Graptolites in Heinrich Göppert’s Palaeozoic “fossile Flora”

 

Authors: Maletz J, Lerosey-Aubril R

Published in: Bulletin of Geosciences, volume 101, issue 2; pages: 263 - 274; Received 29 January 2026; Accepted in revised form 7 June 2026; Online 28 June 2026

Keywords: Heinrich Göppert, Silurian, Czech Republic, graptolites, plants,

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Abstract

A number of graptolites were mistakenly identified in Heinrich Göppert’s (1860) monograph on Palaeozoic plants, including the type material of Ptilograptus reussianus, Cyclograptus scharyanus, Dendrograptus? subarticulatus, Dendrograptus? fruticulosus, Dictyonema? hisingeri and specimens assigned preliminarily to Thallograptus? sp. from the Silurian of the Czech Republic. The specimens were rediscovered, more than 160 years after their original description, in the collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, USA, and are here re-described. The type specimen of Ptilograptus reussianus provides unique, detailed information on tubarium construction in Ptilograptus. The tubarium shows a distinct monoprogressive branching, with first-order stipes giving rise to unbranched second-order stipes. Some second-order stipes subsequently develop into first-order stipes, producing additional second-order stipes. The thecal organization unequivocally supports assignment to the Dendrograptidae.

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