A new morphological type of operculate microspore, Discinispora gen. nov., from the Permian petrified Noeggerathialean strobilus Discinites sinensis Wang

Abstract

A new morphological type of operculate microspore, Discinispora sinensis gen. et sp. nov., has been isolated from the holotype of Discinites sinensis Wang (Lower Permian, Shitanjing Coalfield, PR China). In these spores a trilete mark with prominent labrum and a circular operculum are located on the same spore wall layer with the operculum occurring on distal surfaces, close to the distal pole. Spherical laevigate inner bodies are trilete. Other Carboniferous operculate microspores isolated from some sphenophyllalean and some Discinites cones have opercula and trilete marks on different spore wall layers. Discinites and some sphenophylls appear to show similar structures in some spore types. These findings also show that at least three different spore types occur in Discinites cones and contribute to the understanding of the complexity of character states in the Noeggerathiales.