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A stratigraphically significant new zosterophyllopsid from the Rhenish Lower Devonian (W Germany)

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Abstract

A new zosterophyllopsid species is formally described from the Lower Devonian of the central Rhenish Massif. This species, for which we propose the name Zosterophyllum confertum sp. nov., is common and hitherto restricted to Siegenian strata in terms of the regional (Rhenish) stratigraphic frame. It can easily be identified by the construction of its fertile parts (sporangia and strobilus shape), which are usually found in association with the axes. Among other characters, the new species is characterised in particular by the possession of very compact and terminally positioned mature strobili, which taper distally and comprise up to seven rows of helically and counter clockwise inserted, regularly spaced sporangia.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Prof. Dr. W. Meyer (Institut für Geowissenschaften der Universität Bonn) for stratigraphical advice. We are greatly indebted to Prof. Dr. P. M. Sander and Dr. G. Heumann (both Institut für Geowissenschaften der Universität Bonn), Dr. Th. Denk and I. Johannsen (both Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet Stockholm, Sweden), and Dr. J. van der Burgh (State University of Utrecht, the Netherlands) for access to material in their care and to the following persons for kindly sharing important information and/or material: R. Gaipl (deceased), Dr. R. Hutterer (Bonn), P. Manstein (Bonn), W. Meienbrock (St. Augustin), P. Müller (Freilingen), H. Neisius (Bergisch Gladbach), Dr. H. Schneider (deceased), K. and H. Schumacher (Muscheid-Dürrholz), R. Seibert (Ransbach-Baumbach), and Dr. R. Steinmeyer (Koblenz). For literature, we thank Prof. Dr. D. Uhl (Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg Frankfurt) and for photographs we thank G. Oleschinski (Institut für Geowissenschaften der Universität Bonn) and C. Radke (Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität Berlin). The editors and guest editors Drs. S. Weber, P. Königshof, S. Hartenfels, and C. Hartkopf-Fröder provided helpful comments. Further technical assistance was provided by J. Goell (Alfter-Gielsdorf), T. and V. Hartmann, P. Knaus, and D. Nau (all Institut für Geowissenschaften der Universität Bonn). We thank all people who permitted access to localities. We are especially grateful to two anonymous reviewers whose thorough and insightful comments helped to improve this contribution.

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    1. Ossietzkystraße 5, 53123, Bonn, Germany

      Rolf Gossmann

    2. Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe RLP, Direktion Landesarchäologie/Abteilung Erdgeschichte, Niederberger Höhe 1, 56077, Koblenz, Germany

      Markus J. Poschmann

    3. Wettiner Straße 55, 42287, Wuppertal, Germany

      Peter Giesen

    4. Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115, Berlin, Germany

      Stephan Schultka

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    Gossmann, R., Poschmann, M.J., Giesen, P. et al. A stratigraphically significant new zosterophyllopsid from the Rhenish Lower Devonian (W Germany). Palaeobio Palaeoenv 102, 503–519 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-021-00509-9

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