This paleobotany list records new fossil plant taxa that were described during the year 2023, as well as notes other significant paleobotany discoveries and events which occurred during 2023.
Algae
Charophytes Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Synonymized taxa Notes ImagesChara chhindwaraensisSp. novValidKhosla et al.Late Cretaceous-Paleocene transitionDeccan Intertrappean BedsA species of Chara.Hornichara jianglingensisComb. nov(Wang)EoceneA member of the family Characeae. Moved from Obtusochara jianglingensis Wang (1978).Microchara shivarudrappaiSp. novValidKhosla et al.Late Cretaceous-Paleocene transitionDeccan Intertrappean BedsPlatychara closasiSp. novValidKhosla et al.Late Cretaceous-Paleocene transitionDeccan Intertrappean Beds
Chlorophytes Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Synonymized taxa Notes ImagesAcicularia guizhouensisSp. novValidBucur, Enos & MinzoniMiddle TriassicA green alga belonging to the group Dasycladales.ArchaeochaetaGen. et sp. novValidMaloney et al.TonianDolores Creek Formation()The type species is A. guncho.Chaetocladus vasalemmenseSp. novKröger & Tinn in Kröger et al.Ordovician (Sandbian)Vasalemma FormationEocladus estonienseSp. novKröger & Tinn in Kröger et al.Ordovician (Sandbian)Vasalemma FormationKantia granieriSp. novValidBucur, Enos & MinzoniMiddle TriassicA green alga belonging to the group Dasycladales.Kantia intusannulataSp. novValidBucur, Enos & MinzoniMiddle TriassicA green alga belonging to the group Dasycladales.Kantia muxinaniiSp. novValidBucur, Enos & MinzoniMiddle TriassicA green alga belonging to the group Dasycladales.PalaeoulvariaGen. et sp. novValidKolosovEdiacaranByuk FormationA green alga belonging to the group Ulvales. The type species is P. plate.ParachlamydomonasGen. et sp. novValidGan et al.Middle TriassicYanchang FormationThe type species is P. ellipasis.ParaeudorinaGen. et sp. novValidGan et al.Middle TriassicYanchang FormationThe type species is P. spheroesis.ParaoocystisGen. et sp. novValidGan et al.Middle TriassicYanchang FormationThe type species is P. ovalsis.PseudocarteriaGen. et sp. novGan et al.Middle TriassicYanchang FormationThe type species is P. globuloesis. The generic name is shared with Pseudocarteria Ettl.Sphaeroplea striatocristataSp. novPerez Loinaze et al.Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)Chorrillo FormationA species of Sphaeroplea.VoronocladusGen. et sp. novIn pressSkompski et al.SilurianOriginally described as a green alga belonging to the group Dasycladales and the family Triploporellaceae; subsequently argued by LoDuca (2024) to be a member of Bryopsidales. Genus includes new species V. dryganti.
Phycological research Harvey (2023) interprets a well-preserved assemblage of acritarchs from the Cambrian Stage 4 Forteau Formation (Canada) as fossil material of planktic green algae with coenobial colony formation. Yang et al. (2023) reinterpret Protomelission as an early dasycladalean green alga; however, Xiang et al. (2023) subsequently interpret Protomelission as a scleritome of Cambroclavus, which in turn is considered by the authors to be a probable epitheliozoan-grade eumetazoan like the contemporaneous chancelloriids, unrelated to bryozoans or to dasycladalean algae.
Lycophytes Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Synonymized taxa Notes ImagesNothostigma sepeensisSp novSpiekermann, Jasper, Guerra-Sommer & D. UhlEarly Permian CisuralianAn herbaceous lycopsidSelaginella quatsinoenseSp. novValidRothwell & StockeyEarly Cretaceous (Valanginian)Longarm Formation()A species of Selaginella.ThomasitesGen., sp. et comb. novBek et al.CarboniferousA herbaceous lycophyte. Genus includes new species T. serratus also includes Lycopodites elongatus Goldenberg (1855).
