Sphenopteridae - Sphenopteridae

Diagnosis: Secondary pinnae opposite to alternate. Adjacent pinnules continuous via a lamina less than 1 mm, alternate to sub-opposite arrangement. Distal pinnules do not form a bifid tip, and apices are entire and acute. Proximal pinnules bifurcate in the distal one-quarter and sporadically in some cases in the distal two-thirds of the lamina to produce two acutely pointed lobes; bifid tips acute and of equal size and shape. Pinnule apices rarely trifid. Venation is catadromic.

Full reference: D. J. Cantrill and N. S. Nagalingum. 2005. Ferns from the Cretaceous of Alexander Island, Antarctica: Implications for Cretaceous phytogeography of the Southern Hemisphere. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology

Belongs to Sphenopteris according to D. J. Cantrill and N. S. Nagalingum 2005

Sister taxa: Sphenopteris anderssonii, Sphenopteris baileyana, Sphenopteris bindrabunensis, Sphenopteris corrugata, Sphenopteris egyptiaca, Sphenopteris elaminata, Sphenopteris elegans, Sphenopteris essinghii, Sphenopteris hislopii, Sphenopteris humphresiana, Sphenopteris hymenophylloides, Sphenopteris imbricata, Sphenopteris khairbaniensis, Sphenopteris latiloba, Sphenopteris membranosa, Sphenopteris metzgerioides, Sphenopteris otagoensis, Sphenopteris plurinervia, Sphenopteris polymorpha, Sphenopteris pottsvillea, Sphenopteris rajmahalensis, Sphenopteris sakrigaliensis, Sphenopteris specifica, Sphenopteris tiruchirapalliense, Sphenopteris wadiai

Type specimen: Fern, a plant debris

Ecology: stationary C3 autotroph

Distribution: found only at Site KG- Triton Point (Cretaceous of Antarctica)

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Specimen images are retrieved through the ePANDDA API.