XVI International Botanical Congess

Isolated seeds have been found anatomically preserved in pyrite. The seeds are small (ave. length 4 mm, ave. width 1 mm) and radiospermic. Four vascularized integumentary lobes curve inward over the ovule apex and are fused basally into four distinct ridges around the ovule. A well-defined lagenostome is present, indicating hydrasperman reproductive biology. Cellular megagametophyte tissue is preserved, but no archegonia have been found. The new seed differs from the two seeds currently known from Ireland, Spermolithus devonicus from Kiltorcan and Hydrasperma tenuis (= Kerryia mattenii) from Ballyheige and is more similar to seeds described from the Lower Carboniferous of Scotland. These seeds provide evidence of a more diverse plant community at Hook Head and suggest greater overall diversity of gymnosperms during the Upper Devonian in Ireland.