This article records new taxa of fossil plants that were described during the year 2015, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleobotany that occurred in 2015.
Algaes Charophytes Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesChara nikolskaeNom. novValidDoweldHoloceneA green alga belonging to the group Charophyta and the family Characeae; a species of Chara. A replacement name for Chara elliptica Nikolskaja (1984) (preoccupied).Charaxis martinclosasiSp. novValidGranier et al.Early Cretaceous (Barremian)A green alga belonging to the group Charophyta; a species of Charaxis.
Chlorophytes Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesBoueina? crassundiaSp. novValidVachard, Krainer & LucasPermian (Kungurian)Los Vallos Formation San Andres FormationA member of Codiaceae.Boueina? tubulataSp. novValidVachard, Krainer & LucasPermian (Kungurian)San Andres FormationA member of Codiaceae.Montenegrella? gracilisSp. novValidSokač & GrgasovićEarly Cretaceous (Barremian)A green alga belonging to the group Dasycladales, possibly a species of Montenegrella.
Rhodophytes Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesGymnocodium? bacillumSp. novValidVachard, Krainer & LucasPermian (Kungurian)Los Vallos Formation San Andres FormationA member of Gymnocodiaceae.Gymnocodium? johnsoniiSp. novValidVachard, Krainer & LucasPermian (Kungurian)Los Vallos Formation San Andres Formation? ?A member of Gymnocodiaceae.
Non-vascular plants Bryophyta Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Synonymized taxa Notes ImagesDitrichites ignotusSp. novvalidFrahm in Frahm & GröhnEocene (Priabonian)Baltic amberA member of Dicranales sensu lato.Muscites gracilisSp. novValidMays & Cantrill in Mays et al.Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Tupuangi FormationA leafy moss, a species of Muscites.TricostaGen. et sp. novValidShelton et al.Early CretaceousA pleurocarpous moss. The type species is Tricosta plicata.
Marchantiophyta Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesAnastrophyllum rovnoiSp. novValidMamontov et al.Late EoceneA liverwort found in Rovno amber, a species of Anastrophyllum.Cephalozia velteniiSp. novValidKatagiriEoceneBaltic amberEurope (Baltic Sea coast)A liverwort belonging to the family Cephaloziaceae found in Baltic amber; a species of Cephalozia.Cephaloziella nadezhdaeSp. novValidMamontov, Heinrichs & Váňa in Mamontov et al.Late EoceneRovno amberA liverwort found in Rovno amber, a species of Cephaloziella.Ceratolejeunea sublaetefuscaSp. novValidHeinrichs et al.MioceneMexican AmberA liverwort belonging to the family Lejeuneaceae, a species of Ceratolejeunea.Frullania riclefgrolleiSp. novValidMamontov et al.Late EoceneA liverwort found in Rovno amber, a species of Frullania.Mastigolejeunea extinctaSp. novValidHeinrichs et al.MioceneA liverwort belonging to the family Lejeuneaceae, a species of Mastigolejeunea.Microlejeunea miocenicaSp. novValidLee et al.MioceneA liverwort belonging to the family Lejeuneaceae found in Dominican amber, a species of Microlejeunea.Notoscyphus balticusSp. novValidHeinrichs et al.EoceneBaltic amberEurope (Baltic Sea coast)A Jungermannial liverwort.Notoscyphus grolleiSp. novValidVáňa et al.PaleogeneA Jungermannial liverwort found in Bitterfeld amber, a species of Notoscyphus.Tetralophozia groehniiSp. novValidHeinrichs, Váňa & Schäfer-Verwimp in Heinrichs et al.EoceneBaltic amberEurope (Baltic Sea coast)A liverwort, a species of Tetralophozia.
