Nederlandse versie                                     Email

(Seed) ferns from the Piesberg and Ibbenbüren

With this key it should be possible to identify several ferns and seed ferns from the Upper Carboniferous (Westfalian B, C and D) of the Piesberg near Osnabrück and Ibbenbüren in Germany.
The list is not complete and the number of used features is small.
So always check the result using a more extensive description in a book like Josten: Die Steinkohlen-Floren Nordwestdeutschlands (1991) of Remy & Remy Die Floren des Erdaltertums (1987).

All cited species occur in the Piesberg (Westfalian C and D) and/or in Ibbenbüren (Westfalian B and C). The photos are taken from specimens of my own collection.

Table

Click the matching group.

the leaflets are neuropteris-like
      contracted at the base, narrow attachment to the axis
      the veins form a more or less clear midvein

Neuropteris

the leaflets are pecopteris-like
      broad attachment to the axis
      veins coming from the midvein
Pecopteris
the leaflets are alethopteris-like
     decurrent and connected with each other
     veins coming from the midvein and from the axis
Alethopteris
the leaflets are sphenopteris-like
      variously lobed or divided

Sphenopteris

the leaflets are mariopteris-like
      leaflets or lobes more or less triangular

       basal leaflet or lobe asymmetrical
Mariopteris
Cyclopteris
     mostly detached, rounded leaves
     from small to very large
Cyclopteris
Aphlebia
     usually detached, deeply divided leaves
     from small to very large
Aphlebia
Top