Kowieria alveoformis gen. nov. sp. nov., a new heterosporous lycophyte from the Latest Devonian of Southern Africa

A new lycopsid, Kowieria alveoformis gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Famennian Witpoort Formation, Grahamstown, South Africa. It possesses spirally arranged elongated falcate vegetative leaves. Terminal bisporangiate strobili are present and show loosely grouped micro- and megasporophylls. Sporophylls are similar in shape to the vegetative leaves though somewhat wider with a marked expansion to house the sporangium. One sporangium is attached directly to the adaxial surface of the lamina. Each megasporangium contains up to four heavily ornamented hologulate megaspores of the Lagenicula type. The combination of both basal and derived characters within this plant places it at an interesting position at the base of the phylogenetic tree of rhizomorphic lycopsids.