Otovicia nov. gen.

nomenclatorial act: 
protologue/first publication
Page: 
224
diagnosis: 

Conifer; main axis leafy at younger stage. Lateral shoot systems pinnately branched, consisting of a penultimate branch with two lateral series of parallel, more or less alternating ultimate branches, situated in one plane. Tripinnately branched lateral shoot systems sometimes occur. Leaves bifacial, spirally arranged, arising at an angle of 35°-90°, closely spaced. Leaf shape elongate subtriangular, oblong or lanceolate, acute to slightly obtuse. Heterophylly sometimes occurs.
Ovuliferous cones compound, cylindrical, attached terminally to leafy branches. Cone axis bearing spirally arranged bracts, partially overlapping each other; shape of bracts rhomboidal or obovate, apex bifurcated.
Ovuliferous dwarf-shoots arising freely in the axils of the bracts, bilaterally symmetrical, slightly flattened, provided with 12-18 sterile and two fertile scales. Shape of sterile scales lanceolate to narrow subtriangular with an acute to sub-obtuse apex. Except for smaller sterile scales near the base of the dwarf-shoot, all the scales (sterile and fertile) have the same shape and dimensions. Fertile scales each bearing a single inver ted ovule on the abaxial surface of the scale (scar representing place of attachment situated centrally to sub-apically). Fertile and sterile scales hardly connate.
Ovule/seed bilaterally symmetrical, ovoid to oblong ovate, platyspermic. Nucellus free to its base. Integument extending into a wing-like seam, broad, sometimes cordate in the basal part, tapering towards the micropylar area and forming two narrow apical extensions. Micropylar area acute. Funnel-like nucellar beak extending into the micropyle. Pollen chamber apparently present. Seed axis probably bent.
Polliniferous cones simple, attached terminally to ultimate leafy branches; cone axis bearing spirally arranged, (sub-)peltate microsporophylls. Triangular distal regions of microsporophylls overlapping. Prepollen circular to elliptical in polar view; monosaccoid; monolete; assignable to Potonieisporites Bhardwaj, 1954.
Leaves and bracts unequally amphistomatic. Adaxial surface with bands of irregularly arranged stomata. Abaxial surface with a few stomatal groups. Stomatal complexes mono- to incompletely dicyclic, subsidiary cells papillate; hair bases present.

systematic position: 
Walchiaceae
typeseries: 
Otovicia hypnoides (Brongniart) Kerp et al, 1990
Classification: 

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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith