Studies on the Late Permian permineralized tree fern Psaronius housuoensis sp. nov. from Yunnan Province, southwest China

Psaronius housuoensis sp. nov. is described from the Upper Permian Xuanwei Formation deposits of Housuo Coal Mine, Fuyuan County, Yunnan Province, southwest China, adding to the marattialean fern community of the Cathaysian flora. The permineralized stem shows a polycyclic dictyostele with five leaf traces arranged in a helical manner and exhibiting 2/5 phyllotaxy. Vascular bundles arranged in 6 concentric rings with cauline bundles in 5 radial rows. Stem bound externally by a peripheral sclerenchyma sheath. Leaf trace configuration comprised of three vascular bundles resulting from the division of a single originally C-shaped strand. Ground tissue replaced with coprolites and sediments. Stem surrounded by a thick mantle of roots. Occurrence of coprolites within the stem indicates well developed plant–animal interaction during the Late Permian times and that the habitat in which Psaronius grew was abounding with diversity of arthropod or the oribatid mite community preferring the rotting P. housuoensis sp. nov. stem ground tissue as a suitable microenvironment for shelter. Evolutionary pattern of leaf trace development is described in the new species and its possible ecological significance.