Article: A new zosterophyll from the Lower Devonian of Poland

A new genus and species Konioria andrychoviensis assigned to the Zosterophyllophytina is described from the Lower Devonian (Emsian) of two boreholes in the Bielsko-Andrychow area of the Polish Western Carpathians. K, andrychoviensis possesses dichotomous axes covered on their lower part with long subulate spines and on their upper part with short triangular spines. Apices of axes form hooks. In addition to spines, the axes show 1-4 longitudinal wings. The reniform to rounded sporangia are borne singly at dichotomies. The structure of pyritized axes shows a central exarch strand with scalariform tracheids and a hypodermis. In connection with the unusual position of the sporangia the problem of the evolution of the lycopod sporophyll is discussed. Konioria appears to suggest that the lycopod sporophyll originated from ends of fertile axes, in accordance with the Telome Theory of Zimmermann (1930). The Telome Theory, however, is based on the Rhynia-type of organization, while other evidence suggests that the lycopods originated from the Zosterophyllophytina.