奈良教育大学学術リポジトリNEAR
On the dispersed cuticles obtained from Cretaceous rocks of Japan.
著者 SHIMAKURA Misaburo
journal or
publication title
奈良教育大学紀要. 自然科学
volume 15
number 2
page range 45‑54
year 1967‑02‑28
URL http://hdl.handle.net/10105/3298
Bull. Nara U.Educ. (Nat.), Vol.15, 1967
On the dispersed cuticles obtained from Cretaceous rocks of Japan.
(with 4 plates)
Misaburo SHIMAKURA
(Department of Earth Science, Nara Univ. of Education, Nara, Japan) (Received September 26, 1966)
Introductory Remarks
Many kinds of vegetable elements are obtained from shale, sandstone, silt- stone and carbonaceous rocks by SCHULZ's maceration method. Of these ele-
ments, tracheids, vessels, ray-tissues, wood fibres, epidermic cuticles, spores and pollen grains are fonnd commonly. Although cuticles arenot so valuable as spores and pollen grains in the identification of plant types and in the correl- ation of strata, they are yet important micro fossils.
Since J. G. BORNEMANN's study in 1859, many works on epidermal cha-
racters of fossil plants were published by the eminent paleobotanists, while at present we have a little information on dispersed cuticles obtained from
sedimentary rocks by maceration method. About twenty-five years ago,
the present author reported on the vegetable remains of the permian coals from China, and he described some dispersed cuticles with stomata preseu- med to belong to Lepidodendron and Calamites respectively.
Localities and horizons of the materials used in this study are following:
Loc. No.l. Hiraiga, Matsushima, Hirana and Hirashima, Tanobata-Mura,
Shimohe-Gun, Iwate-Prefecture. (g-f-ftTM#*SBffl^:TOtt¥#$S, f£J§> t? ^, ¥J§) Horizon : Hiraiga sandstone, Miyako Group (Upper Aptian).
Loc. No.2. The Katsura Colliry, Kamikatsu-Cho, Katsuura-Gun, Tokushima- Prefocture. m%WMffiU±MWmffiikm
Horizon.' The Hoji formation, Miyako Group (Aptian).
Loc. No.3. Izumizawa, Noda-Mura, Kunohe-Gun, Iwate-Prefecture. (S^MAJ^
Horizon : The Kadonosawa formation, Kuji Group (Maestrichtian).
45
46 Misaburo ShimAKURA
Loc. No.4. Menoyu, Oriki Mineral spring, Hirono-Machi, Futaba-Gun, Fuku- shima-Prefecture. (^Aii22^£fi£SW^ft&Jl@ J S)
Horizon : The Kasamatsu formation, Futaba Group. (Senonian)
Loc. No.5. The sea coast of Oarai Machi, Higashi'ibaragi-Gun, Ibaragi-Pre-
fecture. m^m^M^m^mmm)
Horizon : The Oarai formation, Urakawa Group (Senonian).
Description of the cuticlces 1. Arthrophyta-type cuticles
It is well known that in the stomatal apparatus of extant Equisetum the guard cells are characterized by conspicuous stripe-like thickenings on the surface. The stripes are straight or slightly bend, 9 to 12 pairs in number, arranged in radial direction.
Some specimens of cuticles with stomata are obtained from the samples of Kuji (Loc.No.3). Fig.l shows a part of cuticle, inwhich thestomatal opening
is narrow, linear in outline, surrounded by two guard cells; the surface of them are ornamented by 9 pairs of stripe-like thickenings. Fig.2a shows another stoma, in which the thickenings of guard cells are conspicuous, 12
pairs in numder. Fig.2b was photographed by focusing a little below the
upper surface of the same specimen to show the details of stripe-like thick- enings.
The characters of the present specimens show that they are Equisetales-type, and the stomatal structure is similar to that of Epuisetum.
Fig.3a shows a cuticle with two stomata obtained from the samples from
Matsushima of Miyako group (Loc.No.l). The epidermal cells are thin- and
straight-walled, spuare or polygonal in outline. Fig.3b shows a stoma of
the same specimen enlarged 600 times. The stomatal opening is narrow and
lenticular-shape, surrounded by two guard cells, in which the surface is
ornamented by many fine stripe-like thickenings; subsidiary cells are not clear.
