Pronephrium stiriacum (UNGER) E. KNOBLOCH et KVAČEK

Dedicated in memory of the late FrantiŠek Holý (1935 - 1984), an eminent Czech palaeobotanist, Holý, František, Kvaček, Zlatko & Teodoridis, Vasilis, 2012, A Review Of The Early Miocene Mastixioid Flora Of The Kristina Mine At Hrádek Nad Nisou In North Bohemia (The Czech Republic), Acta Musei Nationalis Pragae Series B 68 (3 - 4), pp. 53-118 : 56-57

Pronephrium stiriacum (UNGER) E. KNOBLOCH et KVAČEK

Pl. 1, figs 1-2, pl. 10, fig. 1

1847

1852 1855

1960

1962

1963 1976

2002

Polypodites stiriacus UNGER , p. 121, pl. 36, figs 1-5 (Parschlug, Schönneg, Arnfels, Trofaiach).

Goniopteris stiriaca (UNGER) A. BRAUN , p. 555.

Lastraea stiriaca (UNGER) HEER , p. 31, pls 7-8 (Eritz, Rochette, St. Gallen, Ruppen, Hoher Rhonen).

Cyclosorus stiriacus (UNGER) CHING et TAKHTAJAN in FATALIEV, p. 1217, pl. 2, figs 1- 1a, text-fig. 3 ( Katar).

Cyclosorus stiriacus (UNGER) GRAMBAST , nom. illegit, p. 24, text-fig. 4 (Vauboyen).

Abacopteris stiriaca (UNGER) CHING , p. 298.

Pronephrium stiriacum (UNGER) E. KNOBLOCH et KVAČEK , p. 12, pl. 1, fig. 1 (Murnerweiher).

Pronephrium stiriacum (UNGER) E. KNOBLOCH et KVAČEK ; Kvaček, p. 221, pl. 4, fig. 7 (Kučlín).

Incomplete sterile pinnae bearing several pinnules on a slender rhachis (incomplete length of up to 40 mm), crenate on margins according to almost fused pinnules, incisions between pinnules 2 mm, pinnules max. 9 mm long, at angles of 55–60°, at the apex rounded and slightly turned upwards, midrib of pinnules almost the same thickness as secondaries, straight to slightly bent on very end, secondaries in 6 pairs on each side, opposite to alternate, the basal pairs interconnected between adjacent pinnules (goniopterid), higher slightly bent and looping with the margin. Leaf anatomy is partly visible on compressions in transmitted light. Anticlinal cell walls coarsely undulate, stomata polocytic, broadly elliptic, sub-parallely arranged; guard cells 40–50 µm long and 15–25 µm wide with a narrow pore.

D i s c u s s i o n: Incomplete fragments of the recovered fern foliage correspond to other records of Pronephrium stiriacum , a common swamp fern of the European Cenozoic, also at Turów ( Czeczott 1961a, as Goniopteris stiriaca (UNG.) A. BRAUN ). The material from the Kristina Mine is preserved as isolated leaf compressions and exhibits in transmitted light the goniopterid venation and epidermal anatomy. Pronephrium penangianum (HOOK.) HOLTTUM (syn. Abacopteris penangiana (HOOK.) CHING ) from the Himalayas is considered as the nearest living relative according to several authors (e.g., Ching 1963). For further taxonomical details see Kvaček et al. (2011).

M a t e r i a l: Fragmentary pinnae, G 8863a-c, 8864a-c, 8865-66 (KR 58, 67, 171, 180, 240).

Polypodiaceae gen. et sp. indet.

Pl. 1, fig. 3, pl. 10, fig. 2

A fragmentary sterile pinnule 10 mm long and 5 mm wide, toothed on margin, venation open, secondaries steep, entering the marginal teeth, epidermal cells 100–130 µm in size, anticlinal walls coarsely wavy, stomata on the abaxial epidermis widely spaced, oval-quadrangular 34–50 µm long and 30–35 µm wide, perpendicular with veins, double lines seen on outlines of guard cells, groups of uniserial trichomes 170–900 µm long abaxially, consisting of (3–) 4–5 cylindrical cells.

D i s c u s s i o n: The preserved traits of the fragment are not sufficient for identification within the natural fern system.

M a t e r i a l: A detached pinnule, G 8867a-b (KR 77).

Conifers

Pinaceae LINDL.

Tsuga (ENDLICHER) CARRIÈRE sect. Tsuga