Evidence of land plant affinity for the Devonian fossil Protosalvinia (Foerstia)

Lethaia
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Abstract

The Devonian plant fossil Protosalvinia (Foerstia) has been examined by solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PY-GC-MS). Results of these studies reveal that the chemical structure of Protosalvinia is remarkably similar to that of coalified wood. A well-defined phenolic carbon peak in the NMR spectra and the appearance of phenol and alkylated phenols in pyrolysis products are clearly indicative of lignin-like compounds. These data represent significant new information on the chemical nature of Protosalvinia and provide the first substantial organic geochemical evidence for land plant affinity.  Protosalvinia, Foerstia, Upper Devonian, biostratigraphy, carbon-13 NMR, PY-GC-MS, lignin.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Evidence of land plant affinity for the Devonian fossil Protosalvinia (Foerstia)
Series title Lethaia
DOI 10.1111/j.1502-3931.1988.tb01772.x
Volume 21
Issue 4
Year Published 1988
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Description 7 p.
First page 417
Last page 423
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