A novel approach for the metric analysis of fern fronds: Growth and architecture of the Mesozoic fern Weichselia reticulata in the light of modern ferns

PLoS One. 2019 Jun 27;14(6):e0219192. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219192. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The architecture of primary and secondary pinnae of the fossil fern Weichselia reticulata (C. Stokes et Webb) Fontaine is studied based on 28 large specimens from the upper Barremian La Huérguina Formation of the fossil locality Las Hoyas, Cuenca, Spain. The study of the specimens is performed through a morphometric analysis consisting in a reformulation of the Branching Algorithms method of shape description including measurements (insertion angle, distance between pinnae, first segment length and rachis width) and ratios (interval ratio, branching ratio and tapering ratio). A protocol to relocate isolated fragments of fossil pinnae is also established using the interval ratio (distance between pinnae/ previous distance between pinnae) and insertion angle of the pinnae. All specimens show a similar architecture, having elliptic primary pinnae with a sinuous apically tapering primary rachis and triangular secondary pinnae with pinnules of different morphologies. The analysis of the architecture allows to propose that the position of the frond was plagiotropic and that the frond growth was basiplastic for the petiole head and acroplastic for the primary pinnae. The metric method is applied to explore the architecture of four living fern species (Angiopteris evecta (Forst.) Hoffm., Matonia pectinata R.Br., Sphaeropteris cooperi (F.Muell.) R.M.Tryon, and Woodwardia unigemmata (Makino) Nakai). Weichselia architecture results extremely ordered and regular in comparison with the primary pinnae variation of the living species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Ferns / anatomy & histology*
  • Ferns / classification*
  • Fossils / anatomy & histology
  • Plant Leaves / anatomy & histology
  • Plant Leaves / classification
  • Spain

Grants and funding

ADB received the grant CGL-2013-42643 P. from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (http://www.mineco.gob.es/) for the study of Las Hoyas fossil site. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. CBM received the grant FPI-UAM-2015 from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (http://uam.es/UAM/Home.htm?language=es) for her PhD. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.