Daubreeia pateraeformis (Germar) Zeiller, a Stephanian sphenopsid from western Europe and North America

Abstract

Daubreeia pateraeformis (Germar 1844) Zeiller 1888, originally described from the upper Stephanian of the Saale Basin, Saxony (Germany), and the Stephanian B-C of Commentry (Massif Central, France), and recorded subsequently from the Upper Pennsylvanian of West Virginia (USA), and other parts of North America, has most recently been identified from the Stephanian B (sensu Carmaux) of the Ciñera-Matallana Coalfield (province León) in northwestern Spain. This plant megafossil proved to be identical with Kahleria carinthiaca Boersma and Fritz 1984, described from the upper Stephanian of the Kronalpe (Monte Corona) in Carinthia (Austria). It is placed with the Equisetales (laminae incertae sedis). A partial reconstruction is proposed. For the time being, Daubreeia pateraeformis appears to be restricted to Stephanian B-C, including the early Autunian. This plant seems to have favoured a wet habitat.