The Mesozoic genus Protophyllocladus Berry (Pinopsida)

Morphological and epidermal characters of Protophyllocladus Berry are documented in detail based on the investigation of specimens from the Cretaceous of western Greenland, western Siberia and Sakhalin (Russian Far East). Two new species, Protophyllocladus magathianus Nosova sp. nov. from the Arkovo Formation (Coniacian) of Sakhalin and P. groenlandicus Nosova sp. nov. from the Atane Formation (Albian - Cenomanian) of western Greenland, are described. The new data on the epidermal structures of phylloclades of this genus allow us to emend the generic diagnosis. The morphology and epidermal features of Protophyllocladus are similar to those of the modern genus Phyllocladus Richard, suggesting the podocarpaceous affinity of Protophyllocladus.