Denglongia hubeiensis gen. et sp. nov., a New Plant Attributed to Cladoxylopsida from the Upper Devonian (Frasnian) of South China

Abstract

Denglongia hubeiensis gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Late Devonian Huangjiadeng Formation (Frasnian) of Hubei Province, South China. Main axes and two orders of lateral branches are recognized. The main axis is nodose and has a ridged surface, with a preserved length of up to 34 cm. Four to six first‐order branches, sterile or fertile, are inserted at nodes of the main axis in a whorled pattern. Dense aerial roots occur at basal nodes of main axes, and sparse ones occur at some nodes of first‐order branches. Some first‐order branches bear only ultimate appendages; others bear ultimate appendages proximally and then in turn bear whorls of second‐order branches distally, with an internode length of 40–60 mm. Sterile ultimate appendages are alternately or suboppositely borne on proximal portions of sterile first‐order branches. One or two pairs of umbrella‐shaped fertile structures are borne at the same position as sterile appendages but on fertile first‐order branches. Second‐order branches occur in...