Danaeopsis sp.

Pott, Christian, 2014, The Upper Triassic flora of Svalbard, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 59 (3), pp. 709-740 : 716

Danaeopsis sp. cf. Danaeopsis marantacea (Presl in Sternberg, 1838) Schimper, 1869

Fig. 3K–M.

1972 Danaeopsis cf. marantacaea (Presl) Heer ; Vasilevskaya 1972: 35, pl. 2: 2, 3.

Material.— Spitsbergen: Wimanfjellet ( VSEGEI 10979-10, 10979-11). Edgeøya: Kapp Lee ( NRM S 080207, S 080221, S 080223, S 080240). Carnian (Upper Triassic).

Description.— All specimens are isolated pinnae from compound fronds, the largest of which being 51 mm long; pinnae are 25–28 mm wide including a prominent central bundle 2.5–3.5 mm wide. The lamina margin is entire, the central vascular bundle gives off secondary veins at almost 90° and these typically bifurcate once close to the base (e.g., Fig. 3 K, M). Secondary veins are regularly spaced (600–700 μm apart, or 12–15 veins per cm). Marginal anastomoses as mentioned by Kustatscher and Van Konijnenburg-van Cittert (2011) are visible in one specimen (Fig. 3 M), but the density of veins is slightly higher. All specimens represent sterile foliage.

Remarks.— Six samples from two localities yield foliage that matches Danaeopsis marantacea from other Carnian floras (e.g., Schenk 1863 – 1864; Heer 1865; Kustatscher and Van Konijnenburg-van Cittert 2011). However, due to the fragmentary state, I assign them with some reservation to D. marantacea . Vasilevskaya (1972) also identified two specimens from Wimanfjellet as D. marantacea but with reservations.

Geographic and stratigraphic range.— Southern Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Svalbard; Ladinian–Carnian.