Cuticular studies of the reproductive organs of Glossopteris. Part IV - Venustostrobus indicus sp. nov.

Abstract

A new species of Venustostrobus, V. indicus has been described in this paper. The female reproductive organ was preserved as carbonized compression under a long and narrow Glossopteris leaf to which it was attached. In order to study the fructification, three successive cellulose acetate pulls were taken. The first removed the leaf, the second removed the seeds, receptacle and a part of the protective bract, and the third pull removed the carbonized crust of only the bract. Cuticular structure of all these parts are described. Venustostrobus indicus is distinct from the other species, Venustostrobus diademus, in the leaf of Glossopteris to which it is attached and in the detailed structure of the bract, receptacle and the seeds. By taking out successive pulls it becomes clear that the bract and the seed bearing receptacle are two distinct and separate organs and that the receptacle occupies a position in between the leaf and the protective bract. Thus this study supports the interpretation we have given earlier to the multiovulate female reproductive organ of Glossopteris.