Discovery of latest carbonifercous-early Permian radially symmetrical peltaspermaceous megasporophylls from Europe and North Africa

In recent years several types of peltaspermaceous ovuliferous organs were d escribed from the Permian of the Northern Hemisphere. The earliest peltaspe rms had fan-shaped bilaterally symmetrical megasporophylls. In this note, w e describe radially symmetrical ovuliferous discs discovered for the first time in the Lower Rotliegend of the Saar-Nahe Basin, Germany (Latest Carbon iferous), and the uppermost Lower Permian of Central Morocco. The implicati ons of such discoveries in terms of early peltasperm radiation and geograph ic distribution are discussed. (C) 2001 Academie des sciences / Editions sc ientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.