Article: New Porocharaceae from the Bathonian of Europe: phylogeny and palaeoecology

The anatomical characters of some European Bathonian charophyte gyrogonites have been studied. The presence of a multipartite basal plate in representatives of the Porocharaceae/Porocharoideae justifies the creation of a new genus, Musacchiella gen. nov., represented by three new species: M. douzensis, M. palmeri, M. sp. A. No clear relationship has been demonstrated with extant and fossil Characeae/Nitelloideae in which a multipartite basal plate is also to be found. On the other hand, the outline of the apical pore suggests relationships with the family Raskyellaceae. A possible link is suggested between the unusual 'Y calcification' in the spiral wall cells of these species and a brackish water habitat.