Remarks: Dino et al., (1999) pointed out that the great similarity in exine ultrastructure and wall stratification between the Cretaceous ephedroid pollen Equisetosporites from Brazil and the elaterate pollen (Sofrepites, Elaterosporites and Elateroplicites) revealed in their study, and the similarity in morphology and ultrastructure between Cretaceous Ephedripites of Italy and pollen of Gnetales (Ephedra and Welwitschia) revealed by Trevisan (1980), suggests that the elaterate and polyplicate pollen are botanically related and of gnetalean origin.
Genus: Elaterocolpites Jardiné & Magloire, 1965
Type Species: Elaterocolpites castelainii Jardiné & Magloire, 1965, p. 206, pl. 4, figs. 6, 7.
Elaterocolpites castelainii Jardiné & Magloire, 1965
(pl. 10, figs. 5-8)
Description: Pollen grains of ellipsoidal to sub-spherical shape carrying 10 simple cylindrical appendices which broaden towards their free end. Grain wall thin, simple and smooth to scabrate.
Remarks: In Jardiné’s (1967) emended diagnosis he distinguished two forms of Elaterocolpites castelainii: Form ‘A’ that represents immature grains having a narrow ring structure surrounding the whole grain, and Form ‘B’
that represents mature grains with well-developed appendages. Dino et al., (1999) through their study of Brazilian Albian-Cenomanian material identified another form, Form ‘C’ which is bigger in size and has two solid globular expansions at the end of the long axis of the grain. In the present material all recorded specimens of Elaterocolpites castelainii belong to Form ‘B’.
Dimensions: Maximum main body length (7 specimens) 31 (35.5) 40 µm;
appendage length 18 (19.5) 23 µm, width 5 (5.5) 7 µm.
Genus: Elateroplicites Herngreen, 1973
Type species: Elateroplicites africaensis Herngreen, 1973, p. 550, pl. 5, figs. 5-7.
Elateroplicites africaensis Herngreen, 1973
(pl. 10, figs. 1-4)
1967: Incertae sedis Form A, Jardiné, p. 255, pl. 3, figs. K-M.
1973: Elateroplicites africaensis Herngreen, 1973, p. 550, pl. 5, figs. 5-7.
Chapter IV Systematic Palynology
Description: Ellipsoidal polyplicate grains with 3-4 twisted ridges 2.5 (4) 13 µm wide and 1.5-2.5 µm thick separated by irregular narrow furrows. Grains carry 2-4 appendages which form the continuation of the ridges.
Remarks: Dino et al. (1999) studied Elateroplicites africaensis with light, scanning and transmitted electron microscopy from the Brazilian and Ecuadorian material and provided the following important obervations: (1) Appendages always turn towards one surface of the grain, suggesting that the opposite surface may represents the internal (proximal) face.
(2) The ribs surrounding the longitudinal axis converge and may be fused at the end of the axis in a manner similar to ribs of polyplicate forms (i.e. Ephedripites and Equisetosporites). (3) Grains lack definite apertures, however, the two expansions (up to 12 µm) in the foot layer beneath the ribs on opposite sides may have served as the germinal apparatus.
Dimension: Maximum main body length (4 specimens) 30 (36) 44 µm, breadth 19 (21.5) 24 µm; appendage length 24 (24.5) 27 µm, width 2.5 (3.5) 4 µm.
Genus: Elaterosporites Jardiné, 1967
Type species: Elaterosporites verrucatus (Jardiné & Magloire) Jardiné, 1967, p. 244, pl. 2, figs. E-G; pl. 3, fig. G.
Elaterosporites verrucatus (Jardiné & Magloire) Jardiné, 1967
(pl. 9, figs. 1, 3)
1965: Galeacornea verrucata Jardiné & Magloire, p. 204, pl. 3, figs. 28-31.
1967: Elaterosporites verrucatus (Jardiné & Magloire) Jardiné, p. 244, pl. 2, figs.
E-Description: Grains with ellipsoidal plano-convex to sub-hemispherical body with three U-shaped horns implanted on the convex distal face. Proximal face flat or depressed, bounded by 3-8 µm wide annular ring structure parallel to the equator ending with protruding ends parallel to the long axis. These three U-shaped appendages with their middle part running parallel to the longest axis; one is placed over the distal pole, the other two are placed laterally. The appendages are solid, circular in cross section and of uniform diameter. Exine is granulate to verrucate.
Remarks: Jansonius (1990) in Jansonius & Hills (1990, card 4657) argued that the specimens of Elaterosporites verrucatus photographed by Jardiné (1967) in his pl. 3, fig. G shows grains in a tetrad, arranged with their flat surface facing out, and thus the flat surface should be distal face and the convex horn-bearing surface should be the proximal face.
Dimension: Maximum main body length (2 specimens) 40 (53.5) 67 µm, breadth 30 (32) 34 µm; appendage length 33 (36.5) 40 µm, width 3.5 (4.5) 5.5 µm.
Elaterosporites acuminatus (Stover) Jardiné, 1967
(pl. 9, figs. 2, 8)
1963: Galeacornea acuminata Stover, p. 89, pl. 2, figs. 8-10; text-fig. 6.
