New data on Carboniferous plants of the Rostov-on-Don Region (Russia)

Abstract

The paper contains a review of the higher plant fossils collected from the Middle Carboniferous deposits of two localities disposed in the Rostov-on-Don Region. The collection includes fossils of arborescent lycopodiopsids Lepidodendron cf. aculeatum Sternberg, Sigillaria scutellata Brongniart, sphenophytes Calamites spp. and trigonocarpalean (medullosalean) pteridosperms Alethopteris lonchitica (Schlotheim) Goeppert, A. decurrens (Artis) Zeiller, Neuropteris heterophylla Brongniart, Mixoneura cf. beraliana Zalessky. The taxonomic composition of the studied floristic assemblage indicates that the original hydrophilic/anthracophilic vegetation grew in conditions of wet and warm (humid) climate. The representativeness and museum attractiveness of the collected specimens make it possible to use them effectively in educational projects, as well as for didactic purposes and museum exhibitions.