Parka decipiens
Devonian fossil, possibly of an extinct Charophyte alga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Parka decipiens is a Devonian fossil believed to be an early land plant, and is the only species described in the genus Parka. It bears at least a passing resemblance to the alga Coleochaete,[1] but the significance of this similarity is yet to be established.[2]
| Parka decipiens Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| Parka decipiens from the Devonian of Scotland | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Archaeplastida |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Charophyta |
| Class: | Charophyceae (?) |
| Order: | Coleochaetales (?) |
| Genus: | †Parka |
| Species: | †P. decipiens |
| Binomial name | |
| †Parka decipiens Fleming (1831) | |
Description
The fossils of Parka decipiens seem small circular, elliptic or irregular patches reaching a diameter of 0.5–7.5 centimetres (0.20–2.95 in), with a reticulate structure showing small coaly discs. These discs contain a mass of what could be spores.[3] Ultrastructural examination of these spores has shown that they lack the y-shaped trilete mark, a Y-like scar, that is characteristic of Silurian and Devonian pteridophytes. [4]
