Laveineopteris polymorpha FROM THE lower Westphalian (Langsettian) “fern ledges” at Saint John, new brunswick, Canada, and comparison with Laveineopteris hollandica from Europe

Abstract

A documentation is presented of the pteridosperm (?) foliage species Laveineopteris polymorpha (Dawson, 1862) comb. nov. from its type locality at Saint John, New Brunswick. This Canadian species is also present in the United States and in the British Isles. The similar species Laveineopteris hollandica (Stockmans, 1933) Cleal & Shute, 1995, of European provenance, is discussed for detailed comparison. Lists of synonymy are provided for both species. These are commented on in detail. The stratigraphic and geographic distribution of these two species is discussed as well.