Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T14:21:56.008Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The first zosterophyll from the Lower Devonian Rhynie Chert, Aberdeenshire

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2011

A. G. Lyon  and
Dianne Edwards
A. G. Lyon
Affiliation:
South Manse, 17 The Square, Rhynie, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, U.K.
Dianne Edwards
Affiliation:
Geology Department, University of Wales College of Cardiff, P.O. Box 914, Cardiff CF1 3YE, U.K.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Fragmentary remains of a vascular sporophyte from the Rhynie Chert are described as a new genus and species, Trichopherophyton teuchansii. The plant, which is characterised by the possession of unicellular spinous hairs, exarch xylem and laterally attached, marginally dehiscent sporangia, is assigned to the Zosterophyllophytina, but lack of information on the arrangement of sporangia prevents its more precise positioning within the subdivision. Unusual features include the combination of circinate tips to axes with almost terete xylem strands, and the lack of a thick-walled outer cortical zone. Associated axes, lacking spinous hairs, but having papillate or rhizoid-like epidermal emergences, are interpreted as likely rhizomes of Trichopherophyton. Features, such as unicellular spinous hairs, rhizoid-like emergences, circinate tipsand parenchymatous cortex are considered in relation to the functioning and growth of aplant inhabiting an early Devonian wetland.

Keywords

Circinate apexfunctional anatomygrowth patternsrhizomesspinessymmetryunicellular hairswetland ecology.
Type
Research Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 82 , Issue 4 , 1991 , pp. 324 - 332
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Banks, H. P. & Davis, M. R. 1969. Crenaticaulis, a new genus of Devonian plant allied to Zosterophyllum, and its bearing on the classification of early land plants. AM J BOT 56, 436–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barrett, S. F. 1985. Early Devonian continental positions and climate: a framework for paleophytogeography. In Tiffney, B. H. (ed.) Geological Factors and Evolution of Plants, 93–127. New Haven: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Darrah, W. C. 1960. Principles of Paleobotany. New York: Ronald Press Co.Google Scholar
Edwards, D. 1969a. Zosterophyllum from the Lower Old Red Sandstone of South Wales. NEW PHYTOL 68, 923–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, D. 1969b. Further observations on Zosterophyllum llanoveranum from the Lower Devonian of South Wales. AM J BOT 56, 201–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, D. 1970. Further observations on the Lower Devonian plant Gosslingia breconensis Heard. PHIL TRANS R SOC LONDON B 258, 225–43.Google ScholarPubMed
Edwards, D. 1990. Constraints on Silurian and early Devonian phytogeographic analysis based on megafossils. In McKerrow, W. S. & Scotese, C. R. (eds) Palaeozoic palaeogeography and biogeography, 233–42. GEOL SOC MEM No. 12. London: Geological Society of London.Google Scholar
Edwards, D. & Axe, L. in press. Stornata and mechanics of stomatal functioning in some early land plants. COUR FORSCH-INST SENCKENBERG FRANKFURT.Google Scholar
Edwards, D. & Davies, M. S. 1990. Explanations for adaptive radiations in early land plants: facile adaptationist guesswork or reasoned explanation. In Larwood, G. & Taylor, P. D. (eds) Major Evolutionary Radiations. 351–76. The Systematics Association, Special Volume No. 42. Oxford: Clarenden Press.Google Scholar
Edwards, D. & Kenrick, P. 1986. A new zosterophyll from the Lower Devonian of Wales. BOT J LINN SOC 92, 269–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, D. & Richardson, J. B. 1974. Lower Devonia (Dittonian) plants from the Welsh Borderland. PALAEONTOL 17, 311–24.Google Scholar
Edwards, D., Kenrick, P. & Carluccio, L. M. 1989. A reconsideration of cf. Psilophyton princeps (Croft & Lang, 1942), a zosterophyll widespread in the Lower Old Red Sandstone of South Wales. BOT J LINN SOC 100, 293–318.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, D. S. 1980. Evidence for the sporophytic status of the Lower Devonian plant Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii Kidston and Lang. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 29, 177–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, D. S. 1986. Aglaophyton major, a non-vascular land plant from the Devonian Rhynie Chert. BOT J LINN SOC 93, 173–206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, W. N. 1924. On the cuticular structure of the Devonian plant Psilophyton. LINN SOC, BOT 46, 377–85.Google Scholar
El-Saadawy, W. & Lacey, W. S. 1979. Observations on Nothia aphylla Lyon ex Høeg. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 27, 119–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Esau, K. 1960. Plant Anatomy. New York & London: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Google Scholar
Gensel, P. G. 1982a. Oricilla, a new genus referable tothe zosterophyllophytes from the late Early Devonian of northern New Brunswick. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 37, 345–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gensel, P. G. 1982b. A new species of Zosterophyllum from the early Devonian of New Brunswick. AM J BOT 69, 651–669.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gensel, P. G., Andrews, H. N. & Forbes, W. H. 1975. A new species of Sawdonia with notes on the origin of microphylls and lateral sporangia. BOT GAZ 130, 50–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gerrienne, P. 1988. Early Devonian plant remains from Marchin (North of Dinant Synclinorium, Belgium). 1. Zosterophyllum deciduum sp. nov. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 55, 317–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gould, S. J. 1989. Wonderful life: The Burgess Shale and the nature of history. London: Hutchinson Radius.Google Scholar
