Heterosporous, barinophytacean plants from the upper devonian of North America and a discussion of the possible affinities of the barinophytaceae

Abstract

Two species belonging to the family Barinophytaceae are described from the Upper Devonian Catskill Formation of northern Pennsylvania. They are Barinophyton cf. obscurum and Protobarinophyton pennsylvanicum sp. nov. The specimens of B. cf. obscurum, although poorly preserved, have lateral strobili with the distinctive two-ranked appearance characteristic of the Barinophytaceae. This species is heterosporous. The genus Protobarinophyton differs from Barinophyton in strobilar position. Barinophyton has lateral strobili that are either sessile on the main axis or borne on a short stalk, whereas Protobarinophyton has strobili that are terminal on elongate axes. Otherwise the strobili of the two genera are morphologically similar. P. pennsylvanicum is also heterosporous; and its presence at the locality in Pennsylvania represents the first occurrence of the genus in strata younger than Givetian and is the first report of Protobarinophyton in North America. The Barinophytaceae are probably not closely related to any other known vascular plants. Until more is known about them and other Devonian vascular plants, they should continue to be included in the order Barinophytales Incertae Sedis.