In situ spores of lycophytes from the Anisian Kuhwiesenkopf/Monte Pra della Vacca flora in northern Italy

Four species of lycophytes have been described from the palaeoflora of the Anisian Dont Formation at the Kuhwiesenkopf/Monte Pra della Vacca section in the Dolomites (northern Italy); Isoetites brandneri, Lepacyclotes bechstaedtii (both Isoetaceae), Selaginellites leonardii (Selaginellaceae), and Lycopia dezanchei (order and family indet.). For I. brandneri and S. leonardii, in situ spores have also been reported. We have now restudied in situ material from all four species with a focus on the morphological variability of the spores. Microspores and a single megaspore from L. dezanchei and possible poorly preserved microspores from L. bechstaedtii are described for the first time. The microspores from a paratype of I. brandneri proved to be highly variable and unusual, generally with an elliptical (bilobed) cingulum/zona that resembles the sacci of bisaccate pollen. In addition, both micro- and megaspores from a specimen previously assigned to I. brandneri showed considerable differences to those from the paratype, suggesting a biologically distinct species.

Automated summary

A study on the palaeoflora of the Anisian Dont Formation in the Dolomites has identified four lycophyte species, with variations in spore morphology indicating the presence of different species.