Ferns and fern allies Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesAdiantitophyllumGen. et sp. novValidNagalingum & CantrillEarly CretaceousTriton Point FormationAntarctica (Alexander Island)A leptosporangiate fern of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is Adiantitophyllum serratum. Possibly also including "Adiantites" lindsayoides from the Koonwarra flora in Australia.Arthropitys iannuzziiSp. novValidNeregato, Rößler & Noll in Neregato et al.PermianMotuca FormationA member of Calamitaceae, a species of Arthropitys.Arthropitys isoramisSp. novValidNeregato, Rößler & Noll in Neregato et al.PermianMotuca FormationA member of Calamitaceae, a species of Arthropitys.Cladophlebis auriculipilosusSp. novValidMays & Tosolini in Mays et al.Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Tupuangi FormationA fern of probable osmundalean affinity, a species of Cladophlebis.Cladophlebis dissectaSp. novValidNagalingum & CantrillEarly Cretaceous (Albian)Triton Point FormationAntarctica (Alexander Island)A leptosporangiate fern of uncertain phylogenetic placement, a species of Cladophlebis.Cladophlebis drinnaniiSp. novValidNagalingum & CantrillEarly Cretaceous (Albian)Triton Point FormationAntarctica (Alexander Island)A leptosporangiate fern of uncertain phylogenetic placement, a species of Cladophlebis.Cladophlebis macloughliniiSp. novValidNagalingum & CantrillEarly Cretaceous (Albian)Triton Point FormationAntarctica (Alexander Island)A leptosporangiate fern of uncertain phylogenetic placement, a species of Cladophlebis.CrenulopterisGen. et comb. nov.ValidWittry et al.Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian)A psaroniaceous marattialean fern. A new genus for "Pecopteris" acadica (1962). Also including "Pecopteris" micromiltoni (1951) and "Pecopteris" lamuriana (1865). EquisetocaulisGen. et sp. novValidRothwell & AshLate Triassic (Norian)A horsetail. The type species is Equisetocaulis muirii.Equisetum dimorphumSp. novValidElgorriaga et al.Early JurassicA species of Equisetum.KwazulupterisGen. et sp. novValidVera & HerbstCretaceous (probably Albian–Turonian)Probably Mzinene FormationA tree fern. The type species is Kwazulupteris schaarschmidtii.Lobifolia nanaSp. novValidFrolov & MashchukEarly JurassicCheremkhovskaya FormationA fern, a species of Lobifolia.Marattiopsis patagonicaSp. novValidEscapa et al.Early JurassicA member of Marattiaceae, a species of Marattiopsis.MendozaphyllumGen. et sp. novValidPuebla, Prámparo & GandolfoLate Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian)Loncoche FormationA member of Marsileaceae. The type species is Mendozaphyllum loncochense.NatalipterisGen. et sp. novValidVera & HerbstCretaceous (probably Albian–Turonian)Probably Mzinene FormationA tree fern. The type species is Natalipteris wildei.Neocalamites grojecensisSp. novValidJarzynka & PacynaMiddle Jurassic (Bathonian)A member of Equisetopsida of uncertain phylogenetic placement, a species of Neocalamites.NunatakiaGen. et sp. novValidNagalingum & CantrillEarly CretaceousTriton Point FormationAntarctica (Alexander Island) ?A leptosporangiate fern of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is Nunatakia alexanderensis.Osmunda pulchellaSp. novValidBomfleur, Grimm & McLoughlinEarly Jurassic (Pliensbachian)Djupadal FormationA member of Osmundaceae. Originally described as a species of Osmunda; transferred to the genus Osmundastrum by Bomfleur, Grimm & McLoughlin (2017).Osmundacaulis bamfordaeSp. novValidHerbstCretaceous (Albian-Turonian interval)Probably Mzinene FormationA member of Osmundaceae, a species of Osmundacaulis.Osmundacaulis tidwelliiSp. novValidHerbstCretaceous (Albian-Turonian interval)Probably Mzinene FormationA member of Osmundaceae, a species of Osmundacaulis.Osmundacaulis whittlesiiSp. novValidSmith, Rothwell & StockeyEarly CretaceousA member of Osmundaceae, a species of Osmundacaulis.Phlebopteris hazarensisSp. novValidNaugolnykh & ProninLate Triassic (Rhaetian)A member of Matoniaceae, a species of Phlebopteris.Pleopeltis dominicensisSp. novValidSchneider, Heinrichs & Schmidt in Schneider et al.MioceneA fern found in Dominican amber, a species of Pleopeltis.ShougangiaGen. et sp. novValid Wang et al.Devonian (Famennian)Wutong FormationA fern-like plant, a euphyllophyte of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Genus includes new species Shougangia bella.Sphenopteris sinuosaSp. novValidNagalingum & CantrillEarly Cretaceous (Albian)Triton Point FormationAntarctica (Alexander Island)A leptosporangiate fern of uncertain phylogenetic placement, a species of Sphenopteris.