Lycophyte research A study on the ground-level trunk vasculature of Sigillaria approximata from the Pennsylvanian Calhoun Coal of Illinois (United States) is published by D'Antonio (2023), who finds evidence indicating that wood growth at the base of the trunk was different from the arborescent lycopsid wood growth model of Cichan (1985). Turner et al. (2023) report diverse phyllotaxis in leaves of the lycopod Asteroxylon mackiei from the Devonian Rhynie chert (United Kingdom), including whorls and spirals, and interpret this finding as suggesting that Fibonacci-style patterning was not ancestral to living land plants, as well as indicative of developmental similarities between lycophyte leaves and reproductive structures.
Ferns and fern allies Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Synonymized taxa Notes ImagesBotryopteridium sinensisSp. novZhou et al.PermianA botryopterid fern.ConusthecaGen. et comb. novFernández & CésariCarboniferous-Permian transitionBajo de Véliz FormationA member of Equisetales. The type species is Tchernovia? velizensis Durán, Hünicken & Antón (1997).Diplazites campbelliiSp. novPšenička et al.CarboniferousKasimovianA psaroniaceous marattialean fern.Dizeugotheca saudicaComb. nov(Wagner, Hill & El-Khayal)PermianA member of the family Marattiaceae. Moved from Gemellitheca saudica Wagner, Hill & El-Khayal (1985).Dryopterites beishanensisSp novRen & SunLate CretaceousChijinbao FormationA fernFirst announced in 2022Officially published in 2023 Equisetum kekeenseSp. novZhang & Xie in Cao et al.MioceneYoushashan FormationA species of Equisetum.Equisetum siwalikumSp. novKundu, Hazra & Khan in Kundu et al.MioceneA species of Equisetum.Equisetum wulanenseSp. novZhang & Xie in Cao et al.MioceneYoushashan FormationA species of Equisetum.Goeppertella unicyclicaSp. novEscapa & Yañez in Yañez, Escapa & ChooEarly Jurassic (Pliensbachian)A member of the family Dipteridaceae.Microlepia burmasiaSp. novValid Long, Wang, & ShiCretaceousBurmese amberA fern of uncertain affinities. Originally described as a dennstaedtiaceous fern, but this classification was contested by Zhang (2024). Published online in 2022, but the issue date of the article naming it is listed as March 2023.Palaeosorum siwalikumSp. novValidKundu, Hazra & Khan in Kundu et al.MioceneA member of the family Polypodiaceae. Announced in 2023; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2024.ProsperifilixGen. et sp. novIn pressWang, Shi & Engel in et al.CretaceousBurmese amberA member of the family Dryopteridaceae. The type species is P. sepeliogladius.Qasimia archangelskyiSp. novKerp et al.PermianUmm Irna FormationA member of the family Marattiaceae.Szea yunnanensisSp. novGuo, Zhou & Feng in Guo et al.Permian (Lopingian)Xuanwei FormationA leptosporangiate fern.Todea minutacaulisSp. novWalker, Rothwell & StockeyEarly Cretaceous (Valanginian)()A species of Todea.Trichomanes angustumComb. nov(Li & Wang)Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian)Burmese amberA member of the family Hymenophyllaceae, a species of Trichomanes sensu lato. Moved from Hymenophyllites angustus Li & Wang (2022).
Pteridological research A study on fossils of Pecopteris from the Mazon Creek fossil beds (Illinois, United States), indicative of association of a suite of saturated phytohopanoid and aromatised terpenoid diagenetic biomarker products with true fern fossils, is published by Tripp et al. (2023). Blanco-Moreno & Buscalioni (2023) identify Sphenopteris wonnacottii as a junior synonym of Coniopteris laciniata, provide whole plant reconstruction of C. laciniata, and interpret the variability of the pinnules of C. laciniata as likely caused by the submersion of the apical part of fronds in water during their development.
