Rochipteris nov. gen. Incertae Sedis (=Chiropteris pro parte) del Triásico Superior de Argentina y Chile

RAFAEL HERBST,; ALEJANDRO TRONCOSO,; SILVIA GNAEDINGER

AMEGHINIANA

ASOCIACION PALEONTOLOGICA ARGENTINA

Año: 2001 vol. 38 p. 257 - 269

0002-7014

Abstract. ROCHIPTERIS NOV. GEN., LEAF INCERTAE SEDIS (= CHIROPTERIS PRO PARTE), UPPER TRIASSIC OF ARGENTINA ANO CHILE. Rochipteris nov. gen. is erected to include some gondwanic leaf species previously assigned to Chiropteris Kurr ex Bronn. The new genus includesleaves apetiolate, cuneate, elongated to flabelliforrn, with borders entire to incised to variable degrees and with anastomosing venation. The original definition of Chiropteris included funnel-shaped leaves (or leaflets) without anastomoses. The emendation by Retallack of Ginkgophytopsis Haeg which includes Chiropteris is rejected as its original sense is completely modified. It is also suggested that the cordate and semicircular species with anastomosing venation,at present included in Chiropteris, should be transferred to other taxa. Five species of Rochipteris are described, including the new species, R. alexandriana and R. chilensis Gnaedinger, from the Upper Triassic of Argentina and Chile respectively; the characters of R. lacerata (Arber), R. cuneaia (Carr.) and R. copiapensis(Solms-Laubach), which were confusingly treated in previous literature, are discussed.