Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T11:32:53.286Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

New observations on Sawdonia ornata from Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2011

R. J. Rayner
Affiliation:
Plant Science Department, University College, P.O. Box 78, Cardiff CF1 1XL, Wales.

Abstract

Recent collections of Sawdonia ornata have been made from the Strathmore Group which crops out in the Midland Valley of Scotland. The sediments are Lower Devonian, probably Emsian, in age. New morphological features discovered include planar branching of vegetative and fertile axes, abaxial emergences close to branch points and H branching. Well preserved cuticles have permitted reinterpretation of the structure of stornata, rosettes (hair bases), papillae and spines, and striated cuticle is identified as S. ornata. The morphology of sporangia and in situ spores is described. Pyritised axes have revealed details of xylem shape, maturation, changes in the vicinity of branching, tracheidal structure and the arrangement of xylem and cortex in deformed axes.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1983

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

Allen, J. R. L. 1979. Old Red Sandstone fades in external basins, with particular reference to South Britain. SPEC PAP PALAEONTOL 23, 6580.Google Scholar
Armstrong, M. & Paterson, I. B. 1970. The Lower Old Red Sandstone of the Strathmore region. INST GEOL SCI REP 70/12.Google Scholar
Banks, H. P. 1968. The early history of land plants. In Drake, E. T. (ed.) Evolution and Environment. Connecticut: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Banks, H. P. 1975. Reclassification of Psilophyta. TAXON 24, 401–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Banks, & Davis, M. R. 1969. Crenaticaulis, a new genus of Devonian plants allied to Zosterophyllum and its bearing on early land plants. AM J BOT 56, 436–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berkner, L. V. & Marshall, L. C. 1965. On the rise of oxygen concentration in the earth's atmosphere. J ATMOS SCI 22, 225–61.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bhutta, A. A. 1973. On the spores (including germinating spores) of Rhynia major Kidston & Lang. BIOL 19, 4757.Google Scholar
Bierhorst, D. W. 1960. Observations on tracheary elements. PHYTOMORPH 10, 249305.Google Scholar
Chaloner, W. G., Hill, A. & Rogerson, E. C. W. 1978. Early Devonian plant fossils from a southern England borehole. PALAEONTOL 21, 693707.Google Scholar
Creer, K. M. 1967. Devonian geography deduced by the palaeomagnetic method. In Oswald, D. H. (ed.) International Symposium on the Devonian System, vol. 2. Calgary: Alberta Society of Petroleum Geologists.Google Scholar
Croft, W. N. & Lang, W. H. 1942. The Lower Devonian flora of the Senni Beds of Monmouthshire and Breconshire. PHILOS TRANS R SOC LONDON 231B, 131–64.Google Scholar
Dawson, J. W. 1871. The fossil plants of the Devonian and Upper Silurian formations of Canada. GEOL SURV CAN pt 1, 192.Google Scholar
Doran, J. B. 1980. A new species of Psilophyton from the Lower Devonian of northern New Brunswick, Canada. CAN J BOT 58, 2241–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, D. 1969. Further observations on Zosterophyllum llanoveranum from the Lower Devonian of South Wales. AM J BOT 56, 201–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, D. 1970. Further observations on the Lower Devonian plant, Gosslingia breconensis Heard. PHILOS TRANS R SOC LONDON 258, 225–43.Google ScholarPubMed
Edwards, D. 1975. Some observations on the fertile parts of Zosterophyllum myretonianum Penhallow from the Lower Old Red Sandstone of Scotland. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 69, 251–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, D. 1976. The systematic position of Hicklingia edwardii Kidston and Lang. NEW PHYTOL 76, 173–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, D., Edwards, D. S. & Rayner, R. J. 1982. The cuticle of early vascular plants and its evolutionary significance. In Cutler, D. F., Alvin, K. L. & Price, C. E. (eds) The Plant Cuticle, 341362. London: Academic Press.Google 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, W. N. 1924. On the cuticular structure of the Devonian plant Psilophyton. J LINN SOC BOT LONDON 46, 377–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
