Wealden Plant Microfossils

Abstract

One new and several re-interpreted species of Lower Cretaceous age are included in Pyrobolospora, a new organ-genus of large spores bearing neck structures ; in Triletes (section Aphanozonati) are placed two other species of megaspores, one emended and one new. These are a small part of a distinctive Wealden assemblage of plant microfossils, which represents a critical period in plant evolution and which should play its part in stratigraphy. Certain difficulties in nomenclature and morphology are discussed.

Palaeontological Evidence for the Age of the English Wealden

“…The first which range in size from about one centimetre downwards have not yet been used. Megaspores, which average 500 /x in diameter, have been described by Dijkstra (1951), Madler (1954), and Hughes (1955). Individual specimens of these can be handled and examined under a low-power stereoscopic binocular ; although many fossiliferous localities are known, megaspores are not common in the finer grained rocks such as most of the Weald Clay.…”

Application of confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) to autofluorescent organic and mineral matter in peat, coals and siliciclastic sedimentary rocks — A qualitative approach

“…The sculpture might consist of the flat-topped verrucate to regulate elements giving rise to regulate ornament. The examined megaspores referred to the genus of Verrutriletes have been also reported by Huges (1955) from English Wealden (Berriasian), Great Britain; by van der Hammern (1954) ex Potonié (1956) from the Senonian, Netherlands; and by Waksmundzka (1983Waksmundzka ( , 1985 from Cretaceous, Poland. In absence of megafossils remains, botanical affinity of the genus of Verrutriletes can be broadly related to selaginellalean origin (Batten, 1995) and according to Zavialova et al (2010), genus Selaginellites can be assigned to fossil herbaceous lycophytes (Zeiller, 1906).…”

Stratigraphic distribution of species of the megaspore genus Minerisporites in North America

“…In the older part of the stratigraphic column, particularly in Cenomanian and Albian rocks, specimens of Minerisporites are commonly accompanied by specimens of Arcellites. A freshwater aquatic habitat has been suggested for Arcellites by Dijkstra (1951), Hughes (1955), Cookson and Dettmann (1958), and Ellis and Tschudy (1964). Arcellites is very probably closely related to the Hydropteridae, or water ferns, and very possibly to the family Marsiliaceae.…”