Leucobryaceae SCHIMP., 1856

Bomfleur, Benjamin, Hedenäs, Lars, Friis, Else Marie, Crane, Peter R., Raunsgaard, Kaj, Pedersen, Mendes, Mário Miguel & Kvaček, Jiří, 2023, Fossil Mosses From The Early Cretaceous Catefica Mesofossil Flora, Portugal - A Window Into The Mesozoic History Of Bryophytes, Fossil Imprint 79 (2), pp. 103-125 : 111

Family Leucobryaceae SCHIMP., 1856

Three species of Leucobryaceae are recognized and assigned to two extant genera and one extinct genus ( Text-figs 7 , 8a–i ). There is an additional specimen (S266386, Textfig. 8j–m) also attributable to Leucobryaceae , but for which the leaf sections are not sufficiently clear for assignment to a genus of the family.

Figures

Text-fig. 7. Synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) images (volume renderings, a, b, e, f; orthoslices, c, d, g, h) from shoots of Dicranodontium minutum HEDENÄS, BOMFLEUR et E.M.FRIIS (a–d) and Campylopus lusitanicus HEDENÄS, BOMFLEUR et E.M.FRIIS (e–h) from the Early Cretaceous Catefica mesofossil flora, Almargem Formation, Portugal. a, b: Shoot apices with several leaves showing the broad costa comprising almost the full width of the leaf. c, d: Transverse sections (orthoslices xy2925, xy1725) of leaves near the shoot apices showing the broad costa. Note the prominently expanded guide cells with several layers of stereids on both their dorsal and ventral sides, especially distinct in (c). e, f: Shoot apex with several leaves showing the broad costa. g, h: Transverse sections (orthoslices xy0867, xy1675) of leaves near the shoot apices showing the expanded guide cells with uniformly unistratose stereids on their ventral side. Specimens, D. minutum, Catefica 49-S266382 (a, c; holotype), Catefica 49-S266384(b, d); C. lusitanicus Catefica 49-S266385 (e–h; holotype). Scale bars = 1 mm (a, b, e, f), 100 µm (c, d, g, h).

Text-fig. 8. Scanning electron microscope (SEM, a, b) and synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) images (volume renderings, d, e, g, h, j, k; orthoslices, c, f, i, l, m) from shoots of Canaliculidium fissuratum HEDENÄS, BOMFLEUR et E.M.FRIIS (a–i) and undetermined Leucobryaceae sp. (j–m) from the Early Cretaceous Catefica mesofossil flora, Almargem Formation, Portugal. a, d, e, g, h: Shoot apices with leaves. Note the longitudinal furrow in the middle of dorsal surface of the costa (arrows in a, d, e); b: Detail of dorsal surface of costa showing irregular pits. c, f, i: Transverse sections (orthoslices xy2000, xy3560, xy0820) of shoots with leaves showing the furrow in the middle of the dorsal surface of the costa (arrows). j, k) Both sides of shoot apex with leaves showing a broad costa. l, m: Transverse sections (orthoslices xy1360, xy1657) of shoot showing leaves. Specimens, C. fissuratum, Catefica 49-S171522 (a–c; holotype), Catefica 49-S266374 (d–f), Catefica 49-S266376 (g–i); Leucobryaceae sp., Catefica 49-S266386 (j–m). Scale bars = 1 mm (a, d, g, j, k), 500 µm (e, h), 200 µm (c, f, i), 100 µm (l, m), 50 µm (b).