The characters of the guard cells of this specimen seem to relate to that of Equisetales but the epidermal cells are not arranged in longitudinal di- rection as the epidermis of Epuisetum stem. There are some doubts this spec- imen belongs to Arthrophyta.
On the dispersed cuticles obtained from Cretaceous rocks of Japan. 47
2. Filicales-type cuticles
Generally the epidermal cell-walls of Filicaceae are conspicuously sinuous or strongly undulate; the stomatal openings are circular, oval or oblong in outline surrounded by two gaurd cells, and subsidiary cells are not differen- tiated.
Many fragments of cuticle characterized by conspicuously sinuous cell-walls are found in the samples from Tanobata, Noda, and Hirana (Loc.No.l, 3 and 4). Figs. 5 and 6 show two cuticles with stomata obtained from the samples
from Noda of Kuji Group (Loc.No.3). The epidermal cells are irregular in
form and size, have strongly sinuous cell-walls; the stomatal apparatus are arranged without any fixed orientation. Figs. 5 and 6b show the stomata en- larged 600 times from the same specimens respectively. The stomatal open- ings are oblong in outline; the guard cells are kidney form, and their inner marigns are dark colored owing to slight thickening.
These specimens resemble closely to epidemis of Gleicheniaceae, not only in the form of the epidermal cells but also in the structure of stomatal appa- ratus. The size of stomata of the present specimens is larger than those of extant Gleichenia and Dicranoptris.
The cuticles shown in Figs. 7a and 8a are characterized by rough-sinuous cell- walls and anomocytic stomata. Figs.7b and 8b show the stomata of the same
specimens magnified more highly. The stomatal openings are lenticular,
rather wide, guard cells are crescent-shaped, the inner margins are dark colored due to partly thickening, sometimes the surface of cell-wall is ornamented by many fine striations.
Althongh these specimens seem to relate Filicales, further systematic deter- mination is difficult.
3. Cycadophyta-type cuticles
Cycadophyta includes three groups of gymnospermous plants, the Pterido- spermophyta, the Cycadales, and the Bennettitales. Main diagnostic characters
between the latter two groups depend upon to morphological structures of
stem, foliage, microsporangiate organs and seeds.
Abundant remains of foliages presumed to belong to Cycadophyta have
been found from the cretaceous formations of Japan. It is said that one requires
48 Misaburo Shimakura
skill to distinguish the impression fossils of cycadalean leaves from that of Bennettitales. However, epidermal cells of cuticles and stomatal apparatus of Cycadopyta have some diagnostic features. The stomata in Bennettitales consists of two lateral guard cells bordered laterally by two subsidiary cells, and are in general oriented transversely and epidermal cell-walls are consipicuously sinuous. In the Cycadales, and other pinnate leaved fossil Gymnosperms, the stomata tend to be irregularly or longitudinally oriented and the epidermal cell walls are straight. A second distinctive feature of the Bennettitalean cuticle is the iniquious thickeningof the outer and dorsal walls of the guard cells.
According to HARRIS (1932), the stomatal apparatus of Bennettitales is of the syndetocheilic type and consists of two guard cells and two subsidiary cells, all four cells having been derived by parallel division of a single initi- al cell. On the other hand, all other gymnosperms, both fossil and living, are characterized by the haplocheilic type of stomatal apparatus, in which the two guard cells originate from a common other cell and the subsidiary cells become modified from certain of the neighbouring epidermal cells.
Several fragments of cuticles with stomata are found in the specimens
from Matsushima and Hirashima (Loc.No.1). Three of them are shown in
Figs. 9, 10 and ll. The epidermal cell-walls are consipicuously sinuous, the
stomatal apparatus consists of two guard cells bordered laterally by two
subsidiary cells, and oriented transversely for the long axis of epidermel cells. Outer margin of guard cell is dark colored, probably due to iniqui- ous thickening of cell-wall.
The characters mentioned above prove that these cuticles are Bennettitales- type. In the shape of epidermal cells, sinuous of cell-walls, arrangemeent and orientation of stomata, and structure of guard cells, they resemble close- ly to that of Pterophyllum figured and described by HARRIS.
