Tomiostrobus

Tomiostrobus is an extinct quillwort genus from the Early Triassic of Australia and Russia, which was especially widespread in the aftermath of Permian Triassic mass extinctions.[2]

Reconstructions of sterile and fertile examples of Isoetes beestonii from the latest Permian Coal Cliff Sandstone of South Bulli Colliery, NSW, and of Tomiostrobus australis from the Early Triassic Gosford Formation near Terrigal, NSW
Juvenile plant of Tomiostrobus australis from the Early Triassic Newport Formation near Narrabeen, NSW
Corm with root scars at base of fertile Tomiostrobus australis from the Early Triassic Gosford Formation near Terrigal, NSW

Tomiostrobus
Temporal range: Early Triassic
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Fertile plant of Tomiostrobus australis from Early Triassic Gosford Formation near Terrigal, NSW, Australia.[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Lycophytes
Class: Lycopodiopsida
Order: Isoetales
Family: Isoetaceae
Genus: †Tomiostrobus
Retallack
Species
  • Tomiostrobus australis
  • Tomiostrobus polaris
  • Tomiostrobus radiatus

Description

Tomiostrobus australis is preserved as whole plants closely spaced within bedding planes, and lived as an early successional weed in lake and pond sedimentary environments, like living Isoetes. Unlike living Isoetes, Tomiostrobus formed closed cones with sporophylls that were distinctly shouldered and woody. This may have been an adaptation to heavy grazing by herbivorous therapsids.[1]

See also

References
  1. Retallack, Gregory J. (1997). "Earliest Triassic origin of Isoetes and quillwort evolutionary radiation". Journal of Paleontology. 7 (3): 500–521.
  2. Retallack, Gregory J. (2013). "Permian and Triassic greenhouse crises". Gondwana Research. 24: 90–103. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2012.03.003.
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