Six rare Lepidostrobus species from the Pennsylvanian of the Czech Republic and their bearing on the classification of lycospores

Grouping of the common and diverse Carboniferous dispersed miospore genus Lycospora is suggested. Authors divide Carboniferous lycospores into six subgroups, based on their morphology and the knowledge of their in situ records. The stratigraphical range of the cones is from the Langsettian to the Stephanian B. Six plant specimens from the Bohemian Late Palaeozoic continental basins belong to six Lepidostrobus species. Differing morphology of fructifications and their in situ spores lead to a separation of the cones into the following species: Lepidostrobus kohoutii sp. nov. containing Lycospora uzunmehmedii spores, Lepidostrobus cf. haslingdenensis containing Lycospora uber spores, Lepidostrobus sp. A yielded spores that compare with the dispersed species Lycospora microgranulata, Lepidostrobus sp. B possessed Lycospora cf. microgranulata spores, Lepidostrobus sp. C yielded spores of the Lycospora torquifer-type, and Lepidostrobus sp. D contains Lycospora cf. subjuga spores. It means, that each cone species yielded lycospores comparable to one dispersed spore species. The palaeoecology of the plant fossils is discussed. Their environment is typified by either clastic or mixed clastic/peat substrates and standing water. Therefore, they grew in clastic swamps developed along the lake margins or shallows.