A new plant from the earliest Carboniferous of Jiangsu, China

Abstract

A new plant, Multifurcatus tenellus gen. et sp. nov., is described from the earliest Carboniferous of Jiangsu, China. The branching pattern is predominantly trifurcate with a main axis and paired subordinate branches. There are three orders of lateral branches. Two appendages are inserted at nodes, each dichotomized up to five times. Three appendages or fertile units at nodes are borne on the IVth order branch. The fertile unit at the nodes of the IVth order branch is made up of one sporangium and an appendage.