Harrisichara lineata Grambast, 1957

Sanjuan, Josep & Martín-Closas, Carles, 2014, Taxonomy and palaeobiogeography of charophytes from the Upper Eocene- Lower Oligocene of the Eastern Ebro Basin (Catalonia, NE Spain), Geodiversitas 36 (3), pp. 385-420 : 406-407

Harrisichara lineata Grambast, 1957 ( Fig. 9 D-I)

Harrisichara lineata Grambast, 1957: 27 , pl. 4, figs 5-7.

DISTRIBUTION. — Harrisichara lineata is distributed in the Middle Bartonian to Upper Priabonian of Europe. In France, it occurs in the Paris Basin ( Riveline 1986), the north-western part of the Languedoc Basin (Feist-Castel 1971) and the Aquitaine ( Feist & Ringeade 1977) and Provence (Feist-Castel 1977a) basins.In Germany, H. lineata occurs in the Rhine Graben Basin ( Schwarz & Griessemer 1994). Harrisichara lineata has also been reported in the NorthofSpain.IthasrecentlybeendocumentedbyMochales et al. (2012) within Upper Eocene deposits of the Ainsa Basin (south-central Pyrenees). In the eastern Ebro Basin, this species only occurs in Sant Boi de Lluçanès ( Table 2 ).

DESCRIPTION

Gyrogonite large, 642-960 µm high (mean 753 µm), and 520-853µm wide (mean 659 µm), sub-spherical, ellipsoidal or oval in shape with an isopolarity index of 83-133 (mean 115). Spiral cells flat or concave. Eight to eleven (frequently nine), convolutions are visible laterally. While most of the gyrogonites show a characteristic regular midcellular crest, some specimens are smaller and show an ornamentation consisting of small nodules arranged along the central line of the spiral cells ( Fig. 9 G-I). Apex flat to rounded, frequently ornamented with comma-shaped tubercles. Base elongated, terminating in a small column.

REMARKS

Ŋe specimens found at El Perers (Sant Boi de Lluçanès, NE Ebro Basin) display variable size and ornamentation patterns, the two characters being closely related. Smaller specimens present small and irregular, shortly spaced tubercles ( Fig.9I ), and in some cases small nodules are poorly connected showing an incipient midcellular crest ( Fig. 9H ). In contrast, most of the gyrogonites are larger and show a regular midcellular crest. Ŋe largest gyrogonites show a slightly rippled midcellular crest, especially marked in the apical zone ( Fig. 9G ). Ŋis range of variation is possibly controlled by the palaeoenvironment.

Figures

FIG. 9. — Charophytes from Sant Boi, Artés and lateral south-western Formations, Ebro Basin: A-C, Harrisichara vasiformis form vasiformis-tuberculata Feist-Castel,1977, Serrat Rodó,Sobremunt road and Cal Carreter sections; A, apical view, no. 80113 MGSCB sample SBR-1; B, lateral view, no. 80114 MGSCB, sample SBR-1; C, basal view, no.80115 MGSCB, sample SBR-1;D-I, Harrisichara lineata Grambast,1957,El Perers section;D, apical view, no. 80116 MGSCB,sample PE-1; E, lateral view, no. 80117 MGSCB,sample PE-1; F, basal view, no. 80118 MGSCB, sample PE-1; G, lateral view, no. 80119 MGSCB, sample PE-1; H, lateral view, no. 80120 MGSCB, sample PE-1; I, lateral view, no. 80121 MGSCB, sample PE-1; J-L, Harrisichara tuberculata (Lyell, 1826), Oristà, Santa Maria d’Oló, Torre Casanova, Moià, Santpedor, Rubió and Sarral sections and Solivella outcrop; J, apical view, no. 80122 MGSCB, sample MO-1; K, lateral view, no. 80123 MGSCB, sample SO-2; L, basal view, no. 80124 MGSCB, sample MO-1. Scale bar: 500 µm.