Some observations on Zosterophyllutn australianum Lang & Gookson from the Lower Devonian of Yunnan, China

SHOU-GANG, H., 1992. Some observations on Zosterophyllutn australianum Lang & Cookson from the Lower Devonian of Yunnan, China. Recent collections of Zosterophyllum australianum have been made from the Xujiachong Formation which outcrops near Xujiachong village in the Qujing district of Yunnan province. The unit is a non-marine facies of the type section of the Lower Devonian of China. Sediments containing the fossil material are probably Siegenian-Emsian in age. Details of the morphology of fertile spike of Z. australianum are recorded. The spikes bear short-stalked, rather large, transversely elliptical sporangia, each with a wide, thickened, distal border. Sporangia are borne close together in a dextrorse helix, and usually in four or five longitudinal rows. Morphological variation of in-situ spores is also described. Comparison of the new specimens with others of reported Z. australianum has led to some nomenclatural changes.