Foliar anatomy of Gigantonoclea guizhouensis (Gigantopteridales) from the Upper Permian of Guizhou Province,China

The present paper details the anatomy of permineralized foliar specimens of Gigantonoclea guizhouensis Gu and Zhi (Gigantopteridales) from the Upper Permian of western Guizhou Province in southwest China. In addition to reticulate venation, these fossil leaves possess a number of interesting anatomical features including: multicellular spines on the midrib, hypodermal sclerenchyma ribs, U- or V-shaped xylem in the midrib and secondary veins, tracheids with various secondary wall thickening patterns, paracytic stomata on the abaxial surface, epidermal cells with sinuous anticlinal walls, and secretory cavities in the mesophyll. Based on anatomical features, a liane habit is suggested, and the systematic differences among Gigantonoclea guizhouensis, Gigantopteridium, and the North American taxon Delnortea are underscored.