72
2 Systematic Descriptions
Description; Haploxylonoid to slightly diploxylonoid. Small in size. Occasional
tetrads observed (Fig. 2.50). Sacci slightly smaller than corpus, sub-circular to
oval. Outline of corpus sub-circular to oval, not sharply outlined due to thin nexine.
Ektexine detached equatorially on proximal face and sub-equatorially on distal
face, leaving a narrow cappula, a distinct feature of the genus. Structure of attached
ektexine finely intra-punctate. Sacci finely intra-granulate to intra-microreticulate.
Dimensions: 30–50 µ (25 specimens measured).
Remarks: Sulcatisporites ovatus is distinguished from S. potoniei by its distinctly
small size, and much finer structure.
Genus Platysaccus (Naumova) (Potonie and Klaus 1954).
Diagnosis: Disaccate, diploxylonoid. Sacci larger than corpus. Corpus outline
sub-circular. Overall a large pollen.
Known distribution: Palaeozoic of Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Discussion: Platysaccus was first described by Naumova (1937) from Russian
Carboniferous coals. Potonie and Klaus (1954) validated the genus in naming a
type species. Platysaccus is distinguished by its large sacci, making it look like a
butterfly, further emphasised by the shape of the corpus being usually elongated.
The large sacci, clearly outlined corpus and overall size distinguishes Platysaccus
from Alisporites and Illinites.
Platysaccus major (Hoeg and Bose 1960) (Fig. 2.51).
Occurrence: Artinskian to lower part of Upper Permian of Collie–Muja Basin.
Description: Disaccate, diploxylonoid. Large pollen (average 120 µ total width).
Sacci larger than corpus. The large sacci always folded on distal face forming
a sulcus-like image. Corpus clearly outlined, sub-circular to elongated. Ektexine detached equatorially on proximal face and sub-equatorially on distal face.
Cappula narrow. Endexine varies in thickness; as thick or thicker than ektexine,
folds under distal roots. Structure of ektexine intra-punctate on attached parts and
intra-micro-reticulate on sacci.
Dimensions: 90–130 µ width of pollen (15 specimens measured). Remarks: P.
queenslandii (de Jersey) has a wide cappula and a ‘sulcus’.
Platysaccus leschikii (Hart 1960) (Fig. 2.52).
Occurrence: Lower Permian of Collie–Muja–Wilga basins. Rare in Upper
Permian.
Description: Disaccate, Diploxylonoid. Outline of corpus circular. Sacci very
large in relation to corpus. Small corpus appears as if being ‘wrapped up’ by
sacci. Corpus: sacci ratio is 1:4.
Endexine/nexine thicker than ektexine. Ektexine detached equatorially on proximal face and intra-equatorially on distal face. Large wrapping sacci obscure
cappula. Structure of corpus nexine appears to be verrucate. However, not clearly
discernible due to much folded sacci cover. Saccus ektexine micro-reticulate.
Dimensions: Total width: 98–122 µ; corpus 30–40 µ across (15 specimens
measured).
2 Systematic Descriptions
Description; Haploxylonoid to slightly diploxylonoid. Small in size. Occasional
tetrads observed (Fig. 2.50). Sacci slightly smaller than corpus, sub-circular to
oval. Outline of corpus sub-circular to oval, not sharply outlined due to thin nexine.
Ektexine detached equatorially on proximal face and sub-equatorially on distal
face, leaving a narrow cappula, a distinct feature of the genus. Structure of attached
ektexine finely intra-punctate. Sacci finely intra-granulate to intra-microreticulate.
Dimensions: 30–50 µ (25 specimens measured).
Remarks: Sulcatisporites ovatus is distinguished from S. potoniei by its distinctly
small size, and much finer structure.
Genus Platysaccus (Naumova) (Potonie and Klaus 1954).
Diagnosis: Disaccate, diploxylonoid. Sacci larger than corpus. Corpus outline
sub-circular. Overall a large pollen.
Known distribution: Palaeozoic of Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Discussion: Platysaccus was first described by Naumova (1937) from Russian
Carboniferous coals. Potonie and Klaus (1954) validated the genus in naming a
type species. Platysaccus is distinguished by its large sacci, making it look like a
butterfly, further emphasised by the shape of the corpus being usually elongated.
The large sacci, clearly outlined corpus and overall size distinguishes Platysaccus
from Alisporites and Illinites.
Platysaccus major (Hoeg and Bose 1960) (Fig. 2.51).
Occurrence: Artinskian to lower part of Upper Permian of Collie–Muja Basin.
Description: Disaccate, diploxylonoid. Large pollen (average 120 µ total width).
Sacci larger than corpus. The large sacci always folded on distal face forming
a sulcus-like image. Corpus clearly outlined, sub-circular to elongated. Ektexine detached equatorially on proximal face and sub-equatorially on distal face.
Cappula narrow. Endexine varies in thickness; as thick or thicker than ektexine,
folds under distal roots. Structure of ektexine intra-punctate on attached parts and
intra-micro-reticulate on sacci.
Dimensions: 90–130 µ width of pollen (15 specimens measured). Remarks: P.
queenslandii (de Jersey) has a wide cappula and a ‘sulcus’.
Platysaccus leschikii (Hart 1960) (Fig. 2.52).
Occurrence: Lower Permian of Collie–Muja–Wilga basins. Rare in Upper
Permian.
Description: Disaccate, Diploxylonoid. Outline of corpus circular. Sacci very
large in relation to corpus. Small corpus appears as if being ‘wrapped up’ by
sacci. Corpus: sacci ratio is 1:4.
Endexine/nexine thicker than ektexine. Ektexine detached equatorially on proximal face and intra-equatorially on distal face. Large wrapping sacci obscure
cappula. Structure of corpus nexine appears to be verrucate. However, not clearly
discernible due to much folded sacci cover. Saccus ektexine micro-reticulate.
Dimensions: Total width: 98–122 µ; corpus 30–40 µ across (15 specimens
measured).