LYCOPHYTES FROM THE MIDDLE TRIASSIC (ANISIAN) LOCALITY KUHWIESENKOPF (MONTE PRA DELLA VACCA) IN THE DOLOMITES (NORTHERN ITALY)

Generally, lycophytes are not well represented in Anisian floras. Nonetheless, four different genera, each with one species, have been distinguished in the Anisian flora from Kuhwiesenkopf (Monte Pra della Vacca), Italy. They were well preserved and yielded leaf cuticles in all four taxa and in situ spores in two of them. Lycopia dezanchei gen. et sp. nov. is the most common form; it is characterized by a dichotomising creeping prostrate rhizome (representing the primary shoot axis) from which arise aerial axes, apically bifurcated and covered with bundles of long leaves. This taxon cannot be attributed to any of the lycophyte orders, but most resembles Lycopodiales. Two representatives of the Isoetales have been found, of which Isoetites brandneri sp. nov. is abundant. This species is characterized by a short stem, which is unusual for this genus. In situ immature microspores and megaspores were found in some specimens. Lepacyclotes bechstaedtii sp. nov. has a quadrilobe corm with fertile scales inserted in whorls or slightly helicoidally. Short sterile leaves arise distally from the corm in some specimens. Selaginellales are very rare in the flora; Selaginellites leonardii sp. nov. is represented by a strobilus that yielded both micro- and megaspores. Some sterile fragments have been found associated, but never in organic connection.