This article records new taxa of fossil plants described during the year 2021, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleobotany that occurred in 2021.
Ferns and fern allies NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesArthropitys buritiranensisSp. novIn pressNeregato et al.PermianMotuca FormationA member of Calamitales.Azolla andreisiiSp. novIn pressDe Benedetti et al.Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)La Colonia FormationA species of Azolla.Caulopteris ellipticusSp. novIn pressWang et al.Early PermianTaiyuan FormationA marattialean tree fern belonging to the family Psaroniaceae.Caulopteris neimengensisSp. novIn pressWang et al.Early PermianTaiyuan FormationA marattialean tree fern belonging to the family Psaroniaceae.Caulopteris obovatusSp. novIn pressWang et al.Early PermianTaiyuan FormationA marattialean tree fern belonging to the family Psaroniaceae.Cicatricosisporites pseudograndiosusSp. novValidD'Apolito, Jaramillo & HarringtonMioceneSolimões FormationSpores of a member of the genus Ceratopteris.CladarastegaGen. et sp. novValidPoinarLate Cretaceous (Cenomanian)Burmese amberA fern belonging to the family Dennstaedtiaceae. Genus includes new species C. burmanica.Claytosmunda zhangiiSp. novIn pressTian, Wang & JiangLate JurassicTiaojishan FormationA fern, a species of Claytosmunda.Dennstaedtia christopheliiSp. novValidPigg et al.Early EoceneKlondike Mountain Formation()A fern, a species of Dennstaedtia.Echinosporis densiechinatusSp. novValidD'Apolito, Jaramillo & HarringtonMioceneSolimões FormationSpores of a member of the family Marattiaceae.Eoangiopteris congestusSp. novValidSun et al.Early PermianTaiyuan FormationA fern belonging to the group Marattiales.Hymenophyllum axsmithiiSp. novValidPigg et al.Early EoceneKlondike Mountain Formation()A fern, a species of Hymenophyllum.IberisetumGen. et sp. novIn pressCorreia, Šimůnek & SáCarboniferous (Gzhelian)Douro BasinA member of Equisetales. Genus includes new species I. wegeneri.Laevigatosporites cultellusSp. novValidD'Apolito, Jaramillo & HarringtonMioceneSolimões FormationSpores of a member of the family Polypodiaceae.Marsileaceaephyllum ciliatumSp. novIn pressWang et al.CretaceousBurmese amberA member of the family Marsileaceae.Nemejcopteris haiwangiiSp. novIn pressPšenička et al.Permian (Asselian)Taiyuan FormationA zygopterid fern.Neocalamites iranensisSp. novValidKustatscher, Mazaheri-Johari & Roghi in Mazaheri-Johari et al.Late Triassic (Carnian)Miakuhi FormationA member of the family Equisetaceae.Odontosoria marekgaltieriSp. novIn pressPšenička, Sakala & DaškováEarly MioceneMost BasinA species of Odontosoria.OligosporangiopterisGen. et sp. novIn pressVotočková Frojdová et al.Early PermianTaiyuan FormationA leptosporangiate fern. Genus includes new species O. zhongxiangii.Osmunda zhangpuensisSp. novWang & Sun in Wang et al.MioceneFotan GroupA fern, a species of Osmunda.PatagoniapterisGen. et sp. novValidGnaedinger & ZavattieriLate Triassic (Norian–Rhaetian)Paso Flores FormationA member of the family Dipteridaceae. Genus includes new species P. artabeae.Pectinangium xuanweienseSp. novIn pressZhou et al.Permian (Lopingian)A fern belonging to the group Marattiales.Polypodiisporites densusSp. novValidD'Apolito, Jaramillo & HarringtonMioceneSolimões FormationSpores of a member of the family Polypodiaceae.Polypodiisporites fossulatusSp. novValidD'Apolito, Jaramillo & HarringtonMioceneSolimões FormationSpores of a member of the family Lomariopsidaceae.Psilatriletes marginatusSp. novValidD'Apolito, Jaramillo & HarringtonMioceneSolimões FormationSpores of a member of the genus Cyathea.Qasimia yunnanicaSp. novIn pressGuo et al.Permian (Lopingian)Xuanwei FormationA fern belonging to the group Marattiales.Reticulosporis diversusSp. novValidD'Apolito, Jaramillo & HarringtonMioceneSolimões FormationSpores of a member of the family Polypodiaceae.Rothwellopteris sanjiaoshuensisSp. novIn pressHe et al.Late PermianXuanwei FormationA fern belonging to the group Marattiales.Sphenophyllum fanwanenseSp. novIn pressHuang et al.Late DevonianA sphenophyllalean equisetidSphenophyllum parvifoliumSp. novIn pressLibertín et al.Early PermianTaiyuan FormationA sphenophyllalean equisetidTapelrayenGen. et sp. novIn pressMachado et al.EoceneHuitrera FormationFertile remains of a fern comparable with Thelypteridaceae and Dryopteridaceae. Genus includes new species T. helgae.Thyrsopteris cyathindusiaSp. novIn pressZhang et al.CretaceousBurmese amberA tree fern, a species of Thyrsopteris.Woodwardia changchangensisSp. novIn pressNaugolnykh & Song in Song et al.Middle EoceneChangchang FormationA fern, a species of Woodwardia.
