Otozamites

Otozamites Temporal range: Upper Triassic–Lower Cretaceous PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Otozamites Anina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Order:	† Bennettitales
Family:	† Williamsoniaceae
Genus:	† Otozamites C.F.W.Braun
Type species
†Otozamites brevifolius
Other species
O. meyenii

Otozamites is a genus of plants in the order Bennettitales and the family Williamsoniaceae. The leaves are usually ovate to slightly lanceolate and have branched veins. The genus is found on all continents, although it is more widespread in Eurasia. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Description

The compound leaf is arranged in a row of pinnae, the petioles are alternate and adjacent, and have an earring-shaped base that is attached to the stem at only one point. The veins emerge from a point and radially intersect the entire margin of the pinnule in succession. The base is bayonet-shaped or linear-bayonet-shaped, rarely oval. The pinnules are usually ovate to ovate-bayonet-shaped and are located obliquely on the upper surface of the stem. The base of the pinnules is usually asymmetrical, such that the upper earring is often more developed than the lower earring. The veins are radial, divergent, and bifurcate once or more times. (Description of the type species Otozamites bechei (Brongniart, 1825) Braun, 1842) ^{[1] [3] [2]}

Drawing of two Otozamites fossils from Inferior Oolite, England: A, O. Beani. B, O. Bunburyanus.

References

1. Wang, Yong-Dong; Ni, Qing; Jiang, Zi-Kun; Tian, Ning (2008-12-01). "Diversity variation and tempo-spatial distribution of Otozamites (Bennettitales) in the Mesozoic of China" . Palaeoworld. Palaeobotany Issue: Biodiversity, Anatomy and Evolution of the Mesozoic Plants. 17 (3): 222–234. doi:10.1016/j.palwor.2008.10.003. ISSN   1871-174X.
2. McLoughlin, Stephen; Pott, Christian (2009-06-01). "The Jurassic flora of Western Australia". GFF. 131 (1–2): 113–136. doi: 10.1080/11035890902857846 . ISSN   1103-5897.
3. Pott, Christian; McLoughlin, Stephen (2009-12-01). "Bennettitalean foliage in the Rhaetian–Bajocian (latest Triassic–Middle Jurassic) floras of Scania, southern Sweden" . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 158 (1): 117–166. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2009.08.004. ISSN   0034-6667.
4. Wang, Y. D., Ni, Q., Jiang, Z. K., & Tian, N. (2008). Diversity variation and tempo-spatial distribution of Otozamites (Bennettitales) in the Mesozoic of China. Palaeoworld, 17(3-4), 222–234.