El Saadawy, W. El-S. & Lacey, W. S. 1979. Observations on Nothia aphylla Lyon ex Høeg. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 27, 119–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gensel, P. G. 1976. Renalia hueberi, a new plant from the Lower Devonian of Gaspé. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 22, 1937.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gensel, P. G. 1977. Morphologic and taxonomie relationships of the psilotaceae relative to evolutionary lines in early land vascular plants. BRITTONIA 29, 1429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gensel, P. G. 1982. A new species of Zosterophyllum from the Early Devonian of New Brunswick. AM J BOT 69, 651–69.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 136, 5062.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haberlandt, G. 1914. Physiological plant anatomy. London: MacMillan.Google Scholar
Halstead-Tarlo, L. B. 1967. Major faunal provinces in the Old Red Sandstone of the Northern Hemisphere. In Oswald, D. H. (ed.) International Symposium on the Devonian System, Vol. 1. Calgary: Alberta Society of Petroleum Geologists.Google Scholar
Heckel, P. H. & Witzke, B. J. 1979. Devonian world palaeogeography determined from distribution of carbonates and related lithic palaeoclimatic indicators. SPEC PAP PALAEDNTOL 23, 99123.Google Scholar
Henderson, S. M. K. 1932. Notes on Lower Old Red Sandstone plants from Callander, Perthshire. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 57, 277–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hueber, F. M. 1964. The psilophytes and their relationship to the origin of ferns. TORREY BOT CLUB MEM 21, 59.Google Scholar
Hueber, F. M. 1971. Sawdonia ornata: a new name for Psilophyton princeps var. ornatum. 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. & Grierson, J. D. 1961. On the occurrence of Psilophyton princeps in the early Upper Devonian of New York. AM J BOT 48, 473–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kay, Q. O. N., Daoud, H. S. & Stirton, C. H. 1981. Pigment distribution, light reflection and cell structure in petals. BOT J LINN SOC 83, 5784.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kidston, R. & Lang, W. H. 1917. On Old Red Sandstone plants showing structure from the Rhynie Chert Bed, Aberdeenshire. I Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii Kidston and Lang. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 51, 761–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kidston, R. & Lang, W. H. 1920a. Idem. II Additional notes on Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii Kidston and Lang, with descriptions of R. major and Hornea lignieri. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 52, 603–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kidston, R. & Lang, W. H. 1920b. Idem. Ill Asteroxylon mackiei Kidston and Lang. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 52, 643–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kidston, R. & Lang, W. H. 1921a. Idem. IV Restorations of the vascular Cryptogams and discussion on their bearing on the general morphology of the Pteridophyta and the origin of the organisation of land-plants. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 52, 831–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kidston, R. & Lang, W. H. 1921b. Idem. V The Thallophyta occurring in the plant bed, the succession of plants throughout a vertical section of the bed, and the conditions of accumulation and preservation of the deposit. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 52, 855902.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lang, W. H. 1926. Contributions to the study of the Old Red Sandstone flora of Scotland. Ill Hostimella (Ptilophyton) thomsoni and its inclusion in a new genus. IV Protolepidodendron—Middle Old Red Sandstone, Caithness. V Identification of large ‘stems’ in the Carmyllie Beds, Lower Old Red Sandstone, as Nematophyton. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 54, 785–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lang, W. H. 1927. Idem. VI Zosterophyllum myretionanum and some other plant remains from the Carmillie Beds of the Lower Old Red Sandstone. VII On a specimen of Pseudosporochnus from the Stromness Beds. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 55, 433455.Google Scholar
Lang, W. H. 1931. On the spines, sporangia and spores of Psilophyton princeps Dawson shown in specimens from Gaspé. PHILOS TRANS R SOC LONDON 219B, 421–42.Google Scholar
Lang, W. H. 1932. Contributions to the study of the Old Red Sandstone flora of Scotland. VIII On Arthrostigma, Psilophyton and some associated plant remains from the Strathmore Beds of the Caledonian Lower Old Red Sandstone. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 57, 491521.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leclercq, S. 1960. Refendage d'une roche fossilifère et dégagement de ses lemeiles. SENCKENBERGIANA LETHAEA 41, 483–7.Google Scholar
