A Namurian A (Silesian) permineralized flora from the Carriere du Lion at Engihoul (Belgium)

A permineralized flora was discovered in the Carriere du Lion, at Engihoul (southern margin of the Namur Synclinorium, Belgium). This flora is preserv ed in dolomitic nodules within ampelitic alum shale. The goniatites Isohomo ceras subglobosum and Homoceras beyrichianum allow this shale to be correla ted with the Chokierian (Namurian A - Silesian - Carboniferous). The plant association includes Dubiocarpon elegans (Endogonales?), Lepidophloios sp., Lepidocarpon lomaxii (Lepidodendrales), Arthropitys sp. (Equisetales), Psa ronius sp. (Marattiales), a group of sporangia incertae sedis, whose affini ties are discussed, Myeloxylon sp. (Medullosales), and fragments of pycnoxy lic secondary xylem. This flora is interesting because of its Namurian A ag e: the Arthropitys and Dubiocarpon specimens are the oldest known to date, and the Psaronius specimen is the oldest occurrence of a petrifaction of th is genus. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.