Cm. Berry, A reconsideration of Wattieza Stockmans (here attributed to Cladoxylopsida) based on a new species from the Devonian of Venezuela, REV PALAE P, 112(1-3), 2000, pp. 125-146
A single small plant fragment from the Middle Devonian of Belgium, first il
lustrated by Stockmans as Wattieza givetiana, is redescribed. It consists o
f a small central axis bearing on it whorls of four several-times bifurcate
laterals that are terminally recurved. One tip is here shown to have attac
hed one elongate ellipsoid sporangium. More abundant Middle Devonian fossil
s from Venezuela have similar characteristics, although they are more robus
t. They, together with more simple sterile examples, are demonstrated to be
attached laterally and irregularly to large axes that are themselves found
distal to a digitate division of a substantial branch with an enlarged bas
e. All branches, axes and the central axes of the lateral branching systems
are covered in small tangentially elongate depressions. These characterist
ics, taken together, demonstrate that Wattieza is a large plant of similar
habit to Pseudosporochnus Potonie et Bernard. Wattieza joins Lorophyton Fai
ron-Demaret et Li, Calamophyton Krausel et Weyland and Pseudosporochnus as
morphologically well-circumscribed Devonian members of the phylogenetically
important plant group Cladoxylopsida. Wattieza casasii Berry sp. nov, is e
rected to accommodate the Venezuelan material. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.
V. All rights reserved.