Ein fruktifizierender Sproß von Asolanus camptotaenia Wood aus dem Westfal D Nordwestdeutschlands

Abstract. Erstmalig wird der fruktifizierende Sproß von Asolanus camptotaenia beschrieben. Bei den nachgewiesenen fertilen Organen handelt es sich um Megasporangien, Microsporangien sind noch nicht gefunden worden. Der Bau des fertilen Sprosses sowie die Organisation der Sporophylle belegen die isolierte Stellung der Gattung Asolanus innerhalb der Lepidophyta.

A megasporangia bearing axis of Asolanus camptotaenia Wood from the Westphalian D of Northwestern Germany

A fertil impression axis of Asolanus camptotaenia from Westfalian D strata is described. While some megasporangia are found, microsporangia are not yet established. The type specimen is not very well characterized by Wood 1860, but all differences described til now would be caused by preservation. The diagonal striation from cushion to cushion also is only a special mode of preservation and useless for taxonomic purposes. Well sculptered Asolanus-axis from the Stephanian belong to the genus Lepidodendron or possibly to a new not yet described genus. Lepidostrobus foliaceus and Lepidophyllum truncatus mentioned by Lesquereux 1880 as well as Gymnostrobus salisbury described by Bureau 1914 may belong to A. camptotaenia.

The organisation of the fertil axis from the Piesberg demonstrates an isolated position of this genus within the lepidophytes not so far from Pinakodendron and relatives.

doi:10.1002/mmng.19980010110