Abstract

A diverse assemblage of mosses from the Early Cretaceous Catefica mesofossil flora, Portugal, is described based on fragments of charcoalified and lignitized gametophytes and a single spore capsule. Nine different gametophyte morphologies are recognized and assigned to Sphagnopsida, Polytrichopsida and Bryopsida. None of the fossils can be included in any extant species. Four species have character combinations not known in any extant genera and are accommodated in three new genera as Chlorosphagnum cateficense gen. et sp. nov. (Sphagnales, family incertae sedis), Physcidium tortuosum gen. et sp. nov. and Physcidium simsimiae sp. nov. (Diphysciales, Diphysciaceae), and Canaliculidium fissuratum gen. et sp. nov. (Dicranales, Leucobryaceae). Three other species can be assigned to extant genera and are described here as Polytrichastrum incurvum sp. nov. (Polytrichales, Polytrichaceae), Dicranodontium minutum sp. nov. and Campylopus lusitanicus sp. nov. (both Dicranales, Leucobryaceae). One additional specimen has features suggesting affinity with Leucobryaceae but lacks characters critical for a definite generic placement. A single spore capsule is unassigned but is similar to capsules of members of the Ditrichaceae (Dicranales). All the fossil mosses recognised in the Catefica mesofossil flora are assigned to orders of extant mosses that diverged prior to the diversification of the Bryidae, the most diverse clade of living mosses. Based on extrapolations from their nearest living relatives, the Catefica mosses likely grew in more or less open environments, and in moist or wet sites that were primarily of low pH and low nutrient status.

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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.

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