2 Systematic Descriptions
59
Remarks and comparison: D. indicus is characterised by the distinct variation of
the ratio of the corpus to saccus from one specimen to another. This feature may
easily lead to separating the species on these grounds. However transitions are
evident.
Genus Culleisporites (Grebe 1957)
Diagnosis: Monosaccate, roughly radially symmetrical. Amb circular, subcircular or lobed. Outline of corpus circular to sub-circular. Ektexine detached
equatorially on distal face.
Nexine thinner than ektexine. Distal saccus lobed forming a notched distal tenuiexinous area. This configuration was stressed by Grebe as a distinct feature identifying this genus. Structure dense, intra-granulate to intra-reticulate with conspicuously long columellae projecting into saccus. No proximal mark was observed
by Grebe (1957) in any of the specimens, and she noted that the ‘trilete mark’ in
Leschick’s specimen is vague.
Known distribution: Upper Permian of Germany (Leschik 1956; Grebe 1957).
Culleisporites densus (Leschik 1956) (Fig. 2.42).
Occurrence: Upper Permian of Collie–Muja Basin; Bore B/224-227
; Site D/201212
.
Description: Monosaccate, radially symmetrical. Amb circular, sub-circular or
lobed. Corpus outline circular. Nexine, thin-structured, detached equatorially on
proximal face and sub-equatorially on distal face. Saccus roots may be slightly
or significantly notched. In the case of the latter the pollen appears as having
multiple sacci. Structure of attached ektexine intra-granulate to intra-reticulate
towards sacci rims. In cross-section the columellae of the reticulum are distinct.
Dimensions: 52–80 µ; corpus diameter 52–80 µ (15 specimens measured).
Discussion: Some living forms of conifers, such as Araucaria may have several
sacci, although essentially monosaccate (Fig. 2.42a). Likewise bisaccate pollen
may be trisaccate, e.g. Podocarpus. Variations within one pollen sac are not
uncommon and should be taken into account when separating dispersed pollen.
Genus Bascanisporites (Balme and Hennelly 1956).
Diagnosis: Amb circular, sub-circular or lobed. Tetrad mark absent or faint.
Nexine thicker than ektexine. Structure of ektexine fine.
Known distribution: Upper Permian of New South Wales (Balme and Hennelly
1956), Upper Permian of Queensland (Hill and Woods 1964), Upper Permian of
Antarctica (Balme and Playford 1967).
Discussion: Bascanisporites is distinguished from Culleisporites by a thick nexine
in Bascanisporites, which is responsible for the strong and clear outline of the
pollen grain, and the absence of folds in the latter.
Bascanisporites undosus (Balme and Hennelly 1956) (Fig. 2.44a, b).
Occurrence: Artinskian to Upper Permian of Collie–Muja Basin; Bore B/224227
, B/1641
, B/2149
, D/201-212
. More common in the Upper Permian than in
Artinskian samples.
59
Remarks and comparison: D. indicus is characterised by the distinct variation of
the ratio of the corpus to saccus from one specimen to another. This feature may
easily lead to separating the species on these grounds. However transitions are
evident.
Genus Culleisporites (Grebe 1957)
Diagnosis: Monosaccate, roughly radially symmetrical. Amb circular, subcircular or lobed. Outline of corpus circular to sub-circular. Ektexine detached
equatorially on distal face.
Nexine thinner than ektexine. Distal saccus lobed forming a notched distal tenuiexinous area. This configuration was stressed by Grebe as a distinct feature identifying this genus. Structure dense, intra-granulate to intra-reticulate with conspicuously long columellae projecting into saccus. No proximal mark was observed
by Grebe (1957) in any of the specimens, and she noted that the ‘trilete mark’ in
Leschick’s specimen is vague.
Known distribution: Upper Permian of Germany (Leschik 1956; Grebe 1957).
Culleisporites densus (Leschik 1956) (Fig. 2.42).
Occurrence: Upper Permian of Collie–Muja Basin; Bore B/224-227
; Site D/201212
.
Description: Monosaccate, radially symmetrical. Amb circular, sub-circular or
lobed. Corpus outline circular. Nexine, thin-structured, detached equatorially on
proximal face and sub-equatorially on distal face. Saccus roots may be slightly
or significantly notched. In the case of the latter the pollen appears as having
multiple sacci. Structure of attached ektexine intra-granulate to intra-reticulate
towards sacci rims. In cross-section the columellae of the reticulum are distinct.
Dimensions: 52–80 µ; corpus diameter 52–80 µ (15 specimens measured).
Discussion: Some living forms of conifers, such as Araucaria may have several
sacci, although essentially monosaccate (Fig. 2.42a). Likewise bisaccate pollen
may be trisaccate, e.g. Podocarpus. Variations within one pollen sac are not
uncommon and should be taken into account when separating dispersed pollen.
Genus Bascanisporites (Balme and Hennelly 1956).
Diagnosis: Amb circular, sub-circular or lobed. Tetrad mark absent or faint.
Nexine thicker than ektexine. Structure of ektexine fine.
Known distribution: Upper Permian of New South Wales (Balme and Hennelly
1956), Upper Permian of Queensland (Hill and Woods 1964), Upper Permian of
Antarctica (Balme and Playford 1967).
Discussion: Bascanisporites is distinguished from Culleisporites by a thick nexine
in Bascanisporites, which is responsible for the strong and clear outline of the
pollen grain, and the absence of folds in the latter.
Bascanisporites undosus (Balme and Hennelly 1956) (Fig. 2.44a, b).
Occurrence: Artinskian to Upper Permian of Collie–Muja Basin; Bore B/224227
, B/1641
, B/2149
, D/201-212
. More common in the Upper Permian than in
Artinskian samples.