Sphenopteris hadrophylla knight ms, a possible discopteris, from the Upper Stephanian of NW Spain

Abstract

The upper Stephanian fern Sphenopteris hadrophylla Knight, described originally in an unpublished thesis on the Sabero Coalfield in León, NW Spain, is now validly introduced on the basis of new, more complete, material collected from the La Magdalena Coalfield in León. This includes sporangiate pinnae interpreted as possibly attributable to Discopteris Stur. A holotype and paratypes are designated from this material. The more fragmentary specimens from Sabero are recorded also. Additional specimens from Villablino (León), El Bierzo (León), Ciñera-Matallana (León), and the Narragansett Basin in New England (U.S.A.) are referred to and partly illustrated, thus demonstrating the wider distribution of the species. Comparisons are made with several species of Stephanian age known from Europe and North America.