New material of marattialean fern (Danaeopsis fecunda) from the Late Triassic in China with considerations on the tempo-spatial distribution pattern of Danaeopsis

The genus Danaeopsis Heer ex Schimper is a typical and widespread Triassic eusporangiate fern and is also an important species in China with abundant records. In this study, a further investigation of Danaeopsis fecunda is achieved based on additional specimens from Yunnan Province, China. New features for the leaf morphology and pinnae arrangement of D. fecunda have been extended. The fossil record in China suggest that D. fecunda is a key species in the Northern Floristic Region (NFR) of China, spreading from the NFR to the Southern Floristic Region via the transitional zone in the Carnian and distributing in Yunnan in the Norian. In addition, the global tempo-spatial distribution pattern and the palaeoclimate implications of Danaeopsis are discussed. The genus Danaeopsis was distributed in Europe, Asia and even in Australia with warmer and humid, rarely semi-arid conditions in the Triassic. The wide-ranging distribution of Danaeopsis could be largely related to the palaeoclimatic pattern in the Triassic.