Protolepidodendropsis is a genus of lycopsid known from fossil forests dating from early Late Devonian strata in Svalbard.[1]

Protolepidodendropsis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Lycophytes
Class: Lycopodiopsida
Order: Protolepidodendrales
Family: Protolepidodendraceae
Genus: Protolepidodendropsis
W. Gothan & F. Zimmermann, 1937

Fossil forests of Protolepidodendropsis pulchra have been recovered from sandstone and mudstone of the Plantekløfta Formation, estimated to be around 380 million years old. The plants have trunks of up to 10 cm (4 in) width with flanged bases up to 20 cm (8 in) in diameter. Their height is unknown but estimated to be around 2 to 4 m. They grew 15–20 cm (6–8 in) apart in wet soils.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Berry, Christopher M.; Marshall, John E.A. (2015). "Lycopsid forests in the early Late Devonian paleoequatorial zone of Svalbard". Geology. 43 (12): 1043–46. Bibcode:2015Geo....43.1043B. doi:10.1130/G37000.1.