Plant Spores in Coal from the Horton Group (Mississippian) of Nova Scotia

An abundant and highly varied spore florule present in coal of lowermost Mississippian age is described and illustrated. The assemblage consists of nineteen genera and fifty species, of which four genera, thirty species and fourteen types (of which only one or two specimens were found) are proposed as new. Simple, almost smooth, trilete spores of the genus Punctatisporites Potonie and Kremp, 1954, largely predominate, reaching 68 per cent in one sample. The presence of several types that possess a thick perispore is significant. The aspect of the sporeflorule is more Devonian than Carboniferous, and this florule resembles florules reportedfrom Upper Devonian strata, particularly of the U.S.S.R. A continuation of the Upper Devonianflora into the lower portion of the Lower Carboniferous, as observed in the megaflora, is therefore also indicated by the microflora. Plant spores in coal from the Horton group (Mississippian) of Nova Scotia* P.A. HACQUEBARD Geological Survey of Canada Coal Research Laboratory Sydney, Nova Scotia