Ptilophyllum cutchense

Overview

Ptilophyllum cutchense is a fossil plant known from pinnate foliage. Its form can be explored by following the central axis, lateral pinnae, and their parallel veins.^[1]

Key facts

The pinnae attach obliquely by their entire bases to the upper surface of the axis. Examining both the margins and attachment of the slender, elongated pinnae is an important observation in the description.^[1]

Time and place

It appears in research on the Gangapur Formation and is associated with the plant world of the Early Cretaceous. The locality examined in this study is in present-day Telangana, India.^[1]

The time range describes source context, not the complete duration of this species.

Size, form and skeleton

The pinnae have smooth margins, and veins originating at their bases run parallel. The veins are described as mostly unbranched, though rarely forking once.^[1]

Ptilophyllum cutchense has narrow, elongated leaves bearing closely spaced small pinnae. A 2009 study of two leaf fossils from Western Australia recorded a preserved length of approximately 6.5 cm for the larger specimen. The leaf is incomplete, so its original length would have been greater.^[4]

Habitat and reproduction

The Gangapur Formation study treats several gymnosperm fossils. Examining different leaf records separately allows exploration of the diversity of ancient plants preserved in the same strata.^[1]

Fossil discovery

The research material includes specimen numbers BSIP 40229–40232. Following those numbers allows leaves described as this species to be distinguished from differently named leaves for comparison.^[1]

References

1. Study of the Gangapur Formation — Leaves of Ptilophyllum cutchense
2. Study of the Gangapur Formation — Leaves of Ptilophyllum cutchense
3. Chinnappa·Rajanikanth·Rao (2014) — Plant diversity and environment of the Vemavaram Formation
4. Pott·McLoughlin (2009) — Jurassic flora of Western Australia

Research questions

Not all leaves on the same plate belong to the same species. The publication distinguishes several Ptilophyllum species and provisional comparative material by separate specimen numbers. Comparing leaf attachment and venation forms part of identifying their names.^[1]

Observation

First look where the central axis and pinnae meet. Follow the smooth margins, then examine the parallel veins inside to observe both leaf outline and venation.^[1]