Bennettitales NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesNilssoniopteris jogianaSp. novBlomenkemper & Abu Hamad in Blomenkemper et al.Permian (Changhsingian)Umm Irna FormationA member of Bennettitales.Nilssoniopteris shanxiensisSp. novBäumer, Backer & Wang in Blomenkemper et al.Permian (Cisuralian)Upper Shihhotse FormationA member of Bennettitales.Pterophyllum pottiiSp. novBomfleur & Kerp in Blomenkemper et al.Permian (Changhsingian)Umm Irna FormationA member of Bennettitales.Weltrichia magnaSp. novValidGuzmán-Madrid & Velasco de LeónMiddle Jurassic (Bajocian)Zorrillo FormationWeltrichia xochitetliiSp. novIn pressLozano-Carmona et al.Middle Jurassic (Callovian)Tecomazuchil FormationA member of Bennettitales.Williamsonia sanjuanensisSp. novIn pressLozano-Carmona & Velasco-de LeónMiddle Jurassic
Cycadales NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesBecklesia franconicaSp. novIn pressVan Konijnenburg-van Cittert et al.Late Triassic (Rhaetian)Exter FormationA member of Cycadales of uncertain phylogenetic placement.IratiniaGen. et sp. novIn pressSpiekermann et al.Permian (Kungurian)Irati FormationA cycad-like plant. Genus includes new species I. australis.
Ginkgoales NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesEretmophyllum hamiensisSp. novIn pressTang et al.Middle JurassicXishanyao FormationGinkgoites villardeseoaniiSp. novIn pressAndruchow-Colombo et al.Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)Lefipán FormationGinkgoxylon arcticumSp. novIn pressAfonin & GromykoEarly Cretaceous()A member of Ginkgoales described on the basis of fossil wood.Karkenia irkutensisSp. novIn pressNosova, Crane & ShiMiddle Jurassic (Aalenian)Prisayan Formation
Vladimariales NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesPseudotorellia doludenkoaeSp. novValidNosova, Kostina & BugdaevaLate Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (Oxfordian–Berriasian)Dublikan Formation Talyndzhan Formation()Pseudotorellia irkutensisSp. novIn pressNosovaMiddle Jurassic (Aalenian–Bajocian)Prisayan FormationA Vladimariales foliage species Umaltolepis irkutensisSp. novIn pressNosovaMiddle Jurassic (Aalenian–Bajocian)Prisayan FormationA Vladimariales reproducive structure species
Conifers Araucariaceae NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesAgathoxylon mendeziiSp. novValidDel Fueyo et al.Early Cretaceous (Berriasian–Valanginian)Springhill FormationAn Araucariaceae fossil wood.Agathoxylon santanensisSp. novIn pressDos Santos et al.Early Cretaceous (Aptian)Crato FormationAraucaria violetaeSp. novIn pressBatista et al.Early CretaceousA species of Araucaria.
Cheirolepidiaceae NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesBrachyoxylon lalongenseSp. novIn pressYang & LiEarly Cretaceous (Berriasian–Barremian)Duoni FormationBrachyoxylon patagonicumSp. novIn pressRombola et al.Late CretaceousCerro Fortaleza FormationFossil wood of a member of the family Cheirolepidiaceae.Watsoniocladus cunhaeSp. novIn pressKvaček & MendesEarly Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian)Almargem FormationA member of the family Cheirolepidiaceae.
