Calymmotheca distans (STERNB.) STRULLU-DERRIEN, CLEAL, DUCASSOU, A.R.T. SPENCER

Cleal, Christopher J., Strullu-Derrien, Christine & Spencer, Alan R. T., 2024, Early Coal Swamp Vegetation From The Serpukhovian Lower Clackmannan Group Of Scotland, Fossil Imprint 80 (1), pp. 35-67 : 53

Calymmotheca distans (STERNB.) STRULLU-DERRIEN, CLEAL, DUCASSOU, A.R.T. SPENCER ,

STOLLE et LESHYK, 2021

1820 Filicites bermudensiformis SCHLOTH. , nom. inval., p. 409, pl. 21, fig. 2.

1825 Sphenopteris distans STERNB. , p. xvi.

1832 Filicites bermudensiformis SCHLOTH. , nom. illeg., pp. 7, 10, pl. 10, fig. 18 left b, pl. 21, fig. 2.

1913 Diplothmema bermudensiforme (SCHLOTH.) GOTHAN , nom. illeg. p. 73, pl. 15, fig. 5.

1923 Diplothmema bermudensiforme (SCHLOTH.) GOTHAN ; Kidston, p. 250, pl. 61, fig. 3, pl. 67, fig. 3.

2021 Calymmotheca distans (STERNB.) STRULLU-DERRIEN, CLEAL, DUCASSOU, A.R.T. SPENCER, STOLLE et LESHYK , p. 15.

D e s c r i p t i o n. Pinnate fragments, with rachises with anastomosed surface markings. Ultimate pinnae oblonglanceolate, with alternating, widely spaced, obliquely-attached pinnules; pinnules deltoid, up to ca. 8 mm long, 4–5 mm wide, with 3–5 lobes separated by shallow sinus; pinnule lobes oblong-rounded and in larger pinnules spread out in fan.

R e m a r k s. This species has often been assigned the epithet bermudensiforme / bermudensiformis but as pointed out by Strullu-Derrien et al. (2021) this name is invalid and the correct name is C. distans . The species is widely distributed in the upper Visean and lower Serpukhovian of Euramerica and was documented from the Clackmannan Group by Kidston (1923), although the specimens can no longer be located in his collection. Like the previous species the anastomosed surface markings on the rachises clearly point to it belonging to Calymmotheca , but differs from the more widespread C. divaricata by the less incised pinnules.

O c c u r r e n c e s. Rare in Lower Limestone and Upper Limestone Formations, but absent from Limestone Coal Formation.