Leclercqia Complexa (Lycopsida, Middle Devonian): Its Anatomy, and the Interpretation of Pyrite Petrifactions

Grierson, James D.

doi:10.1002/j.1537-2197.1976.tb13204.x

Cited by 34 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…As to Zdebska's hypothesis that a Konioria-type of organization led to the lycopods, we find supporting evidence only in the similarities of tracheidal thickenings in the Polish plant and Leclercqia (Grierson, 1976;Kenrick & Edwards, 1988). The origin of the zosterophylls and their possible relationships to the Rhyniophytina remain highly speculative in the near absence of welldated pre-Ludlow megafossil assemblages (Edwards & Fanning, 1985;Gensel el al., 1975).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

A new zosterophyll from a recently discovered exposure of the Lower Devonian Senni Beds in Dyfed, Wales*

Kenrick¹,

Edwards²

1988

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society

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Coalified remains of a plant with pseudomonopodial and isotomous branching in hairy axes, and with lateral sporangia arranged in one or two rows in an extended fertile zone, are placed in a new genus of the Zosterophyllophytina. Evidence for an exarch xylem strand, elliptical in transverse section, derives from pyrite permineralizations. The new genus is close to Gosslingia Heard in the precise distribution of its sporangia with respect to branching and in the possession of axillary tubercles, but it differs in the attitude of its sporangia and their frequent arrangement in two rows. An appraisal of characters used in the delimitation of zosterophyll genera leads to the conclusion that it is premature to subdivide the group into families. Comparison with pyritized tracheids in Gosslingia indicates that those in the new plant possess both annular and spiral secondary thickenings which are indirectly connected and are thus considered typical of zosterophyll water‐conducting elements. The more variable appearance of tracheids in the new taxon is attributed to increased decay before permineralization.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

A new zosterophyll from a recently discovered exposure of the Lower Devonian Senni Beds in Dyfed, Wales*

Kenrick¹,

Edwards²

1988

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society

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“…Beck's (1957) study of Tetraxylopteris provided the first clear example of the wealth of information which can be extracted from pyrite permineralizations when analyzed carefully in three planes of section. Since then, there has been a progressive increase in the utilization of pyritic specimens in analysis of the systematics and morphology of fossil plants (Beck, 1960;Carluccio et al, 1966;Marten, 1968;Stockmans, 1968;Scheckler and Banks, 1971a, b;Mustafa, 1975;Grierson, 1976;Bonamo, 1977;Serlin and Banks, 1978;Gensel, 1979;Stein, 1981; to name only a few of many possible examples). This has resulted from a developing knowledge of the chemical and structural properties of pyrite by paleobotanists, and from a growing confidence that such specimens can, indeed, produce useful, detailed data on histological features, modes of trace departure, branching patterns, and the like.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Techniques for preparation of pyrite and limonite permineralizations

Stein

Wight

Beck

1982

Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology

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Procedures are presented for the preparation of fine-polished surfaces of pyrite permineralizations, and demineralized thin-sections of limonite permineralizations. A major new feature in both procedures involves the re-embedding in plastic of individual cut sections in order to promote stability of the often crumbly material during further preparation. Pyrite sections are kept flat during polymerization of the plastic by means of a binder clip press. The technique for limonite permineralizations is characterized by the use of plastic not only for re,embedding individual sections but also for adhesion of sections to glass slides. Following this, sections are ground thin and demineralized with hydrochloric acid. We strongly recommend use of the thin-section technique for all studies utilizing limonite permineralizations because this method permits a much greater resolution of detail than is possible with other methods. INTRODUCTIONOne of the major problems in studying the internal structure of Devonian plants has been a lack of consistently reliable techniques for recovering the maximum information from fossils permineralized by pyrite (iron sulfides) and limonite (hydrated iron oxides), the most common forms of preservation in these plants.Pyritic specimens have contributed to paleobotanical knowledge for at least half a century. One of the early contributions was the study of the internal structure of Aneurophyton germanicum from the Middle Devonian of the Rhineland by Kr~iusel and Weyland (1929). Soon, thereafter, studies by Arnold (1935Arnold ( , 1940 and Read (1938) of pyritic Middle Devonian axes (Iridopteris, Reimannia, Arachnoxylon, Triloboxylon and others) from New York further emphasized the importance of this form of preservation. Only a small part of the potential information in these specimens was recovered by these early studies, however, because of limitations in the techniques and methodology employed.0034--6667/82/0000--0000/$02.75

