Sigillaria Lycopods from the Early Permian Angaraland

Abstract

The Sigillariaceae-one of the most dominating lycopods in the Paleozoic-were characterised by stems with elliptic leaf cushions and abscission points situated just over the centre of the leaf scar. This was because the slender and elongated leaves were shed during the growing stage. A new Early Permian (Artinskian) Sigillariaceae from the Ural region, belonging to the former isolated Angara continent-Sigillangaria klyuchikii nov. gen. n. sp.-will be described. The smooth scars evidence several abscission points as opposed to those known from the Euramerican continent with only two. The fertile organs unfortunately were not found in direct connection, but typical lycopod fructifications recovered in the vicinity hold probably microsporangiate and also macrosporophylls coated densely by slender sterile leaves.

Full text

239
Wachtler-Perner: Early Permian Origin and Evolution of Angiosperms
Sigillaria Lycopods from the Early Permian Angaraland
by
Michael Wachtler
P. P. Rainerstrasse 11, 39038 Innichen, Italy; E-mail: michael@wachtler.com
Thomas Perner
Oregon Institute of Geological Research, 32 SE 139th Ave, Portland, OR 97233-1844
The Sigillariaceae – one of the most dominating lycopods in the Paleozoic – were characterised
by stems with elliptic leaf cushions and abscission points situated just over the centre of the
leaf scar. This was because the slender and elongated leaves were shed during the growing
stage. A new Early Permian (Artinskian) Sigillariaceae from the Ural region, belonging to the
former isolated Angara continent – Sigillangaria klyuchikii nov. gen. n. sp. – will be described.
The smooth scars evidence several abscission points as opposed to those known from the
Euramerican continent with only two. The fertile organs unfortunately were not found in
direct connection, but typical lycopod fructifications recovered in the vicinity hold probably
microsporangiate and also macrosporophylls coated densely by slender sterile leaves.
Online: May 2020
Keywords: Fossil lycopods, Sigillaria, Fore Urals, Permian, Angara
Sigillangaria klyuchiki, Sigillaria-lycopod from the Early Permian Fore-Urals
Part of a stem with abscission scars typical for Sigillariaceae (designed holotype Klyuchiki 01); 2. Strobilo probably
belonging to the same plant (Klyuchiki 2); 3. Reconstruction of the known parts (Klyuchiki, Krasnoufimsk)
1 2
1 cm
1 cm