Fig.12 shows a cuticle from Hirashima (Loc. No.l). The stomata are ar-
ranged in ill-defined longitudinal rows, each stoma is oriented transversely for the long axis of epidermal cells. It may be the same type although the details are not clear due to ill preservation. Fig.13 shows another type of cu- ticle found in the specimens from Matsushima (Loc. No.l), in which the guard cells of stomata are setnilunate-shaped, and surrounded two crescent-shaped sudsidiary cells. Outer margin of guard cells are thicken to a considerable
On the dispersed cuticles obtained from Cretaceous rocks of Japan 49
degree, and is seen as a dark ring around the stomatal opening. This speci- men resembles somewhat that of Nilssoniopteris vittata figured by HARRIS
from Jurassic of England, but further determination is difficult due to
ill-preservation.
There are some specimens characterized by finely sinuous cell walls. Fig.15 shows a cuticle found in the samples from Matsushima (Loc. No.l), in which the epidermal cells are rounded-square or polygonal in outline, walls rather thin, stomatal apparatus consist of two guard cells and two lateral subsidiary cells; outer margin of guard cells and subsidiary cells are dark colored owing
to thickening. Another specimen from the same locality is shown in Fig.
16. The epidermal cells are elongated rectangular in outline, the guard
cells are characterized by marginal thickening, subsidiary cells are not
clear.
These cuticles are gymnospermous, and are presumed to belong to Cycado- phyta excluding Bennettitales. Further determination is difficult on account of insufficient specimens.
4. Gingkophyta and Coniferophyta type cuticles
Of Ginkgophytes, Ginkgoites and Baiera are well known genera as repre- sentative fossils, and their epidermal cuticles have been studied by many paleobotanists together with Czekanowskia and Phoenicopsis.
OlSHI (1933) studied the cuticles of Ginkgophyta obtained from the Jurassic of China and Manchuria. He cited the following characters as diagnostic: the
stomates occur on both upper and lower surfaces but are much more num-
erous on the latter; guard cells are sunken below the surface and the median slit (stoma) has no definite orientation; the five to seven subsidiary cells form a circular group which arch over the guard cells.
Fig.17 shows a cuticle obtained from the samples from Oarai (Loc. No.5), in which the cells are elongated rectangular in outline, walls are thin and slight- ly sinuous; the stomata are arranged in ill-defined longitudinal rows, the stomatal openings are narrow, surrounded by two guard cells. Though it is difficult to descriminate between the subsidiary cells and epidermal cells,
inner margin of them are strongly thickened and arched over the guard
cells. The characters of guard cells of this specimen resemble somewhat those
50 Misaburo ShiMAKURA
of Ginkgophyta, but the size and arrangement of subsidiary cells differ from
those of Ginkgoites and Baiera described by HARRIS and OlSHI.
Figs. 19and 20 show cuticles from Hirana(Loc. No.l), in which the epidermal cells are rounded-square or rectangular in outline, stomata are distributed irregularly, guard cells are obscure on account of being concealed under long- papillae projecting from subsidiary cells, often arched over by strongly thickened cell walls. Fig. 19b shows the details of a stoma more highly magni- fied. A cuticle from the same locality, shown in Fig. 21, resembles some- what the foregoing specimen. Figs. 22a and 22b show a cuticle and a stoma from Tanobata (Loc.No.1). The thickening of inner margin of guard cells is distinct, sometimes projects as papillae.
A number of interesting cuticles are obtained from the samples from Ma- tsushima and Hirashima (Loc. No.l). Fig. 18a shows a cuticle consisting of square or polygonal epidermal cells and circular stomata. The cell-walls are rather thick and straight, the surface is patterned after fine reticulation owing to preservation; stomatal apparatus are distributed irregularly. Fig.18b shows a stomatal apparatus of the same specimen more highly magnified, in which the opening is covered by six papillae projecting from the peripherial cells, presumed to be subsidiary cells. The characters of epidermal cells and stomata of this specimen may be gymnospermous type. Further determination is diffi- cult, besides papillae overarching the stomata are present in some angio-
spermous epidermis.
Fig. 23a shows a cuticle consisting of two kinds of epidermal cells and circu- lar stomata. The cells around the stomata are more differentiated, rather large and polygonal, while, otherwise are elongated rectangular. The stomata are arranged in one longitudinal row. Details of stomatal apparatus is shown
in Fig. 23b, in which the guard cells seem to be disappear, thereby the
stomatal opening is seen a large circular hole surrounded by 5-6 small cells.
The peripherial cells of stomata are fan-shaped, 5-6 in number, and form a circular group. This specimen resembles somewhat that of Coniferophyta in the form and arrangement of stomata and natures of epidermal cells.