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“…The presence of G-type cells in almost all zosterophylls, in some barinophytes and the Drepanophycopsida independently reinforces relationships between these three groups established on morphological criteria Niklas & Banks, 1990). However Leclercqia complexa a Middle Devonian homosporous ligulate herbaceous lycophyte with 5-tipped leaves (Banks et al, 1972) lacks such elements and shows a transition series in the metaxylem from reticulate to multiseriate round, oval and elongate rounded pits (Grierson, 1976). In contrast Minarodendron cathaysiense (Fig.…”

Section: Ig) Fhylogenetic Significance Of Tracheary Thickeningsmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…Hartman & Banks, 1980) and pyrite (e.g. Grierson, 1976;Kenrick et al, 1991a), from which detail has been extracted by sectioning, controlled demineralization and scanning electron microscopy. 14) Description.…”

Section: Imentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However Leclercqia complexa a Middle Devonian homosporous ligulate herbaceous lycophyte with 5-tipped leaves (Banks et al, 1972) lacks such elements and shows a transition series in the metaxylem from reticulate to multiseriate round, oval and elongate rounded pits (Grierson, 1976). In contrast Minarodendron cathaysiense (Fig.…”

Section: Ig) Fhylogenetic Significance Of Tracheary Thickeningsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cells and tissues in the vegetative sporophytes of early land plants

Edwards

1993

New Phytologist

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SUMMARY Remarkable preservation in coalified and pennineralized fossils from Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian sediments deposited some 420 to 390 million years ago provides insight into the major anatomical innovations associated with the early stages in the colonization of the land by higher plants. Using uniformitarian principles, such information, combined with gross morphology, can then be used to reconstruct the pioneers as growing, metabolizing and reproducing organisms, as well as allowing assessment of affinity, although apart from the lycophytes, they have no close relationship with extant groups. In considering vascular tissues, diversity is exemplified by descriptions of the metaxylem in protosteles of Zosterophyllopsida and Drepanophycopsida (putative lycophytes), of Psilophyton (Trimerophytopsida), of the Rhyniaceae (including Rhynia gwynnevaughanii, certain Taeniocrada spp., Sennicaulis) and of Cooksonia pertoni, a Lower Devonian representative of the organization found in the oldest pteridophyte‐like land plants. Aglaophyton major is included as a plant with bryophyte‐like vascular tissues in a branching sporophyte with cuticle, stomata and intercellular space system typical of the homoiohydric tracheophyte. In all water‐conducting cells, interpretation of the primary and secondary wall results from comparisons involving the anatomy and chemistry of extant examples and an understanding of taphonomic processes. Phloem is only rarely preserved and usually identified from its position around the xylem. In contrast, dermal features are better known, because of penetration of the resilient cuticle between epidermal cells. They appear conservative. Thus stomata with two guard cells look remarkably similar to extant forms in surface view, and by consideration of their relationship with surrounding epidermal cells and of extent of cuticularization, seem to have operated in a similar way to those in certain mosses and ferns. Cuticular ornamentation (papillae, striations) and epidermal outgrowths (unicellular and multicellular) are described and their adaptive significance conjectured. Ground tissue systems are best preserved in Rhynie Chert permineralizations where zonation of the cortex is tentatively related to photosynthetic and structural roles. The latter function is also attributed to thick‐walled, outer cortical cells recorded in many zosterophylls and in Psilophyton, although the chemical nature of the walls themselves remains equivocal. Problems of identification of roots in plants possessing axial organization with exarch xylem, and in leafy plants with smooth lateral branching systems are briefly addressed. Finally axis apices in Rhynia givynne‐vaughanii and sections showing stages in the maturation of Asteroxylon stems are described from the Rhynie Chert.

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Leclercqia Complexa (Lycopsida, Middle Devonian): Its Anatomy, and the Interpretation of Pyrite Petrifactions

Cited by 34 publications

References 22 publications

A new zosterophyll from a recently discovered exposure of the Lower Devonian Senni Beds in Dyfed, Wales*

A new zosterophyll from a recently discovered exposure of the Lower Devonian Senni Beds in Dyfed, Wales*

Techniques for preparation of pyrite and limonite permineralizations

Cells and tissues in the vegetative sporophytes of early land plants

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