Kizelopteris, a new genus of climbing pteridosperms from the Lower Carboniferous of the Urals, Russia

The present article deals with the new liana-like pteridosperm attributed to the new genus and species Kizelopteris flexuosa Naugolnykh, gen. et sp. nov. The material studied originated from the Lower Carboniferous (Visean) deposits of the Perm region, the Urals, Russia. The new pteridosperm is described both macromorphologically and in terms of epidermal-cuticular structure. Kizelopteris has at least bipinnate fronds with small alternate pinnae of last order. Pinnules are of subtriangular shape, semi-adult pinnules are sphenopteroid to pecopteroid, margins of pinnules are lobate. Adult pinnules become almost entire-margined. Bases of pinnules are coalescently fused and form a limb (wing) of pinna rachis. Apical part of pinna rachis and apical lobes of pinnules can be modified into terminal tendrils or climbing hooks. General thoughts on the ecology of Early Carboniferous vegetation of the Urals are given as well.