Weichselia negevensis

Name

Weichselia negevensis

Rank

Species

Generic Name

[Genus] Weichselia

Authors (Pub.)

Silantieva N. Krassilov V. A.  

Publication

Weichselia Stiehler from Lower Cretaceous of Makhtesh Ramon, Israel: new morphological interpretation and taxonomical affinities [2006/12]

Journal

Acta Palaeobotanica

Volume

46

Issue

2

Page number

123

Year

2006

Fossil Status

sporocarps

Stratigraphy

Albian

Location

Northern slope of Makhtesh Ramon, Negev, downslope from Mitzpe Ramon Town, locality IMR-A5, Israel

Paleoregion

Eurasia (Middle East)

Data for Holotypus

Repository Number

IMR-A5-1

Num

Pl. 1, fig. 4

Pub.

Weichselia Stiehler from Lower Cretaceous of Makhtesh Ramon, Israel: new morphological interpretation and taxonomical affinities [2006/12]

Diagnosis

Leaves at least bipinnate, pinnae and pinnules of opposite rows upfolded as butterfl y wings. Pinnae imparipinnate. Pinnules in catadromous series, about 7 mm long, slightly auriculate at base, obliquely clasping the rachis. Venation reticulate, of polygonal or rhombic areoles in oblique series, stretched toward the margin. Midrib thick, lost in splitting before the apex. Fertile spherules (sporocarps) borne on pinnae rachises in the position of pinnules, about 3 mm in diameter showing a continuous surface reticulum sclerifi ed at the bases of sporangial clusters and split at maturity into polygonal to irregular lamellae. Sporangial clusters (synangia) 8–12 per spheroid, released intact at maturity, consisting of 5–6 fused sporangia (compartments). Sporangial wall 3-layered, comprising the outer sclerifi ed layer continuous over the cluster, thick parallel bars beneath it and the inner membrane. Spores trilete with a raised Y-mark; laesurae long, ridged, narrowly bordered.