2 Systematic Descriptions
39
Description: Trilete, cavate. Amb triangular to sub-triangular. Laesurae long, simple, extending to equatorial margin of spore. Exine complex; composed of a thin,
smooth ektexine and a thick, two-layered endexine/nexine. Endexine up to 5
µ thick and structured. Structure very fine intra-punctate. Outer ektexine thin,
hyaline, tightly fitting over apical area, and expanding into blisters over interapical areas. The hyaline ektexine has a pseudo-regulate sculpture formed from
its crinkles.
Dimensions: 90–120 µ (10 specimens measured).
Remarks: Dulhuntyispora has been described from Collie Basin by Backhouse
(1991). Backhouse noted the stratigraphic significance of this spore. It is confined
to the Upper Permian.
Supra Sub-turma: Acavatitriletes (Dettmann 1963).
Sub-turma: Azonotriletes (Dettmann 1963).
Genus Punctatisporites (Potonie and Kremp 1955).
Diagnosis: Trilete. Amb circular or broadly rounded-triangular. Laesurae long.
Exine more than 1 µ thick, usually smooth, devoid of sculpture.
Discussion: Punctatisporites was emended first by Schopf, Wilson and Bentall
(1944) giving a detailed description of the spore. However, according to Schopf
et al. Punctatisporites still included sculptured trilete spores. Potonie and Kremp
emended the genus, restricting it to circular or broadly rounded-triangular forms
with laesurae longer than in Calamospora and a smooth exine.
Punctatisporites gretensis (Balme and Hennelly 1955) (Fig. 2.22).
Occurrence: Abundant in, and restricted to Sakmarian samples from Collie–Muja
Basin (i.e. Bore B/2436-2717
).
Description: Trilete. Amb circular to rounded-triangular. Laesurae simple, extending about three-quarters radius of spore. Exine smooth, 5–7 µ thick.
Discussion: P. gretensis is distinguished by its smooth and thick exine which is
often pitted and corroded. The corrosion patterns may be misleading and often
misinterpreted as structure/sculpture, as the spore corrosion usually starts on the
underside of the exine. The range in size is significant and may tempt palynologists
to separate the genus into several species. However, in the present study, 100
specimens were studied and 80 measured.
Gradations in size were encountered all along. There was no clear cut differentiation size-wise.
Dimensions: 45–150 µ in diameter (80 specimens measured).
Remarks: P. gretensis was recorded and described by Backhouse (1991) from Collie. Backhouse separated P. gretensis into two species. He noted the stratigraphic
significance of this spore. P. gretensis was also described from the Permian of
Brazil by Cazzulo-Klepzig et al. (2009).
Punctatisporites sp. (Rigby and Hekel 1977); synonym: Lalmatiasporites indicus
(D’Rozario and Banerjee) (Fig. 2.23).
39
Description: Trilete, cavate. Amb triangular to sub-triangular. Laesurae long, simple, extending to equatorial margin of spore. Exine complex; composed of a thin,
smooth ektexine and a thick, two-layered endexine/nexine. Endexine up to 5
µ thick and structured. Structure very fine intra-punctate. Outer ektexine thin,
hyaline, tightly fitting over apical area, and expanding into blisters over interapical areas. The hyaline ektexine has a pseudo-regulate sculpture formed from
its crinkles.
Dimensions: 90–120 µ (10 specimens measured).
Remarks: Dulhuntyispora has been described from Collie Basin by Backhouse
(1991). Backhouse noted the stratigraphic significance of this spore. It is confined
to the Upper Permian.
Supra Sub-turma: Acavatitriletes (Dettmann 1963).
Sub-turma: Azonotriletes (Dettmann 1963).
Genus Punctatisporites (Potonie and Kremp 1955).
Diagnosis: Trilete. Amb circular or broadly rounded-triangular. Laesurae long.
Exine more than 1 µ thick, usually smooth, devoid of sculpture.
Discussion: Punctatisporites was emended first by Schopf, Wilson and Bentall
(1944) giving a detailed description of the spore. However, according to Schopf
et al. Punctatisporites still included sculptured trilete spores. Potonie and Kremp
emended the genus, restricting it to circular or broadly rounded-triangular forms
with laesurae longer than in Calamospora and a smooth exine.
Punctatisporites gretensis (Balme and Hennelly 1955) (Fig. 2.22).
Occurrence: Abundant in, and restricted to Sakmarian samples from Collie–Muja
Basin (i.e. Bore B/2436-2717
).
Description: Trilete. Amb circular to rounded-triangular. Laesurae simple, extending about three-quarters radius of spore. Exine smooth, 5–7 µ thick.
Discussion: P. gretensis is distinguished by its smooth and thick exine which is
often pitted and corroded. The corrosion patterns may be misleading and often
misinterpreted as structure/sculpture, as the spore corrosion usually starts on the
underside of the exine. The range in size is significant and may tempt palynologists
to separate the genus into several species. However, in the present study, 100
specimens were studied and 80 measured.
Gradations in size were encountered all along. There was no clear cut differentiation size-wise.
Dimensions: 45–150 µ in diameter (80 specimens measured).
Remarks: P. gretensis was recorded and described by Backhouse (1991) from Collie. Backhouse separated P. gretensis into two species. He noted the stratigraphic
significance of this spore. P. gretensis was also described from the Permian of
Brazil by Cazzulo-Klepzig et al. (2009).
Punctatisporites sp. (Rigby and Hekel 1977); synonym: Lalmatiasporites indicus
(D’Rozario and Banerjee) (Fig. 2.23).