Remarks on the Permian dasycladalean alga Sinoporella leei Yabe, 1949

Abstract

Sinoporella leei was first described and illustrated by Yabe in 1949 as a new species and was ascribed to a new subgenus of the genus Triploporella (Steinmann). This alga was not illustrated again until Mu published 25-years later a photomicrograph of a longitudinal-tangential section. The recent finding of new specimens in Permian strata of the Guangxi region (South China) allows us to better illustrate this alga, and to improve our understanding of its morphology to the extent that we find it necessary to emend the current diagnosis. The new observations focus mainly on the morphology of the second-order laterals, on their relationship to the first-order laterals, and the connection of the first-order laterals to the main stem. These data suggest that Sinoporella represents a self-standing, discrete genus that differs from Triploporella. We also consider the lack of cystophores (cyst containers sensu De Castro) and the possible occurrence of individual cysts in the first order laterals as characteristics that do not accord with Barttolo's emended diagnosis of Triploporella.