Dollyphyton

Dollyphyton is a genus of moss fossil from the Middle Ordovician (Darriwilian, 460 million years old) Douglas Lake Member of the Lenoir Limestone from Douglas Dam Tennessee.[1] The generic name honors Dolly Parton whose Dollywood resort is nearby. The epithet honors Art Boucot.

Interpretative sketch of Dollyphyton boucotii

Leaf of Dollyphyton boucotii

Leaves and terminal spore mass of Dollyphyton boucotii

Dollyphyton Temporal range: Middle Ordovician to Middle Ordovician PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Holotype of Dollyphyton boucotii, from the Douglas Lake Member of Lenoir Limestone, at Douglas Dam, Tennessee[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Bryoophyta
Class:	Sphagnopsida
Order:	Sphagnales
Family:	Flatbergiaceae
Genus:	Dollyphyton Retallack(2019)<[1]
Type species
Dollyphyton boucotii Retallack (2019)

Description

Dollyphyton is a fossil peat moss. Its leaves are wide and have lateral teeth. Its capsule is terminal on a shoort pseudopodium.

Biological affinities

Dollyphyton is similar to living Flatbergium.

References

1. Retallack, G.J. (2019). "Ordovician land plants and fungi from Douglas Dam, Tennessee". The Palaeobotanist. 68: 1–33.