Abstract
Two new species of the sigillarian cone Mazocarpon were discovered in Late Pennsylvanian sediments of the Appalachian Basin. Mazocarpon villosum sp. nov. represents a megasporangiate cone 22 mm in maximum diameter and 15-20 cm long with helically arranged slipper-shaped sporophylls. Distally, sporophylls extend upward into a long lamina and downward into a broad abaxial heel, both of which are highly convoluted and bear numerous uni- and multiseriate hairs. Sporangia from the central and lower levels of the cone are empty; those near the apex contain numerous immature or abortive megaspores. The most apical specimen illustrates an ontogenetic stage previously unknown for this genus. A second species, Mazocarpon bensonii sp. nov., is a megasporangiate cone ca. 10 mm in diameter Sporophylls intergrade morphologically with sterile leaves of the peduncle and are characterized by long lateral laminae, a lobed, glabrous abaxial heel, and an upturned lamina. Megaspores identified as Laevigatosporites are found within the sporangia of the cone, dispersed sporangial fragments, and isolated in the coal ball matrix, and they frequently contain cellular megagametophytes.
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