Cupressaceae NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesCupressinoxylon widdringtonioidesSp. novValidDe Wit & BamfordLate CretaceousFossil wood of a member or a relative of the family Cupressaceae.Fokienia tianpingensisSp. novValidWu & Jin in Wu et al.MioceneErzitang FormationA species of Fokienia.NishidastrobusGen. et sp. novValidAtkinson et al.Late CretaceousA member of the family Cupressaceae belonging to the subfamily Cunninghamioideae. Genus includes new species N. japonicum.OhanastrobusGen. et sp. novValidAtkinson et al.Late CretaceousA member of the family Cupressaceae belonging to the subfamily Cunninghamioideae. Genus includes new species O. hokkaidoensis.Protaxodioxylon metangulenseSp. novIn pressNhamutole, Bamford & AraújoPermian (late Capitanian)K5 FormationA member of the family Cupressaceae.Protaxodioxylon verniersiiSp. novIn pressNhamutole & Bamford in Nhamutole, Bamford & AraújoPermian (late Capitanian)K5 FormationA member of the family Cupressaceae.ThujopsoxylonGen. et sp. novValidDolezych, LePage & WilliamsOligocene (Chattian)Korlikov Formation()Genus includes new species T. schneiderianum.
Pinaceae NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesLepidocasusGen. et sp. novValidHerrera et al.Early Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian)A member of the family Pinaceae. Genus includes new species L. mellonae.Nothotsuga sinogaiaSp. novIn pressDing et al.Late Miocene A species of NothotsugaPiceoxylon nikitiniiSp. novValidDolezych, LePage & WilliamsOligocene (Chattian)Korlikov Formation()A Picea relative wood.Pinus leptokrempfiiSp. novValidZhang et al.Early OligoceneA pine.Pinus nongyaplongensisSp. novIn pressGrote in Grote & SrisukOligocene-early MioceneA pine.Pinus weichangensisSp. novIn pressLi et al.Early Miocene A pine.Schizolepidopsis ediaeSp. novValidMatsunaga et al.Early CretaceousHuolinhe Formation Tevshiin Govi FormationA member or a close relative of the family Pinaceae.
Podocarpaceae NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesPodocarpus yunnanensisSp. novIn pressWu et al.Early PlioceneA species of Podocarpus. Protophyllocladoxylon hilarioenseSp. novIn pressVallejos Leiz, Crisafulli & GnaedingerLate Triassic (Norian–Rhaetian)Hilario FormationA member of the family Podocarpaceae.Protophyllocladoxylon yiwuenseSp. novIn pressGou & Feng in Gou et al.Middle JurassicXishanyao FormationA conifer of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly belonging or related to the family Podocarpaceae.
Other conifers NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesCargalostrobusGen. et sp. novValidGomankovPermian()A member of Pinales belonging to the family Sashiniaceae. Genus includes new species C. demetrii.Megaporoxylon sinensisSp. novIn pressWan et al.Late Triassic (Carnian–Norian)Huangshanjie FormationA coniferous trunk.Taxus huolingolensisSp. novIn pressDong et al.Early CretaceousHuolinhe FormationA species of Taxus.Voltzia edithaeSp. novValidForte, Kustatscher & Van Konijnenburg-van CittertMiddle Triassic (Anisian)A member of Voltziales.Xenoxylon utahenseSp. novIn pressXie & Gee in Xie et al.Late JurassicMorrison Formation()Fossil wood of a conifer.ZhuotingoxylonGen. et sp. novIn pressWan et al.Permian (Changhsingian)Guodikeng FormationA silicified trunk with coniferous affinities. Genus includes new species Z. liaoi.
Flowering plants Basal angiosperms NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesAllonymphaeaNom. novValidDoweldEoceneA replacement name for Thiebaudia Chandler (1954).
Unplaced non-eudicots NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesAlcaineaGen. et sp. novValidSender et al.Early Cretaceous (Albian)Escucha FormationA member of the family Chloranthaceae. Genus includes new species A. eklundiae.TodziaphyllumGen. et sp. novValidSender et al.Early Cretaceous (Albian)Escucha FormationA member of the family Chloranthaceae. Genus includes new species T. elongatum.
Magnoliids Canellales