PALEOBOTANY LAB
The 'Paleobotany Lab' is a workgroup within the Palaeontologica Belgica organisation, focused on the research of the paleobotanical heritage within the Belgian stratigraphy with special emphasis and expertise on Devonian and Carboniferous floras. This lab is represented within the executive board and is focused mainly on gathering collections, researching and publishing. On this page you will find an overview of both past and present lab activities and ongoing or past research.
16 September 2024
Zosterophyllum confertum from Bertogne
Reporting a new species from a classic quarry
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After many years of collecting within the Pragian (early Devonian) deposits of the Lambert quarry near Bertogne we were able to find reproductive (fertile) organs of the Zosterophyl remains that were found and reported previously by Goemaere & Dejonghe (2005). This finally allows us to attribute a specific genus and species to the often sterile branches that are found within specific layers in the quarry. Our research is placed within the sedimentary and ecological context and the anatomy of the plant as well as its taxonomic position are briefly discussed. The research has been published in the Palaeontologia Electronica online Journal, and is freely accessible for everyone
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2026
The anatomy of Moresnetia sp.
Completing our view on one of the earliest seed plants​
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One of the most enigmatic plants from the Belgian Upper-Famennian is without doubt Moresnetia sp. Named after the village of Moresnet near the Belgian-German frontier, it is one of the oldest seed bearing plants that occur in the Belgian paleobotanical record. Contrary to the spore- bearing flora (Rhacophyton - Archaeopteris) that occurs in large quantities, Moresnetia is a rare find only known for its slender and long branches holding fertile appendages. Very little to almost nothing is known on the more basal anatomy of this plant. In this research project we try to assemble all of the Moresnetia finds from the Bocq Valley (Condroz - Province of Namur) to try and reconstruct the basal anatomy of the plant.
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