2003/12/01 by Dianne Edwards · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Botany and Plant Ecology Studies #Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna #Plant Diversity and Evolution #Sporophyte #Biology #Botany #Meristem #Shoot
paper · doi:10.1017/s0263593300000778
openalex publication_date 2003/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
ABSTRACT Brief descriptions and comments on relationships are given for the seven embryophytic sporophytes in the cherts at Rhynie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. They are Rhynia gwynnevaughanii Kidston & Lang, Aglaophyton major D. S. Edwards, Horneophyton lignieri Barghoorn & Darrah, Asteroxylon mackiei Kidston & Lang, Nothia aphylla Lyon ex Høeg, Trichopherophyton teuchansii Lyon & Edwards and Ventarura lyonii Powell, Edwards & Trewin. The superb preservation of the silica permineralisations produced in the hot spring environment provides remarkable insights into the anatomy of early land plants which are not available from compression fossils and other modes of permineralisation. They include soft tissues, such as those surrounding stomata, rhizoids, apical and lateral meristems, and diversity in conducting cells, with inferences for palaeoecophysiology, including water use efficiency, transport and absorption, and for growth processes and patterns.