A seed-bearing lobatopterid frond segment from the Westphalian D (Upper Pennsylvanian) of south-central Germany

The Pennsylvanian foliage morphogenus Lobatopteris is commonly referred to the marattialean ferns based on the presence of synangia in fertile specimens. This paper reports on a seed-bearing frond segment from the Westphalian D (Upper Pennsylvanian) of the Zwickau–Oelsnitz Basin, Germany, that corresponds to Lobatopteris with regard to gross morphology and venation. Seeds are ovoid and occur in place of basiscopic pinnules positioned proximally on the ultimate pinnae. Lateral extensions of the seed integument appear to form two wings in a primary plane. Discovery of a seed-bearing lobatopterid reveals that this type of foliage was not exclusively produced by ferns, but also by seed plants.