Dispersed cuticles and conducting tissue of Sphenophyllum BRONGNIART from the Westphalian D of Kalinovo, Donets Basin, Ukraine

Abstract

Upper Westphalian coals are usually rich in organic-matter of different plant taxa, including gymnosperms. The assemblagefrom Kalinovo (Eastern Ukraine) is exceptional in being dominated by Sphenophyllum, both cuticles andconducting tissues. Sphenophyllum cuticles are easily distinguished by their parallel oriented cells with sinuous anticlinalwalls, and paracytic stomata on the abaxial cuticle. Tracheids with multiseriate bordered pits that occur in Sphenophyllum can be also found in the Calamitaceae and some pteridosperms. However, rectangular shaped remainsof parenchyma cell strips along the radial wall of tracheids are only known in Sphenophyllum.

Keywords

• Sphenophyllum, dispersed cuticles, Carboniferous – Westphalian, Donets Basin