Am. J. Bot.
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(American Journal of Botany. 2001;88:767-776.)
© 2001 Botanical Society of America, Inc.

Reconstruction of Pseudomariopteris busquetii, a vine-like Late Carboniferous–Early Permian pteridosperm1

Michael Krings 2, 4, Hans Kerp 2 , Edith L. Taylor 3 and Thomas N. Taylor 3

2Abt. Paläobotanik am Geologisch-Paläontologischen Institut, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Hindenburgplatz 57, D-48143 Münster, Germany; and 3Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045-2106 USA

The growth habit of the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian pteridosperm Pseudomariopteris busquetii is reconstructed based on compression material from the upper Stephanian of the Blanzy-Montceau and Commentry Basins (Massif Central, France), and the upper Rotliegend of the Saar-Nahe Basin (Nahe Group, N 4, Rheinland Pfalz, Germany). Pseudomariopteris busquetii was a medium-sized, vine- to liana-like plant with slender stems to which small bipartite fronds were attached. What is most interesting is that the species used at least two different strategies to both anchor and support the plant body. Most specimens possess specialized climber hooks developed from apical extensions of the pinna axes, indicating that the fronds were used to attach the plant. A few specimens suggest that the stem may also have had some capacity for attachment. In the absence of suitable supports, however, P. busquetii was apparently able to grow in dense stands or thickets in which the individual plants supported each other.

Key Words: climber hooks • Early Permian • growth habit • Late Carboniferous • Pseudomariopteris busquetii • pteridosperms • reconstruction • Rotliegend • Stephanian






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