A NEW RECORD OF THE GENUS GRAMMATOPTERIS RENAULT, 1891, FROM THE NATURAL MONUMENT OF THE FOSSILIZED TREES OF THE STATE OF TOCANTINS, PERMIAN, PARNAÍBA BASIN

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20873/vol13n3pibic202536

Keywords:

Paleobotany, Taxonomy, Protected area

Abstract

The present study aims to record and describe the morphoanatomy of a fossil stem fragment in order to contribute to the taxonomic classification and the reconstruction of the Permian paleoflora of the Motuca Formation, Parnaíba Basin. The collection area corresponds to the Buritirana outcrop, located in the Natural Monument of the Fossilized Trees of the State of Tocantins (Monaf). The collected specimen was sent to the Paleobiology Laboratory and deposited in the Paleontology Collection of the Federal University of Tocantins, Porto Nacional Campus. For the morphoanatomical descriptions of the specimen, cleaning, polishing, a flat section, and the preparation of petrographic thin sections in transverse, radial longitudinal, and tangential planes were performed. Analyses, measurements, and photographs were carried out using digital calipers, optical microscopes, stereomicroscopes, and image acquisition software (LAS AZ and ImageJ). The specimen consists of a mineralized stem with foliar bases distributed spirally around the cauline axis. The anatomy presents a protostelic stele with exarch xylem composed of scalariform tracheids. The cortical zone exhibits a high number of leaf traces in the form of a straight bar, without showing curvature. In contrast, root preservation is absent. Based on this set of evidence, it is inferred that the fossil corresponds to an apical stem fragment. In conclusion, the results confirm a new specimen of the genus Grammatopteris for the Southern Hemisphere. This record, associated with morphoanatomical description, reinforces the high level of preservation of phyt fossils from Monaf, highlighting the need for conservation of the fossil heritage of Tocantins.

Author Biography

Etiene Fabbrin Pires Oliveira, Universidade Federal do Tocantins

Possui Licenciatura em Ciências Biológicas pela Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (2001), mestrado (2003) em Geociências pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul e doutorado (2008) em Ciências pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Atualmente é Professora Associada IV da Universidade Federal do Tocantins, atuando na Graduação no Curso de Ciências Biológicas (Bacharelado e Licenciatura) e na pós-graduação no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade, Ecologia e Conservação (Mestrado). Tem experiência na área de Geociências, com ênfase em Paleontologia Estratigráfica, nos seguintes temas: Paleobotânica, Paleoecologia, Ensino de Paleontologia. Também possui experiência na Formação de Professores, atuando nos programas PARFOR e EAD nas disciplinas de Estágio na Licenciatura, e Residência Pedagógica. Mãe de duas filhas, esteve de licença maternidade entre janeiro a junho de 2007, e entre setembro de 2017 a março de 2018. Foi bolsista produtividade em Pesquisa do CNPq de 2015 a 2018 e Bolsista Produtividade em Pesquisa FAPT de 20222 a 2024.

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Published

2026-05-22

How to Cite

Wolff Carlos, C., & Fabbrin Pires Oliveira, E. (2026). A NEW RECORD OF THE GENUS GRAMMATOPTERIS RENAULT, 1891, FROM THE NATURAL MONUMENT OF THE FOSSILIZED TREES OF THE STATE OF TOCANTINS, PERMIAN, PARNAÍBA BASIN. DESAFIOS - Revista Interdisciplinar Da Universidade Federal Do Tocantins, 13(3), 506–523. https://doi.org/10.20873/vol13n3pibic202536

Issue

Section

PIBIC 2024-2025

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