A new species of Baragwanathia from the Sextant Formation (Emsian) Northern Ontario, Canada

Baragwanathia abitibiensis is described from the Sextant Formation of northern Ontario, Canada (middle to upper Kmsian age). The plant remains are primarily compressions in which flattened xylem strands, epidermis with stomata, and cuticle are well preserved. Pyrite permineralization of the leaves was Ibiuid in one specimen. Comparison with B. longijolia Lang & Cookson indicates remarkable morphological similarities and probable anatomical similarities although details of the structure of the epidermis and cuticle are lacking in B. longijolia. No information is available on the outline of the cauline xylem strand in B. abitibiensis nor on the form and position of the sporangia it bore. Comparisons are also made to species of Drepanophycus. The age of/?, longijolia and the Baragwanathia Flora, is discussed with particular reference to the putative dating of some specimens as Silurian. The morphological and anatomical complexity of Baragwanathia is at a level of advancement typical of Early to Middle Devonian lycopods. There is no evidence of precursors to the genus associated with the fragments of land vascular plants in the well-dated Silurian sediments of Wales, Czechoslovakia, New York State, or Podolia.