Table 2

Comparison between Schmeissneria and other possibly related fossil taxa.


Appendage arrangement
Appendage shape
No. appendages per peduncle
Appendage opening orientation
Appendage apex
Seed/central unit position
Ovule completely enclosed
Vertical septum
No. ovules/seeds per cupule/central unit
Peduncle connects to

Schmeissneria(young) [24,*]
Irregular
Globose, in pair
2
Away from axis
More or less extended
Within the sheathing envelope
+
+
2?
Envelope
Schmeissneria(mature)[24]
Irregular
Sickle-like, single
1–2
Away from axis
Wing-shaped
Below the wing, enclosed (?)
?
?
1?
Seed?
Ktalenia[75]
Opposite, subopposite
Globose
1
Down
More or less extended
Within cupule
-
-
1–2
Cupule
Schizolepis[73]
Spiral
Bilobate
1
Up
Lobate
Axil of scale
-
-
2
Scale
Drepanolepis[74]
Spiral
Sickle-like
1
Up
Wing-shaped
Axil of scale
-
-
1
Scale
Leptostrobus[44,76]
Spiral
Round bivalvate
1 (2 valves)
Away from axis
Round, thickened margin
Within capsule, axil of valves
-
-
Several
Cupule
Caytonia[33,58]
Opposite
Globose
1
To axis
Extended lip
Within capsule
-
-
Several
Cupule
Karkenia[24,77-78]
Irregular
Round-oval
1
To axis
Acuminate apex
On peduncle
-
-
1
Ovule/seed

Note the characters (enclosed ovule, vertical septum) distinguishing Schmeissneria from the others. *: information from this paper.

Wang et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2007 7:14   doi:10.1186/1471-2148-7-14