Reproductive structures of the Glossopteridales in the plant fossil collection of the Australian Museum
Abstract
A new, Late Permian Glossopteris fructification genus Squamella is erected. It comprises cones (the "terminal buds" of Walkom, 1928) which are aggregations of "scale-fronds" bearing sporangia or seeds. The cones are borne terminally on branch lets which had foliage leaves in whorls or close spiral arrangement, and modified, gangamopteroid leaves preceded the cones. Scale-fronds were composed of a deciduous scale (the "squamae" of Glossopteris assemblages) and a laminal segment. Fructifications were attached to the scale-fronds at the line of junction of scale and lamina. Three new species of the genus are described: Squamella australis, which is the male cone of Glossopteris linearis McCoy and is known in attachment to a leaf whorl of that species; Squamella ampla, which is referred to Glossopteris ampla Dana; and Squamella ovulifera, which is a female cone whose foliage is unknown. "Lidgettonia australis White 1964" is redescribed and emended and is incorporated in Squamella australis.
