Frond reconstruction of Polymorphopteris mei sp. nov. from the early Permian Wuda Tuff Flora with insights into its taphonomy

Li DD, Zhou WM, Clements T, Hilton J, Wang SJ, Wu YF, Sun WJ, Wang J (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Historical Biology Taylor & Francis

DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2605723

Abstract

Ancient forests preserved in growth position by rapid sedimentological burial (T0 assemblages) constitute exceptionally valuable fossil repositories, especially those covered by fine-grained volcanic ash (tuff) that may preserve plant morphology and anatomy in high-fidelity. This study documents the frond morphology and anatomy of a new species, Polymorphopteris mei sp. nov. from the Wuda Tuff Flora, an in situ fossil forest Lagerstätte of early Permian age from Inner Mongolia, China preserved by volcanic ash. The frond of P. mei is tripinnate, composed of three types of penultimate pinnae and three types of ultimate pinnae. Anatomical features of the frond and penultimate rachises correspond to the stewartiopterid-type leaf trace configuration characteristic of the Marattiales fern evolutionary stem-group family Psaroniaceae. Pyrite-infilled pore-like structures within the rachises are identified as possible evidence of post-mortem fungal action. This study enhances our understanding of the morphology, anatomy, systematic affinity and taphonomy of P. mei and its ecological context in the early Permian peat-forming communities of Cathaysia.

Authors with CRIS profile

Thomas Clements Professur für System-Paläobiologie

Involved external institutions

中国科学院南京地质古生物研究所 / Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology (NIGPAS) CN China (CN) Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) / 中国科学院 CN China (CN) University of Birmingham GB United Kingdom (GB)

How to cite

APA:

Li, D.D., Zhou, W.M., Clements, T., Hilton, J., Wang, S.J., Wu, Y.F.,... Wang, J. (2026). Frond reconstruction of Polymorphopteris mei sp. nov. from the early Permian Wuda Tuff Flora with insights into its taphonomy. Historical Biology. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2025.2605723

MLA:

Li, Dan Dan, et al. "Frond reconstruction of Polymorphopteris mei sp. nov. from the early Permian Wuda Tuff Flora with insights into its taphonomy." Historical Biology (2026).

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