Ufadendron Elongatum sp. nov., an Angaran Lycopsid from the Upper Permian of Inner Mongolia, China

Abstract

A new species Ufadendron elongatum sp. nov., attributed to the family Tomiodendraceae Naugolnykh, is represented by two well-preserved stems in the collection under study. This new species was recently discovered from the Upper Permian Linxi Formation in the Jalaid locality, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous region, China. The genus Ufadendron is characterized as having the long fusiform leaf cushions, with small and rounded leaf scar containing a central point-like scar which is situated at the upper part of leaf cushion; the infrafoliar bladder of fusiform shape positioned in the middle part of leaf cushion; the wings and heel well-developed in the lateral parts and the lower part of leaf cushion, respectively. The new species is different from the type species U. ufaense (Naugolnykh 2014) collected from the Lower Permian of the Cis- Urals, western limits of Angaraland, in the elongated leaf cushion and in the well-pronounced heel. It should be noted, that a vascular bundle (conductive strand) occupied the middle part of the central point-like scar. So far, only 5 genera of Angaran elements among lycopsids have been discovered in the region geographically belonging to Angaran Realm (Phytogeoprovince) in China. The new species U. elongatum not only enlarges our knowledge on the taxonomy of Tomiodendraceae lycopsids, and also provides an opportunity to understand the difference between Angaran and Cathaysian floras in paleoclimatic context.