ANATOMICALLY PRESERVED LEAVES OF THE CONIFER NOTOPHYTUM-KRAUSELII (PODOCARPACEAE) FROM THE TRIASSIC OF ANTARCTICA

Permineralized leaves of the Triassic podocarpaceous conifer Notophytu m krauselii are described from the Fremouw Formation of Antarctica. Th e leaves are elongate and apetiolate with 8-12 parallel veins. The ada xial epidermis consists of rows of rectangular to pentagonal cells: th e abaxial epidermis is papillate. Longitudinally oriented stomata occu r on both surfaces. An adaxial palisade layer is present and auxiliary sclereids are common in the mesophyll. The vascular bundles have a we akly defined sheath and are flanked by transfusion tracheids. Bundles in the basipetal area of the leaf are capped by sclerotic tissue and s ubtended by resin canals. These leaves cue superficially similar to th ose of the extant podocarp genus Nageia, but probably represent a dist inct acquisition of this leaf type within the Podocarpaceae. Notophytu m leaves are similar to the common compression fossil Heidiphyllum elo ngatum and may be closely related or even conspecific, Evidence from A ntarctica suggests that Heidiphyllum and the seed cone Telemachus were produced by the same plant, and may be closely related to several oth er early Mesozoic conifers with multiveined leaves.