Sphenopteris taitiana KIDST., 1923

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 : 49

Sphenopteris taitiana KIDST., 1923

Text-fig. 7c

1923 Sphenopteris taitiana KIDST. , p. 78, pl. 18, figs 4, 5.

D e s c r i p t i o n. Bipinnate fragments with punctate ultimate rachises 2‒3 mm wide. Subopposite ultimate pinnae attached at near to right-angles, spaced at 20‒25 mm intervals, tapered along most of length. Pinnules deltoid with a welldeveloped petiole, up to 6 mm long and 4 mm wide; more distal pinnules are more or less entire, the most proximal pinnules have up to six lobes with the lobes sometimes themselves being shallowly lobed. Veins not clearly preserved.

R e m a r k s. The types of this species originated from the Upper Limestone Formation. Kidston compared the species with Sphenopteris linkii (GÖPP.) C. PRESL , widely regarded as a later heterotypic synonym of Sphenopteris fragilis BRONGN. auct. ( Calymmotheca divaricata (GÖPP.) STUR ). However, Kidston’s specimens show none of the characteristic features of Calymmotheca (e.g., rachises with anastomosed surface markings) and the species is here regarded as a true Sphenopteris with distinctive, small pinnules. The species has also been recorded from Upper Silesia ( Patteisky 1929).

O c c u r r e n c e s. Rare in Upper Limestone Formation, in interval below Orchard Limestone.

Figures

Text-fig. 7. a: Sphenopteris elegans (BRONGN.) STERNB.; Cuthill Shore (near highwater mark) between Musselburgh and Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire; between Nos 4 and 5 Limestones, Upper Limestone Formation; BGS Kidst.3816. b: Sphenopteris dicksonioides (GÖPP.) C.E.WEISS; No. 6 Pit, Grange, Bo’ness, Linlithgowshire; above Red Coal, Limestone Coal Formation; BGS Kidst.781. c: Sphenopteris taitiana KIDST.; Cuthill Shore between Musselburgh and Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire; between Nos 4 and 5 Limestones, Upper Limestone Formation; BGS Kidst.341. d: Sphenopteris mira KIDST.; New Braidbar Quarry, Giffnock, East Renfrewshire; below Orchard Limestone, Upper Limestone Formation; BGS Kidst.2416. e: Sphenopteridium dissectum (GÖPP.) SCHIMP.; Swinless Glen, Dalry, Ayrshire; above Garibaldi Ironstone, Limestone Coal Formation; BGS Kidst.5320. All scale bars = 10 mm.