Lele, K. M. & Walton, J. 1961. Contributions to the knowledge of “Zosterophyllum myretionanum” Penhallow from the Lower Old Red Sandstone of Angus. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 64, 469–75.Google Scholar
Lemoigne, Y. 1968a. Observation d'archégones portés par des axes du type Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii Kidston et Lang. Existence de gamétophytes vascularisés au Devonian. C R ACAD SCI PARIS 266, 1655–67.Google Scholar
Lemoigne, Y. 1968b. Les genres Rhynia Kidston et Lang du Dévonien et Psilotum Seward actuel appartiennent—ils au même phylum? BULL SOC BOT FRANCE 115, 425–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lemoigne, Y. 1969a. Organe assimilable à une anthéridie et stomates epidermiques portés par des axes rampants du type Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii Kidston et Lang. C R ACAD SCI PARIS 269, 1393–95.Google Scholar
Lemoigne, Y. 1969b. Contribution à la connaissance du gamétophyte Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii Kidston et Lang; problème des protubrances et processus de ramification. BULL SOC LINN LYON 4, 94102.Google Scholar
Lemoigne, Y. 1971. Nouvelles diagnoses du genre Rhynia et de l'espèce Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii. BULL SOC BOT FRANCE 117, 307–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lowry, B., Lee, D. & Hébant, C. 1980. The origin of land plants; a new look at an old problem. TAXON 29, 183–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyon, A. G. 1962. On the fragmentary remains of an organism referable to the Nematophytales from the Rhynie Chert, ‘Nematoplexus rhyniensus’ gen. et sp. nov. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 65, 7987.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyon, A. G. 1964. Probable fertile region of Asteroxylon mackiei (Kidston and Lang). NATURE 203, 1082–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Margulis, L., Walker, J. C. G. & Rambler, M. 1976. Reassessment of roles of oxygen and ultraviolet light in Precambrian evolution. NATURE 264, 620–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matten, L. C. 1973. Preparation of pyritised plant petrifactions: ‘A plea for pyrite’. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 16, 165–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Milburn, J. A. 1979. Water flow in plants. London: Longmans.Google Scholar
Niklas, K. J. 1976a. The chemotaxonomy of Parka decipiens from the Lower Old Red Sandstone, Scotland. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 21, 205–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Niklas, K. J. 1976b. Morphological and ontogenetic reconstructions of Parka decipiens Fleming and Pachytheca Hooker from the Lower Old Red Sandstone, Scotland. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 69, 483–99.Google Scholar
Paton, J. A. & Pearce, J. V. 1957. The occurrence, structure and functions of the stornata in British mosses. TRANS BR BRYOL SOC 3, 228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramsay, J. G. 1967. Folding and fracturing of rocks. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Rayner, D. H. 1963. The Achanarras Limestone. PROC YORKSHIRE GEOL SOC 34, 117–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rayner, R. J. 1982. Studies on Old Red Sandstone Floras from Scotland. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wales.Google Scholar
Richardson, J. B. 1965. Middle Old Red Sandstone spore assemblages from the Orcadian Basin, north-east Scotland. PALAEONTOL 7, 559605.Google Scholar
Schopf, J. M. 1975. Modes of fossil preservation. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNOL 20, 2753.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scott, A. C., Edwards, D. & Rolfe, W. D. I. 1976. Fossiliferous Lower Old Red Sandstone near Cardross, Dumbartonshire. PROC GEOL SOC GLASGOW 117, 45.Google Scholar
Troughton, J. & Donaldson, L. A. 1972. Probing plant structure. London: Chapman & Hall.Google Scholar
Walton, J. 1923. On a new method of investigating fossil plant impressions or incrustations. ANN BOT 37, 379–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waterson, C. D. 1965. The Lower Old Red Sandstone. In Craig, G. Y. (ed.) The Geology of Scotland, 269308. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd.Google Scholar
Zdebska, D. 1972. Sawdonia ornata (= Psilophyton princeps var. ornatum) from Poland. ACTA PALAEOBOT 13, 7798.Google Scholar
Zdebska, D. 1982. A new zosterophyll from the Lower Devonian of Poland. PALAEONTOL 25, 247–63.Google Scholar