Sprecher
Beschreibung
Pagiophyllum (Heer, 1881) is a form genus of extinct fossil conifers ranging from the Late Permian to Late Cretaceous, frequently allied with the family Cheirolepidiaceae. Most records consist of fragmentary shoots lacking cuticles and reproductive organs. Among these fossil records, Pagiophyllum maculosum Kendall is a remarkable species initially described from the Middle Jurassic of Yorkshire, UK, but lacking cuticle morphology and reproductive structures. Here, we report the first occurrence of P. maculosum from the Early Jurassic of western Hubei, South China. Well-preserved specimens with attached reproductive structures confirm its assignment to the Cheirolepidiaceae. The material includes leafy shoots with cuticles, male cones, and seed-bearing female cones. Penultimate and ultimate shoots bear helically arranged leaves (2–3 parastichies). Leaves are hypostomatic, with stomata in distinct rows and no epidermal papillae. Stomatal complexes are elliptic with 4–6 subsidiary cells; epidermal cells range from rectangular to irregularly polygonal. Female cones are elliptical, comprising 36–40 helically arranged bract-scale complexes. Pollen cones are subspheroidal with peltate microsporophylls. These specimens provide detailed morphological and anatomical features, thus permit a whole-plant reconstruction. Beyond taxonomy, P. maculosum offers key paleoclimatic insights. Thick cuticles, sunken stomata, and reduced leaf areas reflect a systemic xerophytic adaptation to minimize transpiration and conserve water. Associated floras dominated by gymnosperms (e.g., ginkgoaleans, bennettitaleans) and the near absence of hygrophilous ferns indicate an arid to semi-arid climate condition during deposition.