A new isoetalean microsporophyll from the latest Albian of northeastern Spain: Diversity in the development and dispersal strategies of microspores

Uxue Villanueva-Amadoz (1) , Luis Miguel Sender (2) , José Bienvenido Diez (3) , José Javier Ferrer (2) , Denise Pons (4)

1 UNAM - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México = National Autonomous University of Mexico
2 University of Zaragoza - Universidad de Zaragoza [Zaragoza]
3 Universidade de Vigo
4 CR2P - Centre de recherche sur la Paléobiodiversité et les Paléoenvironnements

In this paper well-preserved isoetalean microsporophyll, containing in situ microspores, is described from the uppermost part of the Utrillas Formation (latest Albian) in Teruel Province, northeastern Spain. Similar but dispersed microspores were described previously as Peromonolites. Fossil plant impressions and compressions including the sporophyll lamina and microsporangium are referred to the fossil genus Isoetites. Although Isoetes-like megafossil remains, often with in situ or associated megaspores, are known from quite a few Cretaceous sites, and dispersed microspores are known, the presence of intact microsporangia is rare. Herein we suggest that microsporangia may have dispersed in masses, possibly representing a new unknown strategy in microspore dispersal in this group of plants.

Mots clés: Lycophyta; Isoetales; Isoetites; Peromonolites; microsporophyll; Albian; Spain

Domaines: Paléontologie

Uxue Villanueva-Amadoz, Luis Miguel Sender, José Bienvenido Diez, José Javier Ferrer, Denise Pons. A new isoetalean microsporophyll from the latest Albian of northeastern Spain: Diversity in the development and dispersal strategies of microspores. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 2014, 59 (2), pp.479-490. ⟨10.4202/app.2012.0010⟩. ⟨hal-01307057⟩