A new schizaeaceous fern, Schizaeopsis ekrtii sp. nov., and its in situ spores from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of the Czech Republic

A new fern, Schizaeopsis ekrtii sp. nov., is described from the Peruc-Korycany Formation (Cretaceous, Cenomanian) of the Czech Republic based on the morphology of its leaves and reproductive structures. It is compared to the similar, previously published fossil taxa. It is characterised by finely segmented, 4–5 times divided fronds. Each terminal segment bears one fertile tip. The tip is entire-margined, containing a single row of sporangia. S. ekrtii is very similar to the extant genus Schizaea in gross-morphology, but differs in its spore morphology. Extant Schizaea has monolete spores, whereas the Schizaeopsis has trilete spores. The spores of S. ekrtii are assigned to the Cicatricosisporites–Appendicisporites–Plicatella complex.