Palaeobiogeographic and metric analysis of the Mesozoic fern Weichselia

Blanco‐Moreno, Candela; Gómez, Bernard; Buscalioni, Ángela Delgado

doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2018.05.001

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Weichselia reticulata (Stokes & Webb) Fontaine is a widespread Mesozoic fern, ranging in age from the Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) to the Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous) and geographically from around 60°N to 60°S (Blanco‐Moreno et al . 2018). It was first described from the English Weald as Pecopteris reticulata (Stokes & Webb, 1824), based on small charred fragments of vegetative fronds that are the most frequent type of remains of this fern (Fig.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

New insights into the affinities, autoecology, and habit of the Mesozoic fernWeichselia reticulatabased on the revision of stems from Bernissart (Mons Basin, Belgium)

Blanco‐Moreno

Decombeix

Prestianni

2020

Papers in Palaeontology

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The Mesozoic is a key period in fern evolution, with the rise of most modern families. Weichselia reticulata is a widely distributed Jurassic-Cretaceous fern that has been suggested to belong to the Matoniaceae or possibly the Marattiaceae. The most accepted classic whole-plant reconstruction for this species is based on stem and foliage material from the Barremian-Aptian locality of N egresse (Bernissart, Mons Basin, Belgium). In this work, two of these stems are revised and analysed using computed tomography, providing new information on their internal anatomy and external morphology. Weichselia reticulata has a unique anatomy, distinct from all other extant or fossil ferns. Stem external morphology suggests adaptations to stressful environments, due to the scale insertions, and a thick cortex. Especially noteworthy is the presence of structures interpreted as aerophores or nectaries at the base of putative roots and petioles that could suggest a need for extra ventilation of the frond or interactions with animals. Although these new results do not settle the question of the systematic affinities of Weichselia, they provide new information about its autoecology and allow us to test the validity of previous whole-plant reconstructions.

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Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

New insights into the affinities, autoecology, and habit of the Mesozoic fernWeichselia reticulatabased on the revision of stems from Bernissart (Mons Basin, Belgium)

Blanco‐Moreno

Decombeix

Prestianni

2020

Papers in Palaeontology

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“…The fossils show different types of preservation; most are impressions and charred compressions, and, in some cases, they are covered with iron oxides or calcite (S1 Table). Bearing in mind that previous works based on a very large sample of Weichselia fragments from Las Hoyas [27] detected no biases in the measurements due to preservation, all the specimens in this study are considered to be comparable.…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel approach for the metric analysis of fern fronds: Growth and architecture of the Mesozoic fern Weichselia reticulata in the light of modern ferns

et al. 2019

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The architecture of primary and secondary pinnae of the fossil fern Weichselia reticulata (C. Stokes et Webb) Fontaine is studied based on 28 large specimens from the upper Barremian La Huérguina Formation of the fossil locality Las Hoyas, Cuenca, Spain. The study of the specimens is performed through a morphometric analysis consisting in a reformulation of the Branching Algorithms method of shape description including measurements (insertion angle, distance between pinnae, first segment length and rachis width) and ratios (interval ratio, branching ratio and tapering ratio). A protocol to relocate isolated fragments of fossil pinnae is also established using the interval ratio (distance between pinnae/ previous distance between pinnae) and insertion angle of the pinnae. All specimens show a similar architecture, having elliptic primary pinnae with a sinuous apically tapering primary rachis and triangular secondary pinnae with pinnules of different morphologies. The analysis of the architecture allows to propose that the position of the frond was plagiotropic and that the frond growth was basiplastic for the petiole head and acroplastic for the primary pinnae. The metric method is applied to explore the architecture of four living fern species ( Angiopteris evecta (Forst.) Hoffm., Matonia pectinata R.Br., Sphaeropteris cooperi (F.Muell.) R.M.Tryon, and Woodwardia unigemmata (Makino) Nakai). Weichselia architecture results extremely ordered and regular in comparison with the primary pinnae variation of the living species.

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“…Based on this, a late Early Jurassic is suggested for this formation, which is consistent with previous data. Blanco-Moreno et al (2018) provide new insights into the Lower Cretaceous fern Weichselia based on a comprehensive morphometric analysis of Iberian and worldwide material, as well as from the whole literature on the genus. This study provides key inference from the Aptian environments and suggests a link between Weichselia frond morphology and climate conditions.…”

Section: Polycingulatisporites Triangularis Quadraeculina Anellaeform...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Foreword for the thematic issue of the First Workshop on Iberian Palaeobotany and Palynology

Cascales‐Miñana

Diez

2018

Geobios

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Palaeobiogeographic and metric analysis of the Mesozoic fern Weichselia

Cited by 13 publications

References 25 publications

New insights into the affinities, autoecology, and habit of the Mesozoic fernWeichselia reticulatabased on the revision of stems from Bernissart (Mons Basin, Belgium)

New insights into the affinities, autoecology, and habit of the Mesozoic fernWeichselia reticulatabased on the revision of stems from Bernissart (Mons Basin, Belgium)

A novel approach for the metric analysis of fern fronds: Growth and architecture of the Mesozoic fern Weichselia reticulata in the light of modern ferns

Foreword for the thematic issue of the First Workshop on Iberian Palaeobotany and Palynology

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