New petrified gymnosperms from the Permian of Maranhão (Pedra de Fogo Formation), Brazil. Part I. Novaiorquepitys and Yvyrapitys

CRISAFULLI, ALEXANDRA MARÍA CRISTINA; CISNEROS, JUAN CARLOS; IANNUZZI, ROBERTO; DE ANDRADE,LUIZ SATURNINO; DOMINGAS MARIA DA CONCEIÇÃO; NEREGATO, RODRIGO

REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2020 vol. 276 p. 1 - 14

0034-6667

Anatomically preserved gymnosperm stems are relatively abundant in the Permian outcrops of the ParnaíbaBasin, but their anatomy has rarely been studied in detail. Here we describe two new fossil gymnosperm trunksfrom the Lower Permian (Cisuralian) strata of the Pedra de Fogo Formation in the municipality of Nova Iorque,southern Maranhão State, northeastern Brazil. Two new genera et species are described, Novaiorquepitysmaranhensis and Yvyrapitys novaiorquensis. These taxa have a broad, non-septate pith containing sclerenchymaand secretory cells, a parenchyma sheath, and a system of lacunae. Pycnoxylic secondary xylem with growth interruptionsand the radial bordered pits on the tracheid walls are araucarian andmixed types. The recognition oftwo endemic forms indicates both a high degree of endemismfor the flora of the Pedra de Fogo Formation and ahigher taxonomic diversity of gymnospermwoods than hitherto noted. In addition, the anatomical characters ofthese taxa, together with sedimentological data and the presence in the same area of plants that live on the banksof water bodies or in wetlands (e.g., tree ferns and tree-calamitaleans), indicate that these woody plants livednear the shores of large lakes. These findings show that studies of Paleozoic woods in this region are potentiallyvaluable