Journal article
Paurodendron stellatum: A new Permian permineralized herbaceous lycopsid from the Prince Charles Mountains, Antarctica
S McLoughlin, AN Drinnan, BJ Slater, J Hilton
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology | Published : 2015
Abstract
Diminutive, silica-permineralized lycopsid axes, from a Guadalupian (Middle Permian) silicified peat in the Bainmedart Coal Measures of East Antarctica are described and assigned to Paurodendron stellatum sp. nov. Axes consist only of primary-growth tissues with a vascular system characterized by an exarch actinostele with 6-20 protoxylem points. Stems have a relatively narrow cortex of thin-walled cells that are commonly degraded, but the root cortex typically contains more robust, thick-walled cells. The stems bear helically inserted, elliptical-rhombic, ligulate microphylls. Roots possess an eccentrically positioned monarch vascular strand. Paurodendron stellatum is one of a very small nu..
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Awarded by Natural Environment Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
This research was funded by grants from the Swedish Research Council (VR grants 2010-3931 and 2014-5234), Australian Research Council (grant number A39331444) to A.N.D. and an ARC fellowship to S.M. (ARC F00102907). We thank Bill DiMichele, an anonymous reviewer and the editor for their constructive comments on the manuscript. This research was also supported by a Natural Environment Research Council, U.K., scholarship (NE/H5250381/1) and EU Synthesys programme grant (SE-TAF-4827) to BJS.