Pseudosporochnus hueberi

Name

Pseudosporochnus hueberi

Rank

Species

Generic Name

[Genus] Pseudosporochnus

Authors (Pub.)

Stein W. E. Hueber F. M.  

Publication

The anatomy of Pseudosporochnus: P. Hueberi from the Devonian of New York [1989/9]

Journal

Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology

Volume

60

Issue

3-4

Page number

356

Year

1989

Fossil Status

stems (with branches)

Stratigraphy

Frasnian

Strat. comment

Oneonta Formation

Location

Quarry low on western flank of Cave Mountain on road to Jewett, S of East Ashland, Greene County, New York

Paleoregion

Laurussia (Laurentia)

Data for Holotypus

Repository

National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, USA

Repository Number

USNM 422408 [352 sections and 7 SEM preparations (formerly CUPC 1634)]

Num

1-12

Pub.

The anatomy of Pseudosporochnus: P. Hueberi from the Devonian of New York [1989/9]

Diagnosis

Plants, contammg only primary tissues, preserved as permineralized fragments representing a bifurcating main axis, distal branches, and bases of lateral appendages. Ground tissue heterogeneous, with thick and thin-walled cells, some with dark materials in their lumina. Primary xylem highly dissected, consisting of 40-50 longitudinally anastomosed mesarch primary xylem segments in main axis, 20-25 segments in branches. Outermost xylem. segments, or parts of segments, arranged as peripheral-ra~ial xylem plates, each with a conspicuous protoxylem strand near the periphery. Conspicuous peripheral protoxylem strands numbering 32-39 in main axis with occasional distal augmentation, 21-28 in branches distal to dichotomy, with occasional distal loss as vascular traces. Additional protoxylem occurring more centrally in the primary xylem, as more or less discrete strands or scattered along medial contours of elongate primary xylem segments. Protoxylem. tracheids from 10-30 11m in transverse diameter diameter with annular to reticulate wall thickenings. Metaxylem up to 60 11m in transverse diameter, decreasing in size near the surface of each primary xylem segment. Large metaxylem tracheids with uniseriate elongate-elliptical pits and narrow pit bordeors, becoming multiseriate circular with conspicuously bordered pits in surficial tracheids. Vascular traces produced singly, Dr in groups of two or three, from conspicuous peripheral protoxylem strands; many trace groups with conspicuous bilateral symmetry. Each trace circular, 0.13-0.26 mm in_ transverse diameter, with a central protqxy"lem strand proximally, remaining circular distally or becoming elongate with 1-3 protoxylem strands. Single traces, or multiple trac~ groups, alternate, borne in all directions on the axis, but overall phyllotaxis lacking geometric regularity. One pair of traces opposite, clepsydroid, borne at right angles and in obvious relationship to the dichotomy of the main axis. Each trace measuring 0.2 by 0.7 mm, containing two protoxylem strands. Tracheids of traces 12-30 /lm in transverse diameter: Cortex heterogeneous, consisting of thin·walled parenchyma and numerous thick-walled cell clusters up to 0.85mm in transverse diameter, 1.4 mill in length. Sclereids occurring toward outside of each thick-walled cell cluster, thick-walled parenchyma toward center; both measuring 20-70 /lm in transverse diameter.