central vein and also isolated fertile branches with sparse and irregular leaves and terminal cones. Leafless principal branches, organically connected with sterile and fertile branches, are rare. Reproductive feminine scales, disposed in a plane, are organized in lax terminal cones on branches, composed by 4 (four) distal ovuliferous scales, and 8 (eight) elliptical-elongated anatropous seeds. Paleoecological data pointed out to a mesophylous to higrophylous habitat in swampy environments.

Paleobotany and Palynology of the Rio Bonito Formation (Lower Permian, Paraná Basin, Brazil) at the Quitéria Outcrop

“…As a re-sult, formal biostratigraphic frameworks were proposed by Guerra-Sommer and Cazzulo-Klepzig (1993) and Jasper et al (2003). Iannuzzi et al (2007) discussed the available proposals and considered valid -for the southern portion of the Basin-the phytostratigraphic arrangement of Guerra-Sommer and Cazzulo-Klepzig (1993), which was reviewed by the authors based on previous studies (Vieira and Iannuzzi, 2000;Iannuzzi et al, 2003aIannuzzi et al, , 2003bIannuzzi et al, , 2009Jasper et al, 2003Jasper et al, , 2005Tybusch, 2005;Iannuzzi and Souza, 2005;Tybusch and Iannuzzi, 2008;Iannuzzi and Boardman, 2008).…”

“…Plant remains recognized by several authors in this section were reassessed over the past few years (Mombach and Guerra-Sommer, 1990;Guerra-Sommer and Cazzulo-Klepzig, 1993;Guerra-Sommer et al, 1995a, 1995bGuerra-Sommer, 1998, 1999;Jasper et al, 2003Jasper et al, , 2005Jasper et al, , 2006Boardman et al, 2006;Iannuzzi and Boardman, 2008;Tybusch and Iannuzzi, 2008;Salvi et al, 2008;Boardman and Iannuzzi, 2010). After careful analysis, all occurrences are mentioned in this paper in order to update knowledge on the fossil content and stratigraphic framework of the beds exposed at the Quitéria outcrop.…”

Palaeobotanical evidence of wildfires in the Late Palaeozoic of South America – Early Permian, Rio Bonito Formation, Paraná Basin, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

“…The lowland clastic substrate, developing after the cessation of peat formation, was colonized by a pioneer community, preserved in a thin roofshale level (40 centimeters thick), composed mainly of Brasilodendron pedroanum in situ basal casts, arborescent conifers (Coricladus quiteriensis from Jasper et al, (2005)) and understory taxa such as Botrichyopsis plantiana, Lycopodites riograndensis, Rubidgea sp. and Cordaites sp.…”

Depositional cyclicity and paleoecological variability in an outcrop of Rio Bonito formation, Early Permian, Paraná Basin, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

“…Ovuliferous scales and seeds adpressed to the main axis. Detailed description by Jasper et al (2005b). (Fig.…”

“…were also described as components of the understory flora (RicardiBranco et al, unpublished). Dense associations of fertile and sterile shoots of conifers (Coricladus quiteriensis; Jasper et al, 2005b) also were identified as components of the roof-shale flora.…”