Cervicornus wenshanensis, gen. et sp. nov, a Pragian (Early Devonian) plant with forked leaves from Yunnan, China.
Cervicornus wenshanensis gen. et sp. nov. is described from compressions of leaf-bearing, vegetative stems of Pragian age (Early Devonian). Stelar anatomy is not preserved. The plant is described as herbaceous with leaves arranged in openly spaced helices. The distal portion of each of the leaves is divided three times, resulting in eight segments resembling the antler of a deer. The arrangement and morphology of the leaves suggest a possible relationship with the lycopsid family Protolepidodendraceae in which, among the genera, the leaves are helically arranged and variously divided. Additionally, the members of the family are united on the basis of stelar anatomy and the presence of sporangia. Neither of the latter characteristics, which are essential to the unequivocal assignment to the family, are preserved in Cervicornus. The genus is a noteworthy morphological variant among Devonian plants, but the arrangement of the leaves and their morphology cannot be used alone to infer an affinity with a taxon of higher rank. As with many other fragmentary paleobotanical entities, lacking sufficient definitive characteristics and awaiting discovery and description of additional specimens, we have proposed a classification of this new genus and species as incertae sedis.
Li
C
Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing, China
Hueber
FM