1967: Elaterosporites acuminatus (Stover) Jardiné, p. 246, pl. 3, figs. D, E.
Description: Grians with ellipsoidal plano-convex to sub-hemispherical body with three U-shaped horns implanted on the convex distal face. Proximal face flat or depressed, bounded by 8-12 µm wide annular ring structure parallel to the equator, commonly appears acuminate in lateral view.
The three U-shaped appendages have their middle part running parallel
Chapter IV Systematic Palynology
to the longest axis, one is placed over the distal pole, the other two are placed laterally. The appendages are solid, circular in cross section, of uniform diameter, and with a sharply tapering end. Exine is densely and uniformly packed with spines 4-6 µm high and 2.5-3 µm wide.
Dimension: Maximum main body length (2 specimens) 40 (51) 62 µm, breadth 40 (47.5) 55 µm; appendage length 32 (36) 40 µm.
Elaterosporites klaszii (Jardiné & Magloire) Jardiné, 1967
(pl. 9, figs. 5-7, 9-16)
1965: Galeacornea klaszi Jardiné & Magloire, p. 205, pl. 4, figs. 2, 3.
1967: Elaterosporites klaszi (Jardiné & Magloire) Jardiné, p. 246, pl. 3, figs. H-N.
Description: Grains with ellipsoidal plano-convex to sub-hemispherical body with three U-shaped horns implanted on the convex distal face. Proximal face flat or depressed, bounded by 4-8 µm wide annular ring structure parallel to the equator. The three U-shaped appendages have their middle part running parallel to the longest axis, one is placed over the distal pole, the other two are placed laterally. The appendages are solid, circular in cross section and of uniform diameter. Exine is smooth.
Remarks: Elaterosporites klaszii differs from species of Galeacornea in lacking a definite aperture, in contrast to Galeacornea which has a well-defined one. Jardiné (1967) distinguished Elaterosporites from Galeacornea by its bilateral symmetry, number and shape of appendages (in Galeacornea there is a solid Y-shaped appendage).
Dimensions: Maximum main body length (7 specimens) 43 (52) 62 µm, breadth 22 (32) 34 µm; appendages length 20 (23.5) 27 µm, width 3 (4) 5 µm.
Elaterosporites protensus (Stover) Jardiné, 1967
(pl. 9, fig. 4)
1963: Galeacornea protensa Stover, p. 88, pl. 2, figs. 11, 15; text-fig. 5.
1967: Elaterosporites protensus (Stover) Jardiné, p. 244, pl. 3, figs. A-C.
Remarks: Stover (1963) distinguished Elaterosporites protensus from Elaterosporites acuminatus by its larger size (Elaterosporites acuminatus: 52 x 28 µm), greater ring width, and appendages ending with round tips rather than with sharply tipped ends as in the latter species. Dino et al., (1999) suggested that the immature unexpanded pollen grains photographed by Stover (1963) in pl. 2, fig. 15 are aligned with their sculptured horn-bearing surface towards the tetrad centre, and accordingly the convex surface should be the proximal face contrasting Stover’s (1963) suggestion that the unexpanded grains are aligned with their flat proximal surface towards the tetrad centre.
Dimension: Maximum main body length (1 specimen) 69 µm, breadth 38 µm;
appendage length and width undetermined due to grain orientation.
Genus: Galeacornea Stover, 1963
Type species: Galeacornea clavis Stover, 1963, p. 86, pl. 1, figs. 1-15; text-figs. 2, 3.
Galeacornea causea Stover, 1963
(pl. 10, fig. 10)
Description: Ellipsoidal grain with a sheet-like crescent-shaped flap crossing the distal surface diagonally. Body surrounded completely by a zona of
Chapter IV Systematic Palynology
more or less elliptical outline with its major axis oblique to the body’s axis. Wall of the flap and zona is smooth.
Remarks: In Stover’s (1963) original description of the type species, he identified a narrow slit-like aperture in the proximal face. In the present material the aperture could not be identified due to grain orientation.
Dimension: Maximum length (1 specimen) 55 µm, breadth 31 µm.
Genus: Sofrepites Jardiné, 1967
Type species: Sofrepites legouxiae Jardiné, 1967, p. 255, pl. 3, figs. H, J; text-fig. 5.
Sofrepites legouxiae Jardiné, 1967
(pl. 9, figs. 17-21)
Description: Grain with ellipsoidal to sub-spherical shape with 2-3 simple short appendages located at the ends of the longitudinal axis, or at the apices of the triangular outline. Exine is smooth and shows frequent wall rupture and folding parallel to the longitudinal axis.
Remarks: The scanning electron microscope study made by Dino et al., (1999) on Sofrepites legouxiae from Brazilian material revealed that the species is a monocolpate pollen (p. 223, pl. 13, fig. 6; pl. 14, fig. 5), in contrast to Jardiné’s (1967, p. 255) original description of the type species " .., often shows a torn area with thinned exine but no furrow or well defined germination structure; .. ".
Dimension: Maximum length (5 specimens) 38 (40) 42 µm, breadth 19 (21.5) 25 µm;
appendage length 8 (11) 12 µm, width 5 (6.5) 7 µm.
4.3.3 Angiosperm pollen