Bennettitales Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesAnomozamites sanjiaocunensisSp. novValidZhao et al.Middle JurassicHaifanggou FormationA member of Bennettitales, a species of Anomozamites.Ptilophyllum cariaeSp. novValidScanu, Kustatscher & PittauMiddle Jurassic (Bajocian–Bathonian)Genna Selole FormationA member of Bennettitales, a species of Ptilophyllum.Williamsonia carolinensisSp. novValidPott & AxsmithLate TriassicPekin FormationA williamsoniaceous bennettitale.
Lycophytes Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesLepidodendron wingfieldenseSp. novValidThomas & SeyfullahCarboniferous (Bashkirian)A flemingitaceous lepidodendraleLobodendronGen. et sp. novValidLiu et al.Late Devonian (Famennian)Wutong FormationA Lycopsida of uncertain affinities. The type species is L. fanwanense.Paurodendron stellatumSp. novValidMcLoughlin et al.Permian (Guadalupian)AntarcticaAn herbaceous Isoetales species.ReticuspinosporitesGen. et sp. novValidSlater et al.Middle Jurassic (Bathonian)Scalby FormationPossibly a member or a relative of lycophytes. The type species is R. whytei.Retitriletes polygonatusSp. novValidHashemi-Yazdi, Sajjadi & DehbozorgiMiddle JurassicDalichai FormationA lycophyte spore morphospecies.
Czekanowskiales Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesCzekanowskia (Harrisella) ordosensisSp. novValidSun et al.Middle JurassicYan'an FormationA member of Czekanowskiales, a species of Czekanowskia.Phoenicopsis neimengguensisSp. novValidSun, Na, Dilcher, Wang & Li in Sun et al.Middle JurassicZhaogou FormationA member of Czekanowskiales, a species of Phoenicopsis.Phoenicopsis (Phoenicopsis) odorsensisSp. novValidLi & Sun in Li et al.Middle JurassicYan'an FormationA Phoenicopsis species Czekanowskiales. The name is spelled Phoenicopsis ordosensis on some pages; which is preoccupied by Phoenicopsis (Culgoweria) ordosensis (2014).Solenites baishanensisSp. novValidLi et al.Early CretaceousYingzuilazi FormationA member of Czekanowskiales, a species of Solenites.Solenites gracilisSp. novValidLi et al.Early CretaceousYingzuilazi FormationA member of Czekanowskiales, a species of Solenites.
Ginkgophytes Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesAllicospermum budantseviiSp. novValidGordenkoMiddle JurassicA possible ginkgoalean gymnosperm seed.Ginkgo badamgaraviiSp. novValidKostina & Herman in Kostina, Herman & KodrulMiddle Jurassic (possibly Aalenian)Bakhar FormationA relative of the ginkgo.Ginkgoidium nundichiiSp. novValidVelasco-de León et al.Middle JurassicA member of Ginkgoales, a species of Ginkgoidium.Pseudotorellia gobienseSp. novValidKostina & Herman in Kostina, Herman & KodrulMiddle Jurassic (possibly Aalenian)Bakhar FormationA member of Ginkgoales, a species of Pseudotorellia.Pseudotorellia mongolicaSp. novValidKostina & Herman in Kostina, Herman & KodrulMiddle Jurassic (possibly Aalenian)Bakhar FormationA member of Ginkgoales, a species of Pseudotorellia.Sphenobaiera mixtecaSp. novValidVelasco-de León et al.Middle JurassicA member of Ginkgoales, a species of Sphenobaiera.
Conifers Araucariaceae Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Notes ImagesAraucariacites mildenhalliiSp. novValidMaysLate Cretaceous Cenomanian to TuronianTupuangi FormationAn araucariaceous pollen.Araucarites raghavapurensisSp. novValidChinnappa, Rajanikanth & RaoEarly CretaceousRaghavapuram FormationAn araucariaceous conifer.Balmeiopsis discaSp. novValidMaysLate Cretaceous Cenomanian to Early TuronianTupuangi FormationAn araucariaceous pollen.
Cupressaceae