There are many thick-walled cuticles obtained from the coal samples
from the Katsura Collery (Loc. No.2). Some of them are shown in Figs. 24, 26, 27 and 28. Generally the epidermal cells are squar or polygonal in outline,
while the marginal part consists of elongated rectangular cells arranged in
On the dispersed cuticles obtained from Cretaceuos rocks of Japan. 51
longitudinal rows. The cell-walls are thick and straight. Figs. 27 and 28b show cuticles more highly magnified, in which the guard cells are obscure or seem to be disappeared, so that the guard cells are occupied by a large, oval openings. Subsidiary cells are 5-6 in number, papillae are not clear.
Fig.26 shows a stoma, in which the opening is closed by two guard cells(?) and surrounded by four subsidiary cells.
In number and arrangement of subsidiary cells, these specimens resemble
somewhat that of Baiera discribed by OlSHI, but they disagree with
the papillae-like thickening of subsidiary cells and sinuous cell-walls of epi- dermis.
A cuticle obtained from the Samples from Tanobata (Loc. No.l) is shown in Fig. 25. The epidermal cells are thick-walled, rounded-squre or rectan- gular in outline; the stomatal openings are oblong, surrounded by two guard cells and 5-6 subsidiary cells. The inner margin of the subsidiary cells is
thickened and are observed as dark colored rings around the guard cells.
General appearance of this specimen resembles somewhat that of Conifero- phyta, while the stomatal character seems to relate to that of Ginkgophyta.
Some cuticles characterized by ring-form thickenings of guard cells are found in the samples from Hirono-Machi (Loc. No.4). Fig. 32 shows a cuticle, in which the epidermal cells are elongated rectangular or rhomboidal in outline,
have straight walls; the stomatal openings are surrounded by two guard
cells and dark colored ring form thickenings. Fig. 31 shows a stomatal appa- ratus, in which five sudsidiary cells and ring-like thickenings are observed.
Fig. 30 shows a cuticle having two dark ring-like objects rising to the sur- face.
As is shown inFig. 33, a characteristic cuticle is obtained from the samples from Tanobata (Loc. No.l). The epidermal cells are elongated rectangular in outline, regularly arranged in longitudinal direction, crossed by transverse cell-walls perperndicularly to the lateral walls. The cell-walls are straight, rather thick; the stomatal apparatus are distributed irregularly, elongated rectangular in outline, the openings are narrow, two guard cells are surround- ed by dark colored walls presumed to be marginal thickening of subsidiary cells. This specimen seems to relate to those of Ginkgophyta or conifero- phyta, further determination being difficult.
52 Misakmro Shimakura
References cited
Andrews, Henry N. 1961. Studies in paleobotany.
HARRIS, THOMAS M. 1935. The fossil flora of Scoresby Sound, East Greenland. Pt. 4. Med- delelser om Grbnland, 132. (Inaccessible)
HOFMANN, E. 1934. Palaohistologie der Pflanze. Wien.
Oishi, S. 1933. A study on the cuticles of some Mesozoic Gymnospermous plants from China and Manchuria. Sci. Rep. Tohoku Imp. Univ., Sendai. (Ser.2, Geol.) 12.
ShiMAKURA, M. 1940. Vegetable remains in the Palaeozoic coals from the Lower Yangtze Region, China. J. Shanghai Sci. Inst., Sec.II, 3.
Explanation of plate I
Fig.l. Equisetum-type cuticle with a stoma, showing stripe-like thickenings on the guard cells. Specimen from Loc.3. X 600
Fig.2a. Equisetum-type stoma. showing ornaments on the guard cells. Specimen from Loc. 3.
X 600
Pig.2b. The same, focussing a little below. X 600
Fig.3a. Arthrophyta(?)-type cuticle, showing epidermal cells and two stomata. Specimen from Matsushima of Loci. X 150
Fig.3b. The same, showing a stoma. X 600
Fig.4. Filicales-type cuticle, showing sinuous cell-wall. Specimen from Loc.3. X 250
Fig.5a. Gleichenia-type cuticle, showing epidermal cells and the distribution of stomata. Spe- cimen from Loc.3. X 240
Fig.5b. The same, showing a stoma. X600
Fig.6a. Gleichenia-type cuticle, showing the epidermal cells and distribution of stomata.
