Fossil- Bennettitale leaf

Systematic-Paleontology

Reign: Plantae
Phylum/Division: Spermatophyta
Class: Spermatopsida
Order: Bennettitales
Scientific name: Lomatopteris jurensis Schlotheim

Collection: Catullo Collection

Geological age

Geochronology (Chronostratigraphy)

Eon (Eontema): Phanerozoic
Era (Eratema): Mesozoic
Period (System): Jurassic
Epoca (Serie): Lower Jurassic
Other chronological subdivisions: Lias

Description: It is a bennettitale leaf. The Bennettitali, extinct Gymnosperms plants, related to living cycads, are one of the most important groups in paleobotany. The shape of these plants resembles that of the Cycadales. The trunk could be globular or cylindrical, the fronds were terminal, forming a tuft, with pinnate leaves, up to 3 meters long and 30 centimeters wide. The trunk was covered with scales. The Bennettitali and Cycas differ on the shape of the stomata. According to some authors the species Lomatopteris jurensis (Kurr) Schimper is synonymous with Cycadopteris brauniana De Zigno. A first report about the Rotzo site was made in 1764 by the abbot Agostino Dal Pozzo, describing the presence of well-preserved fossil vegetable remains in his “Memorie istoriche dei Sette Comuni vicentini”. The fossil flora of this deposit was studied by several authors of the time and was later described and illustrated by Achille De Zigno. Studies about this flora, mostly consisting of leaves, and dominated by bennettitali,conifers, Cycad, caytoniali, filicali and equisetacee, have allowed the habitat reconstruction. The environment must have been a tropical salt marsh.

Location

Continent/ Subcontinent: Europe
State: Italy
Region: Veneto
Province: Vicenza

Università degli Studi di Padova, Museo di Geologia e Paleontologia

Item code: 3514C

Bibliography

  • Fornasiero M., Piccoli G., 2000 - "I Fossili" . In Catalogo della Mostra "La curiosità e l'ingegno. Collezionismo scientifico e metodo sperimentale a Padova nel Settecento". Pp. 146-159, Univ. degli Studi di Padova, CISMS, Padova.