A New Species of Leclercqia Banks, Bonamo et Grierson (Lycopsida) from the Middle Devonian of North Xinjiang, China, with a Possible Climbing Habit

Abstract

A new herbaceous lycopsid species, Leclercqia uncinata Xu, Berry, Wang et Marshall, is established on the basis of compression fossils from the Middle Devonian of Xinjiang, NW China. The new species has slender axes and three-dimensional, seven-tipped leaves with a distally hooked central segment conforming to the original diagnosis of the genus, and it is relatively smaller than the type species, L. complexa from New York State. The sporangium contains the spore, which can be assigned to morphotaxon Acinoporites lindlariensis. In our preparation of compressions, iridopteridalean fertile appendages are found trapped between the distally hooked leaves of L. uncinata. A possible climbing habit of the new plant is discussed.