Abstract
Five new genera of filicalean fern stems are described from Antarctic silicified permineralizations of early Middle Triassic age. Antarctipteris gen. n. stems are rhizomatous, 5–15 mm in diameter and possess an exarch protostele. Leaf traces are initially bar-shaped and become C- or V- shaped in the petiole. The stele and leaf traces are surrounded by cortical sclerenchyma strands. Fremouwa gen. n. is a creeping rhizome 1–4 mm in diameter which possesses an endarch, ectophloic siphonostele. C-shaped leaf traces are produced radially and migrate through the cortex obliquely. Schleporia gen. n. stems are 3–4 mm in diameter and possess a mesarch ectophloic siphonostele. Branching occurs by initiation of two C-shaped xylem strands that fuse adaxially and then abaxially to form a cylinder. Leaf traces are C-shaped and distantly spaced. Schopfiopteris gen. n. is a creeping rhizome 1.5–11 mm in diameter which possesses an endarch, ectophloic siphonostele. Stems produce C-shaped leaf traces on one side of the stele. Soloropteris gen. n. stems are cylindrical, 1–4 mm in diameter, and possess a mesarch amphiphloic siphonostele which produces C-shaped leaf traces. Lateral buds are axillary or adaxial to the widely spaced leaves. The stems are compared anatomically to Paleozoic filicalean ferns and an attempt is made to suggest relationships to extant families within the Filicales.
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