Fig 1.
Geology and stratigraphy of the Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil.
(A) Geographical location of the Araripe Basin and its main geomorphological features. (B) Simplified geological map of the area indicated by the rectangle in (A). (C) Stratigraphic scheme of the Araripe Basin. (A) is modified from Alroy [36] and Assine [35], whereas (B) and (C) are based on Matill [37] and Valença et al. [32], respectively.
Fig 2.
Epidermal features of a Pseudofrenelopsis sp. stem from the Crato Formation, Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil.
(A) Specimen LPU 312 PL. (B and C) Papillate epidermal cells from the internode basal region. (D) Stomatal rows from the internode middle region. (E) Detail of a stellate stomatal pit and ordinary epidermal cells without papillae. Arrows point to the insertion point of one leaf at the node (A) and papillae (B and C). Numbers refer to four stomatal apparatus in a single row.
Fig 3.
Vascular features of a Pseudofrenelopsis sp. stem from the Crato Formation of the Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil.
(A) Transverse section of the stem. (B) Close view of the xylem region. (C) Close view of the medullary region, from which tracheid diameters decrease gradually in the secondary xylem. (D) Longitudinal section of the stem. Arrows point to secretory canals (A and D) and a parenchyma ray (B). The abbreviations “m”, “x” “px”, and “sx” refer to the medullary, xylem, primary xylem and secondary xylem regions, respectively.
Fig 4.
Vascular features of a Pseudofrenelopsis sp. stem from the Crato Formation of the Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil.
(A) Longitudinal view of a tracheid with pits on one of its sub-radial facets. (B) Detail of an areolate pit with its preserved membrane. (C) A cross-field. (D) Detail of cross-field pits. Arrows point to tracheid pits (A), a preserved membrane (B), a cross-field (C), and a cross-field pit (D).
Fig 5.
Epidermal features of Brachyphyllum obesum leafy branches from the Crato Formation of the Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil.
(A) Specimen MPSC PL 802. (B) Specimen LPU 242 PL. (C) Striated scale-like leaves of MPSC PL 802. (D) Stomata of MPSC PL 802 arranged in prominent longitudinal rows. (E) Detail of a stomatal apparatus of MPSC PL 802 with a possible perpendicular pit.
Fig 6.
Vascular features of Brachyphyllum obesum branches from the Crato Formation of the Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil.
(A) Transverse section of the stem showing the cortical, xylem, and compressed medullary regions of LPU 242 PL. (B) Detail of the xylem region of LPU 242 PL in transverse view and the uniformly sized tracheids. (C) A tracheid facet of MPSC PL 580 with areolate pits. (D) Close view of the xylem region of LPU 242 PL, including resin plugs. (E) Longitudinal view of a tracheid of LPU 242 PL and its wall thickening. (F) Araucarioid cross-field pits of MPSC PL 580. (G) Detailed of the araucarioid cross-field pits of MPSC PL 580. Arrows point to a uniseriate parenchyma ray (B), a tracheid pit (C), a resin plug (D), the wall thickening of a tracheid (E), cross-fields (F), and cross-field pits (G).
Table 1.
Comparison of epidermal features of known Pseudofrenelopsis species.
Table 2.
Comparison of stem anatomical features of Pseudofrenelopsis species.
Table 3.
Comparison of anatomical features of Brachyphyllum obesum, Araucariaceae, and Cheirolepidiaceae.