Lycopodiopsis derbyi Renault from the Corumbatai Formation in the state of Sao Paulo (Guadalupian of Parana Basin, Southern Brazil): New data from compressed silicified stems

Lycopodiopsis derbyi Renault was analyzed on the basis of compressed silicified stems from four Guadalupian outcrops of the Parana Basin (Corumbatai Formation) in the State of Sao Paulo, Southern Brazil. Dichotomous stems have been recorded, and three different branch regions related to apoxogenesis are described. The most proximal region has larger, clearly rhomboidal leaf cushions, with protruding upper edges; the intermediate transitional region also has rhombic leaf cushions, but they are smaller and less elongated than the lower in the same axis; finally, the most distal region reveals only incipient cushions, with inconspicuous infrafoliar bladders; interspersed microphylls were still attached. A well preserved branch representative of this most distal region was sectioned; it has a siphonostelic cylinder similar to that previously described for L derbyi. The cortex, however, shows new traits, such as a short portion of elongated cells between the periderm and the external cortex (or leaf cushion tissue). The stems were apparently silicified prior to their final burial but were probably not transported for long distances. Their final burial may have taken place during storm events, which were common during the deposition of the Corumbatai Formation. These stems are commonly deformed due to compression, mainly because the internal cortical portions rapidly decayed prior to silicification due to their thin-walled tissue, and are therefore not preserved. The common alkalinity of a shallow marine environment such as that in which the Corumbatai Formation was deposited, should mobilize the silica and favors petrifaction. Based on the new data, an emended diagnosis is proposed and a modification of the identification key published by Thomas and Meyen in 1984 for Upper Paleozoic Lycopsida is suggested. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Caules permineralizados de Tietea e Psaronius na Bacia do Paraná (Formação Corumbataí, Permiano)

PERMINERALIZED STEMS OF TIETEA AND PSARONIUS OF THE PARANÁ BASIN, CORUMBATAÍFORMATION, PERMIAN. Silica permineralized stem fragments from six municipalities of São Paulo, Brazil, belonging to the Passa Dois Group, Corumbataí Formation (Guadalupian, Permian), were analysed. Morpho-anatomic characteristics of the stems and steles, observed on petrographic slides or polished sections, have permitted the classification of many specimens as Tietea cf. Tietea singularis. A stem piece from the region of Casa Branca, determined as Psaronius cf. Psaronius arrojadoi, corresponds to the first true record of this genus in the Paraná Basin. A generic/specific identification was not possible for radicular mantle samples having no preserved steles. Despite the strong influence of taphonomic factors on the record, all known Marattiales fossils from the Paraná Basin in Brazil present relatively small steles and meristeles, and that may be related to hydric stress. Taphonomic, paleoecological and biogeographical aspects of the analysed fossils are discussed as well.