Specimen from Loc.3. X 250
Fig.6b. The same, showing a stoma. X 600
Fig.7a. Filicales(?)-type cuticle. Specimen from Loc.4. X 250 Fig.7b. The same, showing two stomata. x 600
Fig.8a. Filicales?-type cuticle. Specimen from Loc.4. X 250 Fig.8b. The same, showing two stomata. X 600
Explanation of Plate II
Fig.'9. Pterophylum-type cuticle, showing consipicuously sinuous cell-walls and paracytic stomata. Specimen from Hirashima of Loci. X 50
Fig.10. Pterophylum-type cuticle. Specimen from Matsushima of Loci. X 500 Pig.ll. Pterophylum-type cuticle. Specimen from Hirashima of Loci. X 240 Fig.12a. Pterophylum-type cuticle. Specimen from Hirashima of Loci. X 200 Fig.12b. The same, showing a stoma. X 600
Fig.13. Nilssotiiopteris(? )-type cuticle. Specimen from Matsu-shima of Loci. X 400 Jig.14. Cycadophyta-type cuticle, showing sinuous cell-walls and paracitic stomata. Specimen.
On the dispersed cuticles obtained from Cretaceous rocks of Japan. 53
from Hirashima of Loci. X 300
Fig.15a. Cycadophyta(? )-type cuticle, showing fiinely sinuous cell-walls and paracitic stoma- ta. Specimen from Hirashima of Loci. X 300
Fig.15b. The same, showing a stoma. x 600
Fig.16. Cycadophyta(? )-type cuticle. Specimen from Matsushima of Loci, X 260
Fig.17. Gikngophyta(? )-type cuticle, showing subsidiary cells overhanging the rture. specimen apecimen from Loc.5. X 600
Explantion of Plate III
Fig.18a. Cycadophyta?-type cuticle, showing the distribution of stomata. Specimen from
Hirashima of Loci. X 150
Fig.18b. The same, ahowing a stomatal sparatus with papillae, x 500
Fig.19a. Ginkgophyta(? )-type cuticle. Specimen from Hirashima of Loc; X 150
Fig.19b. The same, showing inner margin of subsidial cells being thickened and overarching stomatal openings. X 500
Fig.20. Ginkgophyta(? )-type cuticle. Specimen from Hirashima of Loci. X 150 Fig.21a. Ginkgophyta(? )type cuticle. Specimen from Hirashima of Loci. X 150
Fig.21b. The same, showing a stomatal apparatus. The inner marin of subsidiary cells are thickened and arched over the stomatal opening. X 500
Fig.22a. Gymnospermous cuticle. Specimen from Tanobata of Loci. X 250 Fig.22b. The same, shoowing a stoma. X 600
Fig.23a. Conifsrophyta(1 )-type cuticle, showing two kinds of epidermal cells and the arran- gement of stomata. Specimen from Matsushima of Loci. X 150
Fig.23b. The same, showing a stoma. x 500
Explanation of Plate IV
Fig.24. Gymnospermous cuticle, showing two kinds of epidermal cells. Specimen from Loc.2.
X 150
Fig.25. Gymnosperous cuticle, showing structure and arrangement of stomata. Specimen from
Loci. X 150
Fig.26. Gymnospermous cuticle, showing closed stomaalt apparatus. Specimen from Loc.2. x 600 Fig.27. Gymnospermous cuticle, showing two stomata. Specimen from Loc.2, X 600
Fig.28a. Gymnospermous cuticle. Specimen from Loc.2. X 300 Fig.28b. The same, showing a stomatal apparatus, x 600
Fig.29. Gymnospermous cuticle, showing two large circular openings. Specimen from Loc.3. X 600 Fig.30. Gymnospermous cuticle, The stomatal openings are surrounded by ring-like thickening
of inner margin of subsidiary cells. Specimen from Loc.4 X 260
54 Misaburo Shimakura
Fig.31. Gymnospermous cuticle, showing ring-like thickening and subsidiary cells. Specimen from Loc.4. X 600
Fig.32. Gymnospermous cuticle, showing epidermal cells and two stomata surrounding by ring-like thickenings. Specimen from Loc.4. X 500
Fig.33a. Coniferophyta(?)-type cuticle, showing the epidermal cells and arrangement of stomata. Specimen from Tanobata of Loci. X 150
Fig.33b. The same, showing two stomatal apparatus. X 500
