Transcript Slide 1

Ferns in the Carboniferous
Period
Eugene Marinus
Department of Biodiversity and Conservation
Biology
University of the Western Cape
[email protected]
Available at http://planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl/Eco_people/Presentations/
History
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The history of ferns can be traced back about
400 million years, starting in the late Devonian
era.
Kenrick P, Davis P (2004)
 Most of the ferns existed during the Carboniferous
period, 290 to 354 million years ago.
 The Carboniferous era are divided into, the
Mississippian (Early Carboniferous) and
Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous).
 Coal bearing strata gives the name to the
Carboniferous period (Latin carbo, meaning coal;
ferre, meaning to bear)
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/carboniferous/carboniferous.html
 Geographically the late Carboniferous
Period was very different from today.
 Continents were joined together into
one landmass, called Pangea
Kenrick P, Davis P (2004)
 A good understanding of the terminology of ferns is required to
study ferns and their fossils
 Fern leafs are called fronds.
 The main axis of the frond is called a rachis from where lateral
branches arise.
 The stalk at the bottom of the frond is reffered to as the petiole
or stipe
Tree ferns
Tree ferns were the most common ferns.
There is a superficial resemblance to the
modern day ornamental tree ferns
Dicksonia and Cyathea.
Carboniferous tree ferns belong to a different
family called Morattiales.
Kenrick P, Davis P (2004)
 An example of such a
tree fern from the late
Carboniferous, was called
Psaronius.
 This was a tree fern
which grew about 8-10 m
high.
 Fronds grew from the top
of the tree up to 3m long.
 The trunk of Psaronius grew totally different to
that conifers and flowering plant trees.
 It had a narrow cylinder of tissue that was
formed from the basis of leaves and vascular
tissue.
 Trunk was surrounded by a mantle of roots.
 Tree ferns are tough and light weight.
Kenrick P, Davis P (2004)
 The fibrous trunks of tree ferns, make then an
ideal rooting medium.
 They can support a diverse flora of epiphytes.
 Evidence suggest that some Carboniferous species
existed as epiphytes.
 An example of this kind of fern is called Botryoteis.
 Fossil records revealed that a Botryopteis were
entwined in the trunk of Psoronuis.
Seed ferns
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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.xs4all.nl/~steurh/englod/ezaadvar.html
 Most of the fern like foliage from the coal swamp
does not belong to ferns.
 More closely related to conifers and flowering
plants
 There are only four living groups: Marattiales,
Ophioglossales, Psilotales and leptosporangiate ferns.
References
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http://www.xs4all.nl/~steurh/englod/ezaadvar.html
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/carboniferous/carboniferous.ht
ml
http://www.xs4all.nl/~steurh/englod/ezaadvar.html
http://www.xs4all.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