Reproductive structures of the Glossopteridales in the plant fossil collection of the Australian Museum

Abstract

SUMMARY A new, Late Permian Glossopteris fructification genus Squamella is erected. It comprises cones (the 'terminal buds' of Walkom, 1928) which are aggregations of 'scale-fronds' bearing sporangia or seeds. The cones are borne terminally on branch lets which had foliage leaves in whorls or close spiral arrangement, and modified, gangamopteroid leaves preceded the cones. Scale-fronds were composed of a deciduous scale (the 'squamae' of Glossopteris assemblages) and a laminal segment.