| Phlebopteris Temporal range:
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|---|---|
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| Fossils of Phlebopteris muensteri from the latest Triassic of Germany | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Polypodiophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Order: | Gleicheniales |
| Family: | Matoniaceae |
| Genus: | †Phlebopteris Brongniart 1836 |
| Species | |
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Phlebopteris is an extinct genus of Mesozoic fern belonging to the family Matoniaceae.12
Description and morphology
it is diagnosed by "pinna exhibiting short or long pinnules with decurrent or non-decurrent base; midrib often reaching the apex; secondary veins dichotomously branched, with or without forming a reticulate venation; circular sori lacking indusium; sori with five to six annulate sporangia annulus; trilete, subtriangular, tetrahedral or round spores."1 Phlebopteris angustiloba and Phlebopteris muensteri are suggested to have grown as herbaceous plants rather than as tree ferns.3
The oldest fossil of the genus is known from the Ladinian of Italy.2 The genus was almost globally distributed during the Jurassic, with a concentration of species in the northern hemisphere.1 Species like Phlebopteris polypodioides, P. tracyi, and P. angustiloba are suggested to have grown in humid habitats as understory vegetation,13 with Phlebopteris woodwardii suggested to have grown along riverbanks, as well as in heaths and peat swamps.1
References
References
- Badihagh, Mohammad Taghi; Uhl, Dieter (2019-01-08). "The first occurrence of Phlebopteris dunkeri and P. woodwardii (Matoniaceae) from the middle Jurassic of Iran". Journal of Palaeogeography. 8 (1): 6. Bibcode:2019JPalg...8....6B. doi:10.1186/s42501-018-0015-1. ISSN 2524-4507.
- "The ferns of the late Ladinian, Middle Triassic flora from Monte Agnello, Dolomites, N-Italy - Acta Palaeontologica Polonica". www.app.pan.pl. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
- Van Konijnenburg-van Cittert, Johanna H.A.; Pott, Christian; Schmeißner, Stefan; Dütsch, Günter; Kustatscher, Evelyn (February 2020). "Ferns and fern allies in the Rhaetian flora of Wüstenwelsberg, Bavaria, Germany". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 273 104147. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2019.104147.