NEW PTERIDOPHYTE FOSSILS FROM THE TRIASSIC OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

Pteridophytes (ferns) were an important component of early Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems, and probably constituted the dominant ground cover before the Cretaceous angiosperm diversification. New fossil finds from the Newark Supergroup promise to elucidate the history of the group. The first fertile specimens of Pekinopteris auriculata, the dominant plant of the famous Boren locality of North Carolina (Pekin Formation), are described. These specimens provide unequivocal proof of pteridophyte affinity for this formerly enigmatic plant. Also described from the Boren locality are the oldest unequivocal remains of the family Hymenophyllaceae (the "Filmy Ferns"). Finally, a relatively complete specimen of "Pannaulika" triassica from Solite Quarry locality of Virginia/North Carolina (Cow Branch Formation) proves that this plant was actually a dipteridaceous fern of the genus Clathropteris rather than an early dicot angiosperm as originally described.