Oct. 24-26, 2009, Yingjie Overseas Exchange Center, Peking University, Beijing, China中文版

Early Diversification of Vascular Plants--Evidence from South China

Deming Wang

Department of Geology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

Abstract

Devonian vascular plants of South China consist of the zosterophylls, lycopsids, cladoxylopsids, sphenopsids, progymnosperms and abundant genera of unknown affinity. These plants demonstrate great diversity and high level of evolution. Besides some cosmopolitan taxa (e.g., Zosterophyllum, Drepanophycus, Sublepidodendron, Lepidodendropsis, Leptophloeum, Psilophyton, Sphenophyllum and Archaeopteris), they contain numerous endemic elements. Early Devonian flora (e.g., Posongchong assemblage) of South China is characterized by possible ancestors (e.g., Discalis, Estinnophyton, Eophyllophyton, Yunia, Celatheca and Polythecophyton) of major plant clades (lycopsids, sphenopsids, ferns and progymnosperms). Posongchong (Pragian)-Xujiachong (Pragian-Emsian) assemblage share Hedeia, Baragwanathia and Zosterophyllum australianum with (?) Late Silurian-Early Devonian Australia flora (Tims and Chambers, 1984; Hao and Gensel, 1998; Wang et al., 2002). Consequently, a northeastern Gondwana phytogeographic unit has been proposed to comprise Australia, South China and perhaps Shan-Thai Blocks during the Early Devonian (Hao and Gensel, 1998). Middle Devonian (Givetian) flora (e.g., Xichong assemblage) possesses lot of unusual plants (e.g., Rhipidophyton and Eocladoxylon) but lacks distinct iridopteridalean and pseudosporochnalean cladoxylopsids and aneurophytalean progymnosperms that are common on Gondwana and Laurussia continents (Berry and Wang, 2006). During the Late Devonian (Frasnian and Famennian), South China has many endemic plants (e.g., Hamatophyton and Metacladophyton), although it shares some cosmopolitan elements (e.g., Archaeopteris) with other continents including Australia and blocks.

Deming Wang

Department of Geology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

Biography

Deming Wang was born in 1970 and awarded Ph.D. in 2002. Since 2004, he has been Associate Professor of Palaeobotany at Peking University. Some of his specialities include Devonian plants (Morphology, Anatomy and Phylogeny), biogeography and environment. In 2004 and 2006, Deming Wang was awarded the title of "the Author of National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of China" and the title of "New Century Excellent Talents in University", respectively. In 2009, he was appointed as the leader of a key project from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.