Flabellopteris lococannensis gen. et sp. nov.: A new fern-like plant from the Famennian of South Africa

A new fossil plant, Flabellopteris lococannensis Gess and Prestianni gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Famennian of South Africa. This plant is interpreted as monopodial in habit with a first order axis that only occasionally dichotomizes. The lateral organs (both branches and appendages) are borne spirally on all branching orders and a 1/3 organotaxy is suggested. The first order axes bear both second order axes and fertile appendages at the same nodes. Axes of the second and third branching orders bear appendages made of several isotomous dichotomies. Recurved paired sporangia are borne on dichotomizing appendages that are like the vegetative appendages. The plant bears some similarity to the Iridopteridales but also to the Late Devonian Rhacophytales and to the Lower Carboniferous fernlike plant Chlidanophyton dublinensis. The architecture of the plant is briefly discussed and its implication on the evolution of the frond is considered.