Voltzia andrewsii, n. sp., an Upper Triassic seed cone from North Carolina, U.S.A.

Abstract

Sediments of the Pekin Formation (Upper Triassic) of the Deep River Basin of North Carolina yield remains of ovulate cones assignable to the genus Voltzia. Ovuliferous scales have a narrow attachment and flare distally into an ascending five-lobed portion. Three seeds were borne on the upper surface of the scale. The cone is placed in a new species, V. andrewsii, that shares some similarities with V. coburgensis. Voltzia andrewsii n. sp. retained certain primitive features of the ovuliferous scale, yet coexisted with a conifer, Compsostrobus neotericus, that had ovulate cones with relatively advanced structure.