Ginkgophytes Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Synonymized taxa Notes ImagesAustroginkgoxylonGen. et sp. novMartínez & Leppe in Martínez et al.Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)Dorotea FormationA member of Ginkgoales. The type species is A. dutrae.Eretmophyllum polypapillosumSp. novValidFrolov & MashchukJurassicPrisayan FormationEretmophyllum yershowskiensisSp. novValidFrolov & MashchukJurassicPrisayan FormationGinkgo henanensisSp. novValidLi & Xu in Li et al.PaleoceneDazhang FormationA species of Ginkgo.Karkenia archangelskianaSp. novNosova in Nosova, Kostina & AfoninEarly Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian)Khuren Dukh FormationA member of the family Karkeniaceae.Sphenobaiera krassiloviiSp. novNosova, Kostina & AfoninEarly Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian)Khuren Dukh Formation
Conifers
Cheirolepidiaceae Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Synonymized taxa Notes ImagesClassostrobus archangelskyiSp. novKvaček, Mendes & TeklevaCretaceous (late Aptian-early Albian)Figueira da Foz FormationPararaucaria laiyangensisSp. novJin et al.Early CretaceousLaiyang FormationPseudofrenelopsis dinisiiSp. novMendes, Kvaček & DoyleCretaceous (Hauterivian?)Santa Susana FormationA cheirolepidiaceous foliage morphospeciesPseudofrenelopsis zlatkoiSp. novKvaček & MendesCretaceous (late Aptian-early Albian)Figueira da Foz FormationA cheirolepidiaceous foliage morphospecies
Cordaitaceae Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Synonymized taxa Notes ImagesFlorinanthus bussacensisSp. novCorreia et al.Carboniferous (Gzhelian)Florinanthus longiantheratusSp. novBureš et al.Carboniferous (Moscovian)Plzeň BasinPollen-bearing organs of a member of Cordaitales.
Cupressaceae Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Synonymized taxa Notes ImagesAmurodendronGen. et sp. novValidSokolova et al.Paleocene()A conifer with affinities with the family Cupressaceae. The type species is A. pilosum. Published online in 2024, but the issue date is listed as December 2023.Juniperus chifengensisSp. novXiao & Guo in Guo et al.MioceneA species of Juniper.Mukawastrobus arnoldiiSp. novValidRothwell, Stockey & SmithLate Cretaceous()A taiwanioid cupressaceous conifer.
Pinaceae Name Novelty Status Authors Age Unit Location Synonymized taxa Notes ImagesKeteleeria farjoniiSp. novValidWheeler, Manchester & BaasEoceneJohn Day Formation()A species of Keteleeria.Keteleeria huolinhensisSp. novZhu et al.Early CretaceousHuolinhe FormationA species of Keteleeria.Pinus bukatkiniiSp. novValidBazhenova et al.Middle Jurassic()A pine.Tsuga weichangensisSp. novIn pressLi et al.MioceneA species of Tsuga.Announced in Feb 2023, formally published Jan 2024
Podocarpaceae NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationSynonymyNotesImagesAcmopyle grayaeSp. novAndruchow-Colombo et al.EoceneLaguna del Hunco FormationA species of Acmopyle.Dacrycarpus engelhardtiComb. nov(Berry)EoceneA species of Dacrycarpus. Moved from Podocarpus engelhardti Berry (1938).Phyllocladoxylon antarcticumSp. novvalidPujana et al.OligoceneSan José FormationA podocarpaceous wood morphospeciesAnnounced in 2022Officially published in 2023Podocarpoxylon paradoxiSp. novMartínez & Leppe in Martínez et al.Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)Dorotea FormationA podocarpaceous wood morphospecies.Podocarpoxylon resinosumSp. novvalidPujana et al.OligoceneSan José FormationA podocarpaceous wood morphospeciesAnnounced in 2022Officially published in 2023
Voltziales NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationSynonymyNotesImagesHexicladiaGen. et sp. novValidWang et al.Permian (Cisuralian)Shanxi FormationA voltzialean conifer. The type species is H. yongchangensis.Announced in 2022Officially published in 2023
Other conifers