A reassessment of the leafy shoots of Pennsylvanian-age arborescent lycopods

Figures & data

Figure 1. Reconstruction of arborescent lycopsids of the Pennsylvanian-age palaeotropical coal swamps of Euramerica. Artist Annette Townsend.

Figure 2. Lepidodendron stems. (a) Stems with leaves still attached; (b) Stems showing scars after leaves have been abscised; (c) Main characters of leaf cushions and scars used to identify stems. Adapted from Cleal and Thomas (1994, 2019), based on drawings by D. Spillards.

Figure 3. Main fossil-genera of stems recognised in the Pennsylvanian arborescent lycopods Adapted from Cleal and Thomas (1994, 2019).

Figure 4. (a) Lepidodendron dawsonii Bell, Geological Survey of Canada, Specimen 3250 (holotype), Dominion No. 16 Colliery, Sydney Coalfield (Cape Breton, Canada); roof of the Phalen Seam, Morien Group (Asturian); original illustration by Bell (1938, pl. 99, fig. 4). (b, c), Lepidodendron pictoense Dawson, Redpath Museum, McGill University, Specimen 3478 (lectotype); Sydney Coalfield, Nova Scotia (Canada); Morien Group (Asturian). (b), Original illustration by Dawson (1866, fig. 37a). (c), Photograph of specimen (reproduced with permission of the Redpath Museum, McGill University).

Figure 5. Lepidodendron dilatatum Lindley and Hutton. (a, b), Great North Museum, Specimen No. NEWHM G02.16 (holotype); Felling Colliery, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear (UK); roof of the L Main Seam (Duckmantian); (a), original illustration given with protologue (Lindley and Hutton 1831); (b), photograph, by Sylvia Humphrey. (c), National Museum Wales, Specimen NMW Appleton BB0076A; Brymbo Opencast near Wrexham, Denbigh Coalfield, north Wales, UK; Middle Coal Measures (Duckmantian) (photo by P. Appleton). (d), Drawing of leafy shoot by Deborah Spillards (from Cleal and Thomas, 1994). All scale bars = 10 mm.

Figure 6. Lepidodendron latifolium Lesquereux; Botanical Museum, Harvard University, Specimen No. HU8200; Oliphant coal mines, Pennsylvania (USA); stratigraphical horizon not recorded; original illustration given with protologue (Lesquereux, 1880).

Figure 7. Lepidodendron longifolium Brongniart ex Lindley and Hutton, Národní muzeum (Prague); all specimens from Whetstone Horizon (Duckmantian). (a), Specimen E 7647 (holotype); Svinná, Czech Republic (photo by Lenka Váchová); scale bar = 30 mm. (b), Illustration of the holotype from Sternberg (1820). (c) 1820, close-up of wider stem showing leaf cushions and attached leaves; Chomle, Czech Republic (photo by S. Opluštil; figured by Němejc, 1934, pl. 2, fig. 3); scale bar = 10 mm.

Figure 8. Lepidodendron lycopodioides Sternberg. (a), Národní muzeum (Prague), Specimen E 4743 (lectotype); Svinná, Czech Republic; Whetstone Horizon (Duckmantian) (photo by Lenka Váchová). (b), National Museum Wales, Specimen NMW 2013.43 G.108; Brymbo Opencast near Wrexham, Denbigh Coalfield, north Wales, UK (photo by P. Appleton); Middle Coal Measures (Duckmantian). (c), Drawing of leafy shoot by Deborah Spillards (from Cleal and Thomas, 1994). All scale bars = 10 mm.

Figure 9. Lepidodendron ophiurus (Brongniart) Brongniart. (a), Drawing of leafy shoot by Deborah Spillards (from Cleal and Thomas 1994). (b), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris), Specimen F.1327 (holotype); Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyneside, UK; Pennines Coal Measures. All scale bars = 10 mm.

Figure 10. Lepidodendrom rigens Lesquereux (lectotype), Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Specimen No. 15516, Mazon Creek, Illinois (USA). (a), Original illustration given with protologue in Lesquereux (1870). (b), Photograph of lectotype. Scale bar = 10 mm.

Figure 11. Lepidodendron selaginoides Sternberg, Národní muzeum (Prague), Specimen E 4744 (lectotype); Svinná, Czech Republic; Whetstone Horizon (Duckmantian). (a) Original illustration from Sternberg (1821). (b), photo by Lenka Váchová; scale bar = 10 mm.

Figure 12. Lepidodendron wingfieldense Thomas and Seyfullah (holotype), British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Specimen 76,267, Wingfield Colliery, Derbyshire (UK); above the Kilburn Coal (Langsettian).

Figure13. Lepidodendron worthenii Lesquereux. (a), British Geological Survey, Kidston Collection Specimen 379, unknown locality in UK; Coal Measures (Westphalian). (b), British Geological Survey, Kidston Collection Specimen 1012, Gawber Colliery, Barnsley, Yorkshire (UK); Middle Coal Measures (Duckmantian). (c), Drawing of leafy shoot by Deborah Spillards (from Cleal and Thomas 1994). All scale bars = 10 mm.

Figure 14. Lepidophloios acerosus (Lindley and Hutton) Kidston, National Museum Wales, Specimen NMW 2013.43 G.136; Brymbo Opencast near Wrexham, Denbigh Coalfield, north Wales, UK (photo by P. Appleton); Middle Coal Measures (Duckmantian).

Figure 15. Ulodendron majus Lindley and Hutton. (a), British Geological Survey, Kidston Collection Specimen 19, Devonside, Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire (UK); Lower Coal Measures (Duckmantian); scale bar = 10 mm. (b), Drawing of leaf cushions with associated leaves (from Thomas 1967b).

Figure 16. Ulodendron landsburgii (Kidston) Thomas. British Geological Survey, Kidston Collection Specimen 4546 (lectotype), Bonnington pit, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire (UK); above the Whistler seam (Bolsovian). Scale bar = 10 mm.

Figure 17. Bothrodendron minutifolium (Boulay) Zeiller. (a), British Geological Survey, Kidston Collection Specimen 1546 (lectotype), Bonnington pit, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire (UK); above the Whistler seam (Bolsovian). Scale bar = 10 mm. (b), Drawing of leafy shoot by Deborah Spillards (from Cleal and Thomas 1994; based on Thomas 1967a)    

Figure 18. Bothrodendron punctatum Lindley and Hutton. Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax NS, Specimen 990–281), Pioneer Coal Mine at Sydney Airport, Nova Scotia (Canada); Gardiner Seam, Morien Group (middle Asturian) (from Thomas et al. 2010, fig. 2b; photo by E.L. Zodrow). Scale bar = 10 mm.

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