Shougang, Hao. 1989. A new zosterophyll from the Lower Devonian (Siegenian) of Yunnan, China. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 57, 155–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heard, A. 1927. Old Red Sandstone plants showing structure, from Brecon (South Wales). QUART J GEOL SOC LONDON 83, 195–209.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Høeg, O. A. 1967. Psilophyta. In Boureau, E. (ed.) Traite de Paléobotanique, Vol 2, 191–352. Paris: Masson et Cie.Google Scholar
Horne, J., Mackie, W., Flett, J. S., Gordon, W. T., Hickling, G., Kidston, R., Peach, E. N. & Watson, D. M. S. 1916. The plant-bearing cherts at Rhynie. REP BRIT ASSOC ADV SC 1916, 206–16.Google Scholar
Hueber, F. M. 1971. Sawdonia ornata, a new name for Psilophyton princeps var. ornatus. TAXON 20, 641–2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hueber, F. M. 1972. Rebuchia ovata, its vegetative morphology and classification with the Zosterophyllophytina. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 14, 113–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hueber, F. M. & Banks, H. P. 1979. Serrulacaulis furcatus gen. et sp. nov., a new zosterophyll from the lower Upper Devonian of New York State. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 28, 169–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hueber, F. M. & Grierson, J. D. 1961. On the occurrence of Psilophyton princeps in the early Upper Devonian of New York State. AM J BOT 48, 473–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jeram, A. J., Seiden, P. A. & Edwards, D. 1990. Land animals in the Silurian: arachnids and myriapods from Shropshire, England. SCIENCE 250, 658–61.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kenrick, P. & Edwards, D. 1988. A new zosterophyll from a recently discovered exposure of the Lower Devonian Senni Beds in Dyfed, Wales, BOT J LINN SOC 98, 97–115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenrick, P., Edwards, D. & Dales, R. 1991. Novel ultrastructure in water-conducting cells of the Lower Devonian plant Sennicaulis hippocrepiformis Edwards. PALAEONTOLOGY 34, 751–66.Google Scholar
Kevan, P. G., Chaloner, W. G. & Savill, D. B. O. 1975. Interrelationships of early terrestrial arthropods and plants. PALAEONTOL 18, 391–417.Google Scholar
Kidston, R. & Lang, H. 1917. On Old Red Sandstone plants showing structure from the Rhynie Chert bed, Aberdeenshire. Part 1. Rhynia gwynne-vaughani. Kidston & Lang. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 51, 761–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kidston, R. & Lang, H. 1920a. On Old Red Sandstone plants showing structure from the Rhynie Chert bed, Aberdeenshire. Part 2. Additional notes on Rhynia gwynne-vaughani Kidston & Lang, descriptions of Rhynia major n. sp. and Hornea lignieri n. g., n. sp. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 52, 643–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kidston, R. & Lang, W. H. 1920b. On Old Red Sandstone plants showing structure, from the Rhynie Chert Bed, Aberdeenshire. Part III. Asteroxylon mackiei, Kidston and Lang. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 52, 643–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kräusel, R. & Weyland, H. 1926. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Devonflora II. ABH SENCK NATURF. GES 40, 115–155.Google Scholar
Lang, W. H. 1927. Contributions to the study of the Old Red Sandstone of Scotland. VI. On Zosterophyllum myretonianum etc. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 55, 443–503.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lemoigne, Y. 1969. Nouvelles observations relatives aux Psi- lophytales d'Ecosse. C R ACAD SC PARIS 268, 1262–5.Google Scholar
Cheng-sen, Li & Edwards, D. in press. Novel strobilar construction in a new genus of early land plants from the Siegenian Posongchong Formation, Yunnan Province. China. PALAEONTOL 35.Google Scholar
Niklas, K. J. & Banks, H. P. 1990. A re-evaluation of the Zosterophyllophytina with comments on the origin of lycopods. AM J BOT 77, 274–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raymond, A. 1987. Paleogeographic distribution of early Devonian plant traits. PALAIOS 2, 113–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rayner, R. J. 1983. New observations on Sawdonia ornata from Scotland. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH: EARTH SCI 74, 79–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rayner, R. J. 1984. New finds of Drepanophycus spinaeformis Göppert from the Lower Devonian of Scotland. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH: EARTH SCI 75, 353–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Remy, W. 1982. Lower Devonian gametophytes: relation to the phylogeny of land plants. SCIENCE 215, 1625–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Remy, W., Hass, H. & Schultka, S. 1986. Anisophyton potoniei nov. spec, aus den Kühlbacher Schichten (Emsian) vom Steinbruch Ufersmühe, Wiehtalsperre. ARGUMENTA PALAEOBOT 7, 123–138.Google Scholar
Rolfe, W. D. I. 1980. Early invertebrate terrestrial faunas. In Panchen, A. L. (ed.) The Terrestrial Environment and the Origin of Land Vertebrates, 117–157. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Rolfe, W. D. I. 1985. Early terrestrial athropods: a fragmentary record. PHIL TRANS R SOC LONDON B 301, 207–18.Google Scholar
Selden, P. A. & Edwards, D. 1989. Colonisation of the land. In Allen, K. C. & Briggs, D. E. G. (eds) Evolution andthe fossil record. 122–152. London: Belhaven.Google Scholar
Schweitzer, H.-J. 1979. Die Zosterophyllaceae des rheinischen Unterdevons. BONNER PALÄOBOTANISCHE MITTEILUNGEN 3, 1–32.Google Scholar
Witzke, B. J. 1990. Palaeoclimatic constraints for Palaeozoic palaeolatitudes of Laurentia and Euramerica. In McKerrow, W. S. & Scotese, C. R. (eds) Palaeozoic palaeogeography and biogeography, 55–73. GEOL SOC MEM No. 12. London: The Geological Society of London.Google Scholar
Zdebska, D. 1982. A new zosterophyll from the Lower Devonian of Poland. PALAEONTOL 25, 247–263.Google Scholar