New data on the stem and leaf anatomy of two conifers from the Lower Cretaceous of the Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil, and their taxonomic and paleoecological implications

Abstract

Pseudofrenelopsis and Brachyphyllum are two conifers that were part of the Lower Creta-ceous (Aptian) taphoflora of the Crato Formation, Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil. Theformer genus includes, so far, P.capillata and indeterminate species, whilst the latter ismainly represented by B.obesum, the most common plant megafossil recovered from thatstratigraphic unit. Here, the stem and leaf anatomy of Pseudofrenelopsis sp. and B.obesumspecimens is revisited, including the first report of some epidermal and vascular traits forboth taxa from the Crato Formation. Along with its paleoecological significance, the newdata suggest the presence of more than one Pseudofrenelopsis species in the Aptian tapho-flora of the Araripe Basin and further support the taxonomic placement of B.obesum withinAraucariaceae