Pteruchus Explained

Pteruchus is a form genus for pollen organs of the seed fern (Pteridospermatophyta family Umkomasiaceae. It was first described by Hamshaw Thomas from the Umkomaas locality of South Africa. It is associated with the seed bearing organs Umkomasia and Dicroidium leaves.

Description

The pollen organ Pteruchus differs from other seed fern pollen organs in having numerous pendant pollen sacs from a blade-like head, in an arrangement similar to an epaulette.

Whole plant reconstructions

• Pteruchus africanus may have been produced by the same plant as Umkomasia macleanii (ovulate organs) and Dicroidium odontopteroides (leaves), based on cuticular similarities between these leaves and reproductive structures at the Umkomaas locality of South Africa.
• Pteruchus barrealensis may have been produced by the same plant as Umkomasia feistmantelii (ovulate organs) and Dicroidium zuberi (leaves), based on cuticular similarities between these leaves and reproductive structures near Sydney Australia.^[1]
• Pteruchus septentrionalis from the Lower Jurassic of Germany has been placed in the separate genus Muelkirchium.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Reconstructing Triassic vegetation of Australasia: a new approach for the biostratigraphy of Gondwanaland . Retallack,G.J.. Alcheringa . 1977 . 1 . 247–278. 10.1080/03115517708527763.
2. Anderson. Heidi M.. Barbacka. Maria. Bamford. Marion K.. Holmes. W. B. Keith. Anderson. John M.. 2019-10-02. Pteruchus (microsporophyll): part 2 of a reassessment of Gondwana Triassic plant genera and a reclassification of some previously attributed. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. en. 43. 4. 511–533. 10.1080/03115518.2019.1617348. 198398356. 0311-5518.