New cuticular morphotypes of Cordaites principalis from the Canadian Carboniferous Maritimes Basin

Abstract

Fossil cuticles were extracted from leaves attributed to Cordaites principalis (Germar) Geinitz (Cordaitales) that were collected from Upper Carboniferous strata in Nova Scotia (Sydney and Stellarton sub-basins) and in Newfoundland (Bay St. George sub-basin). The quality of the cuticular preservation is directly related to the thermal maturity and the grain size and angularity of sediments entombing the fossil leaves. Detailed transmitted light and scanning electron microscopy of the cuticles revealed that five distinct cuticular morphotypes could be recognized, demonstrating the variability in epidermal morphology of leaves belonging to one taxon. Two morphotypes show dissimilar and discrete epidermal characteristics, whereas three morphotypes form, more or less, a morphological continuum. Comparison with cuticles from Euramerican and Angaran floral provinces suggests that only one morphotype is in common with cuticles described from Europe, while four morphotypes are new for the Carboniferous.Key words: cuticle, Cordaites, Carboniferous, Canada.