Abstract

Zamites pateri J.Kvaček is described as a new member of the Bennettitales from the Cenomanian of the Peruc-Korycany Formation, Bohemian Cretaceous Basin in the Czech Republic. It comes from fluvial sediments exposed in the Pecínov quarry. It is compared to Zamites bayeri J.Kvaček from the Peruc-Korycany Formation, from which it differs in having pinnae attached to the dorsal part of the rachis and in cuticular details, particularly in having costal zones narrower than intercostal zones, stomata orientated always perpendicularly to the leaf margins and a thinner adaxial cuticle. Epidermal characters, particularly sunken stomata and numerous papillae underpin the mesophytic/xerophytic nature of the plant fossil.

Key words

Bennettitales, Zamites, Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian

Abstract

Angiosperm mesofossils are described from the Lower Cretaceous Almargem Formation exposed near the village of Catefica, Portugal, and are thought to be of Aptian-early Albian age. The mesofossil assemblage from Catefica is diverse and, in addition to the angiosperms described here, also contains a rich assemblage of non-angiosperm fossils, including leafy axes of bryophytes and lycopsids, lycopsid and salvinialean megaspores, and sporangia, sori and leaf fragments of ferns. There are also twigs, cones, cone scales, seeds and sporangia of several kinds of conifers. Other seed plants include 11 species of chlamydospermous seeds and vegetative axes related to the BEG group (Bennettiales-Erdtmanithecales-Gnetales). In terms of the number of plant fragments identified, angiosperms are most abundant in the Catefica assemblage and account for more than half of all specimens. Angiosperms also dominate in number of species, but because the non-angiosperm fossils have not been studied in detail the total number of species in the flora is not yet established. Sixty-seven species of angiosperms are recognized. Angiosperm diversity is mainly at the level of non-eudicots, including ANA-grade angiosperms, Chloranthaceae and magnoliids. Remains of chloranthoid angiosperms are especially common, both in the number of specimens and in number of species recognized. About 40 % of the specimens, and more than 25 % of the species are chloranthoids. Remains of magnoliid angiosperms (Magnoliales, Laurales, Canellales, Piperales) are also prominent among the angiosperms. Eudicots are subordinate: only 3–4 % of all angiosperm specimens can be assigned confidently to eudicot angiosperms. Five new genera and six new species of angiosperms are established (Canrightia foveolata sp. nov., Elasmostemon paisii gen. et sp. nov., Endressistemon cateficensis gen. et sp. nov., Ibericarpus cuneiformis gen. et sp. nov., Proencistemon portugallicus gen. et sp. nov., Valvidistemon globiferus gen. et sp. nov.). Several other new taxa are also described, but not formally named.

Key words

Almargem Formation, angiosperms, Early Cretaceous, fossil flowers, mesofossils, pollen, SRXTM, synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy

Abstract

This complete list of publications of Professor RNDr. Zlatko Kvaček, DrSc. (1937 – 2020) is an addition and supplementary continuation of the memorial volumes of Fossil Imprint (2021/2 and 2022/1) devoted to his work and life. The present list is compiled from three published sources: (1) in Acta Musei Nationalis Pragae, Ser. B – Historia Naturalis in 2007 (Kvaček, J.: Bibliography of Prof. RNDr. Zlatko Kvaček, DrSc. – Acta Musei Nationalis Pragae, Ser. B – Historia Naturalis, 63(2-4): 75–83), (2) in Fossil Imprint in 2018 (Sakala, J.: Bibliography of Prof. RNDr. Zlatko Kvaček, DrSc. (2007 – 2017). – Fossil Imprint, 74(1-2): 4–7) and (3) in Fossil Imprint in 2020 (Sakala, J.: Bibliography of Prof. RNDr. Zlatko Kvaček, DrSc. (2017 – 2020). – Fossil Imprint, 76(2): viii).

