On a New Structurally Preserved Arborescent Lycopsid Fructification From the Lower Pennsylvanian of North America

Bisporangiate lycopsid fructifications are described from petrifaction material of Pottsville (lower Pennsylvanian) age collected in eastern Kentucky. The largest specimen of Lepidostrobus schopfii sp. n. is 8.0 cm long and approximately 1.3 cm in diam; it is not complete at either apex or base. Basal megasporangia, each containing a variable number (12-29) of megaspores, and apical microsporangia are adaxially positioned on pedicels bearing reduced lateral laminae. Features of the cone axis and pattern of vascularization are described. Of particular interest is the occurrence of well-preserved endosporic megagametophytes showing archegonia and rhizoids. The new species is compared with other structurally preserved bisporangiate lycopsid fructifications of equivalent age.