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The first zosterophyll from the Lower Devonian Rhynie Chert, Aberdeenshire

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2011

A. G. Lyon  and
Dianne Edwards
A. G. Lyon
Affiliation:
South Manse, 17 The Square, Rhynie, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, U.K.
Dianne Edwards
Affiliation:
Geology Department, University of Wales College of Cardiff, P.O. Box 914, Cardiff CF1 3YE, U.K.
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Abstract

Fragmentary remains of a vascular sporophyte from the Rhynie Chert are described as a new genus and species, Trichopherophyton teuchansii. The plant, which is characterised by the possession of unicellular spinous hairs, exarch xylem and laterally attached, marginally dehiscent sporangia, is assigned to the Zosterophyllophytina, but lack of information on the arrangement of sporangia prevents its more precise positioning within the subdivision. Unusual features include the combination of circinate tips to axes with almost terete xylem strands, and the lack of a thick-walled outer cortical zone. Associated axes, lacking spinous hairs, but having papillate or rhizoid-like epidermal emergences, are interpreted as likely rhizomes of Trichopherophyton. Features, such as unicellular spinous hairs, rhizoid-like emergences, circinate tipsand parenchymatous cortex are considered in relation to the functioning and growth of aplant inhabiting an early Devonian wetland.

Keywords

Circinate apexfunctional anatomygrowth patternsrhizomesspinessymmetryunicellular hairswetland ecology.
Type
Research Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 82 , Issue 4 , 1991 , pp. 324 - 332
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1991

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