Some Pictures of Charophytes (Charales); stoneworts;
Armleuchtergewächse
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Chara
zeylanica
Fertile branchlet node of a monoiceous
Chara species bearing oogonium and antheridium. After fertilization the oogonia transform into
oospores and can become calcified. The calcified
oospores termed gyrogonites, provide the fossil
record of the charophytes
.Photo from Richard McCourt (Philadelphia) |
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Clavatoraxis robustus
Apex of large thallus showing
main axis covered with granules (spine-cell rosettes)
and three closely
packed whorls of branchlets.
MARTIN-CLOSAS et DIEGUEZ
1998. |
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Clavatoraxis diax-romerali
Fragment of delicate thallus showing disperse
spine-cell rosettes scattered upon the surface.
Species named after Mr. Armando Diaz-Romeral from
Cuenca,
who kindly lent these fossils for study.
MARTIN-CLOSAS et DIEGUEZ 1998. |
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Charaxis spicatus
Apex of thallus showing five nodes bearing long
unicellular branchlets.
MARTIN-CLOSAS et DIEGUEZ 1998. |
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Paleonitella vermicularis
Fragment of filamentous ecorticate thallus
with nodes bearing small unicellular branchlets.
MARTIN-CLOSAS et DIEGUEZ 1998. |
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Thin Sections
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Clavatoraxis robustus
Deep tangential section
trough internode showing cortical cells covered
by spine-cell rosettes. These
are interpreted to be an adaptation against herbivores.
Width of internode 2,3 mm.
MARTIN-CLOSAS et DIEGUEZ
1998. |
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Clavatoraxis diaz-romerali
Longitudianl section trough phylloid showing
whorls of spine-cell rosettes. Width of section
0,8 mm.
MARTIN-CLOSAS et DIEGUEZ 1998. |
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Charaxis spicatus
Slightly oblique section through internodes showing
cortication. Main diameter of section 1,8 mm.
MARTIN-CLOSAS et DIEGUEZ 1998. |
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Charaxis spicatus
Longitudinal section
through apex of thallus. Total length of section
7 mm.
MARTIN-CLOSAS et DIEGUEZ 1998. |
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FRAGMENTS OF CHAROPHYTE THALLI FROM
THE LOWER CRETACEOUS OF THE MAESTRAT BASIN (SPAIN)
(provided by Carles Martin-Closas, Barcelona, in
september 2001) |
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Clavatoraxis sp.
Fragment of thallus showing spirally
arranged spine-cell rosettes and cortication. Berriasian
of Els Mangraners Section (Castelló, Spain).
Diameter of thallus ca 400 mm. |
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Clavatoraxis sp.
Fragment of phylloid showing
spine cell rosettes arranged in whorls. Berriasian
of Els Mangraners Section (Castelló, Spain).
Total length of fragment ca 1000 mm. |
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"Munieria"-type thalli.
Lateral view
of internodes showing interdigitation of cortical
cells in the central area. Lower Barremian of Barranc
de l'Escresola (Castelló, Spain). Total length
of largest fragment 1,4 mm. |
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"Munieria"-type thalli.
Transversal
sections trough internode (above) and node (below)
showing external crenulation corresponding to cortical
cells. Nodal cells are visible below. Lower Barremian
of Barranc de l'Escresola (Castelló, Spain).
Diameter 400 mm. |
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