Kräusel’s eight genera for fossil softwoods: types, nomenclature, and taxonomy

Abstract

Abstract Seventy years after its publication Kräusel’s review of fossil conifer woods is still among the most quoted references in this field. Several of his earlier contributions are foundational works, but they have largely been overlooked, which has led to some misinterpretations. We reviewed the taxonomy and nomenclature of the eight genera Kräusel described for fossil conifer wood. Two of them should not be used. The genus Protophyllocladoxylon is neotypified. Several synonymies are proposed and the way Kräusel used generic names is briefly discussed.