A Kungurian flora from the Southern Alps (Northern Italy) yielding cuticles

Abstract

The late Kungurian succession of Gorl in the Southern Alps yielded more than 200 plant fossils. The remains are very fragmented but occasionally exceptionally well-preserved with cuticle. The morphological and cuticular analyses confirm the presence of some seed ferns (Lodevia, Peltaspermum, Sphenopteris), ginkgophytes (Sphenobaiera), and conifers (Collia geinitzii, Feysia, Hermitia) for the Southern Alps. The cuticular analyses permitted, however, also the description of a leaf fragment putatively assigned to Germaropteris martinsii, and several different types of conifer shoots (Conifer morphotypes 1–3, Dwarf shoot 1–2). The cuticle of Collia geinitzii is described for the first time. Palynological studies integrate the floral composition, adding some more humid elements to the flora (lycophytes, ferns, cordaites), and increases the diversity of the seed ferns and conifers. The palynofacies analyses permit to reconstruct a near-shore depositional lacustrine environment with a fluctuating lake level. The exceptionally well-preserved cuticles even demonstrate Plant-animal interactions such as traces from piercing and sucking.