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Diversification of early ferns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

Jean Galtier
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Paléobotanique, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, L.A. 327 C.N.R.S., U.S.T.L., 34060 Montpellier, France
Andrew C. Scott
Affiliation:
Geology Department, Chelsea College (University of London), 552 Kings Road, London SW10 0UA, U.K.
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Synopsis

A review of current knowledge of early fern evolution is presented including new data on age, morphology and anatomy with two diagrams summarising the early diversification of cauline and foliar anatomy and of the reproductive structures. The relationships and even the attribution of some Devonian taxa to the ferns is questioned whilst most of the Carboniferous coenopterids are considered indisputable ferns, some of them being related to modern filicaleans. The discovery, in the Lower Carboniferous of Scotland, of diverse annulate filicalean sporangia suggests an earlier (Tournaisian) radiation of true ferns than was previously assumed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1985

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