On costa variation in leaves of fossil permian protoshagnalean mosses

Abstract

Leaves of extinct mosses of the order Protosphagnales are studied with the special attention to their different developmental stages. A previously unknown morphotypes without costa and with very short costa are revealed in this group. It is characteristic for young small leaves of Kosjunia and Intia , but apparently does not occur in other genera of this fossil order. The present collection allows restore a heteroblastic series in these leaves and associated with it differentiation of laminal areolation