The seed ferns
Callipterids
(peltasperms) occur from the upmost Carboniferous. They are seed ferns with
characteristic leaves and fructifications. The latter are more or less
umbrella-shaped with seeds at the lower side (look at the picture to the
right).
The
leaves are sized up to one meter, frond-shaped and bearing typical 'intercalary
pinnules', leaflets coming directly from the rachis between the partial
fronds.
These callipterids are relatively widespread during the Permian. Species
with more or less triangular sporophylls are placed in the genus
Autunia (formerly
Callipteris).
Form genera based on leaves, with unknown fructifications, are:
Rhachiphyllum, Lodevia and Gracilopteris. All
together it is difficult to find with certainty the name of
Callipteris-like plant remains, like we have found in Lodève.
Besides callipterids there are also other groups of seed-ferns, like
Taeniopteris, Neuropteris and Odontopteris.
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