Taeniopteris spatulata

Overview

Taeniopteris spatulata is a name encountered through fossil leaves. A 2014 paper describes narrow, spatula-like leaves with smooth margins and a distinct midvein.^[1]

Key facts

Even leaf fragments can be compared with one another. The paper compared the venation of spatulata specimens with leaves previously reported from the Rajmahal Formation. Veins provide clues for reading detached fossils together.^[1]

Time and place

This name also appears in research on Jurassic plants from the Catlins coast of present-day New Zealand. A 2020 paper on Middle–Late Jurassic fossil floras used the name spatulata for Taeniopteris leaves common in the region.^[2]

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

Size, form and skeleton

The specimen descriptions in the 2014 paper include simple leaves with a distinct midvein. Specimen numbers BSIP 40222 and 40224 are also recorded. Reading leaf outline, pattern, and specimen number together allows the same material to be located and compared.^[1]

Taeniopteris spatulata is known for strap-shaped leaves with a stout central vein. Studied specimens from New Zealand’s Catlins coast vary from narrow leaves about 5 mm wide to broad leaves at least 27 mm wide.^[4]

Habitat and reproduction

Field research on the ancient plants of the Catlins has continued since the late 1970s. The author investigated several coastal fossil localities and recorded each sample’s position. This is the research setting for reading a leaf together with its surrounding strata.^[2]

Fossil discovery

Fossil-plant research accumulates small discoveries recorded by specimen number. The figure captions in the 2014 paper labeled two spatulata leaves with different BSIP numbers. Recording distinct fragments separately becomes the starting point for subsequent comparisons.^[1]

References

1. Geophytology (2014) — Description of leaf specimens of Taeniopteris spatulata
2. Pole (2020) — Jurassic fossil plant assemblage of the Catlins coast, New Zealand
3. van Konijnenburg-van Cittert et al. (2017) — Distinguishing Taeniopteris-type leaves
4. Pole (2020) — Jurassic flora of the Catlins coast, New Zealand
5. Fossil ginkgo leaves from Siberia
6. Study of leaves and cuticles of Cenozoic ginkgoaleans from the Mediterranean
7. Falkland fossil flora — Ginkgo-like leaves

Research questions

Do similar-looking leaves belong to the same plant group? A 2017 study explains that a preserved cuticle—the protective surface layer of a leaf—or reproductive organs can allow more specific distinctions. Leaves like these, lacking such clues, are placed in Taeniopteris, a grouping based on form.^[3]

Observation

First follow the midvein to establish the leaf’s orientation. Then broaden your view to its margins and venation. Even a fragmentary leaf reveals different comparative features depending on the part examined.^[1]