Author: Wang Shi-jun, Guo Ying-ting and Tian Bao-lin
J Integr Plant Biol 1995, 37 (11): -.
A new anatomically-preserved microsporangiate cone in the coal balls of Coal Seam No. 7 (P1′) at the upper part of Taiyuan Formation in Xishan Coal-Field, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province of China was described. Having been studied, it was placed into Lepidostrobus Brongniart and considered as a new species. Vegetative organs of Lepidodendrales from mainly belonged to the natural genus Lepidodendron, such as stems, leaves and roots in the coal balls were visualized. However a few of them probably belonged to the natural genus Sigillaria. Besides, the single megasporophylls with megasporangia of Achlarnydocarpon (the megasporangiate cone of Lep/dodendron) have been found in the coal balls, so the specimens under discussion might belong to Lepidodendron. Lepidostrobus shanxiense sp. nov. The cone more than 3.5 cm long and 1.6~ 1.8 cm in width. The axis possesses siphonostele. The sporophylls on the axis in spiral arrangement. The pedicel 6~ 7 mm long and the distal lamina more than 1.2 cm long. The pedicel alate with alations extending about 2 ~ 2. 5 mm outward. The microsporangium probably bag-shaped, equal to the pedicel in length, 4.5 mm wide and 2~ 3 mm high, attached to the pedicel for about 2/3 of its length. The wall one cell thick in fully matured microsporan gia and consists of uniform columnar cells. The microspore 68~77μm in diameter, trilete and the surface minutely granular.