Reconstruction of Pseudomariopteris busquetii, a vine-like Late Carboniferous-Early Permian pteridosperm

The growth habit of the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian pteridosperm Pseud omariopteris busquetii is reconstructed based on compression material from the upper Stephanian of the Blanzy-Montceau and Commentry Basins (Massif Ce ntral, France), and the upper Rotliegend of the Saar-Nahe Basin (Nahe Group , N 4, Rheinland Pfalz, Germany). Pseudomariopteris busquetii was a medium- sized, vine- to liana-like plant with slender stems to which small bipartit e fronds were attached. What is most interesting is that the species used a t least two different strategies to both anchor and support the plant body. Most specimens possess specialized climber hooks developed from apical ext ensions of the pinna axes, indicating that the fronds were used to attach t he plant. A few specimens suggest that the stem may also have had some capa city for attachment. In the absence of suitable supports, however, P. busqu etii was apparently able to grow in dense stands or thickets in which the i ndividual plants supported each other.