Restudy Of Cordaites Baodeensis Sun From Lower Permian Shanxi Formation Of Baode, Shanxi

The Cordaitales are an extinct group of gymnosperms,and one of very prominent and important plant in the Late Paleozoic floras in the world,particularly in the Cathaysis Flora of China. The plants are very significant for the study of the systematic evolution of plants during the geologicalhistory.In this paper,based on the anatomical study of leaf cuticles of Cordaites from the Lower Permian Shanxi Formation in Baode of Shanxi,by some advanced technique (SEM , etc.) , the author analysed the epidermal characteristics of Cordaites in this area. On the base of the abundant compressions and laboratory studies,the author complemented some new datas of the cuticular characteristics of the species Cordaites baodeensis Sun for its study of taxonomy.Meanwhile,the author newly discovered a number of sporopollen fossils associated with the plants of Cordaitales,described 9 species of 6 genera. The palynological data can provide a supplement evidence for defining the age of C. baodeensis and its associated plants to be the Lower Permian.Furthermore,based on cuticular characteristics of C. baodeensis and its associated plants, the author suggest that the Baode area was probably in tropic-subtropical area during the Lower Permian time,and the climate was much hot and humid,and possibly with short-time semiarid. C. baodeensis and its accompanied flora might growth on littoral plain or swampy environment during this time.