Abstract

A specimen of Araucaria fricii is described from the upper part of the Teplice Formation in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. It extends the first occurrence of A. fricii from the mid-Coniacian back to the early Coniacian. Found in the Radovesice locality near Kučlín in the northern part of the Czech Republic, it is characterised by a deltoid cone scale complex with a centrally placed seed. It is compared to the type material of A. fricii from the mid-Coniacian Březno Formation and other European Cretaceous species of Araucaria. The taphonomy and palaeoecology of A. fricii is briefly discussed.

Key words

conifers, Araucariaceae, Araucaria, Cretaceous, Coniacian

Abstract

Late Cretaceous mesofossils are described from the Zliv-Řídká Blana locality in the South Bohemian Basins, the Czech Republic. Angiosperm remains dominate the fossil assemblage both in terms of taxonomic diversity and quantitatively, with about 65 different species based on about 1,000 specimens of flowers, fruits and seeds. There are surprisingly few nonangiosperm species in the flora, with only four specimens assigned to bryophytes, ferns and conifers. There are no megaspores of Selaginellales or Salviniales, which are otherwise common in many Cretaceous mesofossil floras. Among angiosperms, flowers and fruits assigned to the Normapolles group (Fagales) and to the Ericales are particularly prominent. In systematic composition as well as general organization and size of the angiosperm reproductive organs, the Zliv-Řídká Blana mesofossil flora is comparable to other Late Cretaceous mesofossil floras collected from various regions of Laurasia. In addition to the plant remains, the fossil assemblage also includes insect eggs and coprolites.

Key words

angiosperms, fossil fruits, fossil seeds, fossil flowers, Late Cretaceous, mesofossils, Klikov Formation

Abstract

Nilssonia mirovanae sp. nov. is described from the Late Cretaceous Cenomanian of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. It comes from the best-exposed portion of the Peruc-Korycany Formation, in the Pecínov quarry, west of Prague, the Czech Republic. Although preserved only as a fragment of a pinna, it clearly shows haplocheilic stomata. In this paper, we compare N. mirovanae with Pseudoctenis babinensis J.Kvaček from the same horizon. These two cycads have similar adaptations for surviving water stress: thick cuticles and sunken stomata, characteristic features among gymnosperms indicating adaptation to xeromorphic plants, cuticle analysis, Late Cretaceousdrought.

Key words

xeromorphic plants, cuticle analysis, Late Cretaceous

Abstract

A preliminary revision of the palynological collection of Professor Blanka Pacltová was carried out considering samples from the middle Cenomanian of the Peruc-Korycany Formation, the basal most member of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin (the Czech Republic). This collection is mainly composed of slides with palynological residues for light microscope study, which were mounted in the 1960s and 1970s. This work presents an evaluation of the state of preservation of this collection, taking into account the presence of ancient angiosperm pollen types. High percentage of preparations is affected by degradation of glycerine jelly and their remounting is necessary. The present study additionally suggests a methodology for curation of this collection with the objective of long-term preservation.

Key words

palynological collection, Blanka Pacltová, curation, angiosperm pollen types, early Cenomanian, Bohemian Cretaceous Basin, the Czech Republic

Abstract

A new fossil eusporangiate fern Marattiopsis vodrazkae J. Kvaček, sp. nov. has been recovered from the Hidden Lake Formation, the Campanian of James Ross Island, Antarctica. Its fertile and sterile pinnules are described and compared to the other species of the fossil genus  Marattiopsis Schimper and the living genera Marattia, Ptisana and Eupodium (Marattiaceae). In contrast to the other species of the genus Marattiopsis, M. vodrazkae is characterised by stalked synangia, a smaller number of sporangia per synangium, generally small sized pinnules, and the absence of venuli recurrentes. It shows a mosaic of characters present in the living Marattiaceae: it shares stalked sporangia with the genus Eupodium and some species of  Marattia and exhibits a suture (an abscission scar at pinnule bases), a character typical for the genus Ptisana. Additionally, M. vodrazkae provides important palaeoenvironmental signals for climate reconstructions, arguing for warm (paratropical to warm-temperate) and humid climatic conditions on the Antarctic Peninsula and adjacent volcanic islands during the Campanian.

Key words

Marattiaceae, Campanian, Cretaceous, James Ross Island, Antarctica