240 Wachtler-Perner: Early Permian Origin and Evolution of Angiosperms
Introduction
Carboniferous and Early Permian Sigillaria
were characteristic tree-like plants reaching,
in best cases, a height of up to 30 m, nor-
mally about 20 m, with a tall, single or api-
cally only once-forked stem. The elongated
leaves were attached directly to the stem
but shed easily so that characteristic leaf
scars, often in vertical rows, covered the
stems for almost the whole trunk. Early Per-
mian Sigillaria brardii, known for their longi-
tudinal and spiral rows of leaf cushions was
a common flora element from many fossil
sites on the northern hemisphere continent
Euramerica. The leaves of Sigillaria brardii
may bear one strong midvein and more sub-
tle veins. Now in Early Permian (Artinskian)
layers of the Fore-Urals, another Sigillaria
species was found, which probably had only
a low-growing character.
Systematic Paleontology
Class Lycophyta
Subdivision Lycophytina Kenrick & Crane, 1997
Order Sigillariaceae
Genus Sigillangaria nov. gen. n. sp.
WACHTLER & PERNER 2020
Etymology
They are named after their affinities to the
lycopod Sigillaria and the Angara located
in the Permian period in the area that now
comprises the Urals and Siberia.
Diagnosis
The stems are covered with smooth elliptic
leaf cushions with a prominent outer rim;
several abscission points of the leaves col-
locate in the centre of the leaf scars.
Sigillangaria klyuchikii n. sp.
WACHTLER & PERNER 2020
Holotype
Klyuchiki 1 Coll. Wachtler, Dolomythos Mu-
seum, Innichen
Etymology
It is named after the location Klyuchiki near
Krasnoufimsk (Красноуфимск) Oblast Swerd-
lowsk (Russia) where the plant was found.
Description
Stems: The preserved stem of the holotype
Klyuchiki 01 is 60 mm long, the elliptic leaf
cushions are from 10–12 mm wide and five
mm broad. In the middle, they evidence about
ten leaf scars from the subtle veins connect-
ing leaf and stem. A similar feature is seen in
MAZ 17 from Mazuevka, but here some leaves
are attached.
Leaves and fertile organs: The leaves are
long, thin, grass-like attached directly to the
stem growing in a spiral along the trunk. Klyu-
chiki 02 – thought to belong to Sigillangaria
klyuchikii – holds about 70 mm long smooth
leaves equipped with a longitudinal prominent
mid-vein and other parallel side-veins running
the full length of the foliage. The supposed
micro and megasporophylls are hidden by the
covering leaves.
Remarks and ecology
Early Permian Sigillangaria klyuchikii is rare
and was found especially in the lacustrine
areas of Klyuchiki together with Goniatites and
brachiopods. This suggests that the lycopod
was best adapted to brackish sea water, filling
the niche of today’s mangrove swamps. It
represents a dwarfish Sigillaria genus like
Sigillcampeia in the European Triassic.
References
Wachtler M., 2016. Sigillaria-Lycopods in the Triassic. In:
Wachtler M., Perner T., Fossil Triassic Plants from Europe
and their Evolution, Volume 2: Lycopods, horsetails, ferns,
Dolomythos Museum, Innichen, South Tyrol, Italy, p. 3-16
Sigillangaria klyuchikii
1. Part of a stem with at-
tached leaves (MAZ 17,
Mazuevka); 2. Detail of
the abscission-scars (Klyu-
chiki 01)
1
1
1 cm
1 cm

241
Wachtler-Perner: Early Permian Origin and Evolution of Angiosperms
The Origin and Evolution of Angiosperms
Early Permian Flowering Plants
Edited by
Michael Wachtler and Thomas Perner
Perner T., Wachtler M. 2020: The Early Permian Landscape in the Fore Urals p. 1-16
Wachtler M. 2020: The Evolution of the First Flowers - Early Permian Angiosperms p. 17-42
Perner T., 2020: Wachtlerosperma stefanperneri nov. gen. n.: Presumed Early Permian ancestor of
the Asteraceae p. 43-46
Wachtler M. 2020: The Origin of the Asteraceae - Early Permian evolution p. 47-60
Wachtler M., Perner T., 2020: Dammannia scaratiae nov. gen. n. - A Presumed Early Permian an-
cestor of the Apiaceaep. 61-66
Perner T., 2020: The Evolution of Magnoliaceae in the Early Permian p. 67- 74
Wachtler M., Perner T., 2020: Some New and Exciting Angiosperm Fruits from the Early Permian
of the Fore-Urals (Russia) p. 75-82
Perner T., Wachtler M. 2020: Sylvocarpus armatus – A Presumed Early Permian ancestor of the
Phytolaccaceae p. 83-90
Perner T., Wachtler M. 2020: The Arising of the Monocots p. 91-104
Wachtler M. 2020: Interesting Paleoangiosperms from the Early Permian Fore-Urals p. 105-110
Wachtler M. 2020: A Short History of the Evolution of Broad-leaved Angiosperms in the Early Per-
mian p. 111 - 148
Wachtler M., Perner T., 2020: Insect and Flowering Plant Interactions in the Permian p. 149-190
Wachtler M., Perner T., 2020: Early Permian Ferns from the Fore-Urals p. 191 - 200
Wachtler M., Perner T., 2020: Early Permian Conifers from Angaraland and Their Role in the
Gymnosperm Evolution p. 201-218
Perner T., Wachtler M. 2020: Horsetails from Early Permian Fore-Urals p. 219-238
Wachtler M., Perner T., 2020: Sigillaria Lycopods from the Early Permian Angaraland p. 239-240
Published by Dolomythos Museum, 39038 Innichen, South Tyrol, Italy
First edition May, 2020 ISBN 978-88-944100-4-4
info@dolomythos.com
Hardcover Euro 98
Pages 240