Ferns in the Carboniferous Period l l Eugene
Ferns in the Carboniferous Period l l Eugene Marinus Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology University of the Western Cape 2357422@uwc. ac. za Available at http: //planet. uwc. ac. za/nisl/Eco_people/Presentations/
History q The history of ferns can be traced back about 400 million years, starting in the late Devonian era.
Kenrick P, Davis P (2004)
q Most of the ferns existed during the Carboniferous period, 290 to 354 million years ago. q The Carboniferous era are divided into, the Mississippian (Early Carboniferous) and Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous). q Coal bearing strata gives the name to the Carboniferous period (Latin carbo, meaning coal; ferre, meaning to bear)
http: //www. ucmp. berkeley. edu/carboniferous. html
q Geographically the late Carboniferous Period was very different from today. q Continents were joined together into one landmass, called Pangea
Kenrick P, Davis P (2004)
q A good understanding of the terminology of ferns is required to study ferns and their fossils q Fern leafs are called fronds. q The main axis of the frond is called a rachis from where lateral branches arise. q The stalk at the bottom of the frond is reffered to as the petiole or stipe
Tree ferns q Tree ferns were the most common ferns. q There is a superficial resemblance to the modern day ornamental tree ferns Dicksonia and Cyathea. q Carboniferous tree ferns belong to a different family called Morattiales.
Kenrick P, Davis P (2004) q An example of such a tree fern from the late Carboniferous, was called Psaronius. q This was a tree fern which grew about 8 -10 m high. q Fronds grew from the top of the tree up to 3 m long.
q The trunk of Psaronius grew totally different to that conifers and flowering plant trees. q It had a narrow cylinder of tissue that was formed from the basis of leaves and vascular tissue. q Trunk was surrounded by a mantle of roots. q Tree ferns are tough and light weight.
Kenrick P, Davis P (2004) q The fibrous trunks of tree ferns, make then an ideal rooting medium. q They can support a diverse flora of epiphytes.
q Evidence suggest that some Carboniferous species existed as epiphytes. q An example of this kind of fern is called Botryoteis. q Fossil records revealed that a Botryopteis were entwined in the trunk of Psoronuis.
Seed ferns l l l The seed ferns are also called pteridosperms. The ferns reproduce by spores where as seed ferns use a combination of fern like fronds and production of seed. An example of such a fern, was Medullosa Noeii.
Kenrick P, Davis P (2004)
http: //www. xs 4 all. nl/~steurh/englod/ezaadvar. html
q Most of the fern like foliage from the coal swamp does not belong to ferns. q More closely related to conifers and flowering plants
q There are only four living groups: Marattiales, Ophioglossales, Psilotales and leptosporangiate ferns.
References 1. q q q http: //www. xs 4 all. nl/~steurh/englod/ezaadvar. html http: //www. ucmp. berkeley. edu/carboniferous. ht ml http: //www. xs 4 all. nl/~steurh/englod/ezaadvar. html Camus JM, Gibby M, Johns RJ (1996) Pteridology in perspective: Symposuim 1995. Whistable Litho Ltd, Whistable, Kent. ISBN 1 -90034 -709 -1 Kenrick P, Davis P (2004) Fossil plants. Smithsonian Books Washington. ISBN 1 -58834 -156 -9
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