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A Late Devonian tree lycopsid with large strobili and isotomous roots.

Authors :
Liu L
Wang DM
Zhou Y
Qin M
Ferguson DK
Meng MC
Source :
Communications biology [Commun Biol] 2022 Sep 15; Vol. 5 (1), pp. 966. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Sep 15.
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Tree lycopsids prospered in the Late Devonian and constituted a major part of the Late Paleozoic forest ecosystem that deeply impacted the Earth's climate. However, the fertile organs of these early tree lycopsids display low morphological disparity, which has hampered further knowledge about their ecological habit. Here, we report Omprelostrobus gigas gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) Wutong Formation at Changxing, Zhejiang, China. The collection includes aerial axes, strobili and associated roots. The strobili are the largest among coeval lycopsids to our knowledge, and are divided into proximal and distal portions by dimorphic sporophylls with differentiated laminae and probable strong photosynthetic capacity. The associated but not attached roots displaying multiple isotomous branches lack rootlets and typical rootlet scars. The varied strobili sizes of early tree lycopsids were relatively independent of their body plan, but the large strobili could suggest increased reproductive investment to overcome the disadvantages of the disturbed flooded habitat.<br /> (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2399-3642
Volume :
5
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Communications biology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
36109665
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03934-4