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Ferns in the Carboniferous Period

Ferns in the Carboniferous Period. Eugene Marinus Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology University of the Western Cape 2357422@uwc.ac.za. History. The history of ferns can be traced back about 400 million years, starting in the late Devonian era. . Kenrick P, Davis P (2004).

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Ferns in the Carboniferous Period

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  1. Ferns in the Carboniferous Period Eugene Marinus Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology University of the Western Cape 2357422@uwc.ac.za

  2. History • The history of ferns can be traced back about 400 million years, starting in the late Devonian era.

  3. Kenrick P, Davis P (2004)

  4. Most of the ferns existed during the Carboniferous period, 290 to 354 million years ago. • The Carboniferous era are divided into, the Mississippian (Early Carboniferous) and Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous). • Coal bearing strata gives the name to the Carboniferous period (Latin carbo, meaning coal; ferre, meaning to bear)

  5. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/carboniferous/carboniferous.htmlhttp://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/carboniferous/carboniferous.html

  6. Geographically the late Carboniferous Period was very different from today. • Continents were joined together into one landmass, called Pangea

  7. Kenrick P, Davis P (2004)

  8. A good understanding of the terminology of ferns is required to study ferns and their fossils • Fern leafs are called fronds. • The main axis of the frond is called a rachis from where lateral branches arise. • The stalk at the bottom of the frond is reffered to as the petiole or stipe

  9. Tree ferns were the most common ferns. There is a superficial resemblance to the modern day ornamental tree ferns Dicksonia and Cyathea. Carboniferous tree ferns belong to a different family called Morattiales. Tree ferns

  10. An example of such a tree fern from the late Carboniferous, was called Psaronius. • This was a tree fern which grew about 8-10 m high. • Fronds grew from the top of the tree up to 3m long. Kenrick P, Davis P (2004)

  11. The trunk of Psaronius grew totally different to that conifers and flowering plant trees. It had a narrow cylinder of tissue that was formed from the basis of leaves and vascular tissue. Trunk was surrounded by a mantle of roots. Tree ferns are tough and light weight.

  12. The fibrous trunks of tree ferns, make then an ideal rooting medium. • They can support a diverse flora of epiphytes. Kenrick P, Davis P (2004)

  13. Evidence suggest that some Carboniferous species existed as epiphytes. An example of this kind of fern is called Botryoteis. Fossil records revealed that a Botryopteis were entwined in the trunk of Psoronuis.

  14. The seed ferns are also called pteridosperms. The ferns reproduce by spores where as seed ferns use a combination of fern like fronds and production of seed. An example of such a fern, was Medullosa Noeii. Seed ferns

  15. Kenrick P, Davis P (2004)

  16. http://www.xs4all.nl/~steurh/englod/ezaadvar.html

  17. Most of the fern like foliage from the coal swamp does not belong to ferns. More closely related to conifers and flowering plants

  18. There are only four living groups: Marattiales, Ophioglossales, Psilotales and leptosporangiate ferns.

  19. http://www.xs4all.nl/~steurh/englod/ezaadvar.html http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/carboniferous/carboniferous.html http://www.xs4all.nl/~steurh/englod/ezaadvar.html http://www.xs4all.nl/~steurh/englod/ezaadvar.html Camus JM, Gibby M, Johns RJ (1996) Pteridology in perspective: Symposuim 1995. Whistable Litho Ltd, Whistable, Kent. ISBN 1-90034-709-1 Kenrick P, Davis P (2004) Fossil plants. Smithsonian Books Washington. ISBN 1-58834-156-9 References

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