Early Cretaceous macrofloras 
37 
both have broader and shorter lamina segments 
than either of the Western Australian Nilssonia 
species described here. White's (1981) Nilssonia 
compta (Phillips) Brongniart also has substantially 
shorter wedge-shaped pinnules. By contrast, 
Nilssonia plutovillensis Walkom, 1928 has narrower 
pinnules with more acute apices. 
Genus Ptilophyllum Morris emend. Bose and 
Kasat, 1972 
Type species 
Ptilophyllum acutifolium Morris, (in Grant) 1840; 
Early Cretaceous; south of Charivar Range, India. 
Discussion 
Otozamites Braun, in Munster 1843 is traditionally 
distinguished from Ptilophyllum by the 
asymmetrical, expanded (auriculate) bases of its 
pinnules (Seward 1917). However, the genera may 
be synonymous as several Ptilophyllum species also 
possess asymmetrical auriculate pinnules (Bose 
and Kasat 1972). In the absence of cuticular data. 
Western Australian bennettitalean fronds with 
narrow pinnules can be compared with a wide 
range of Otozamites and Ptilophyllum species (Bose 
and Kasat 1972; Bose 1974). 
Ptilophyllum acutifolium Morris, (in Grant) 1840 
Figures 7I,J 
1961 Zamites sp.; White; p. 305; plate 8, figure 3. 
[1961a], 
1993 Ptilophyllum acutifolium; McLoughlin and 
Guppy; p. 14; figure 16. 
Lectotype 
V21330, British Museum (Natural History); 
Jabalpur Series equivalents (Lower Cretaceous); 
Kutch, India. Selected by Bose and Kasat (1972). 
Material 
WAM P.64.16, WAM P.89.162 WAM P.96.2, 
WAM P.96.4. 
Distribution 
Lower Cretaceous of India; possibly Jurassic and 
Lower Cretaceous of South America; Nanutarra 
Formation, Carnarvon Basin; Broome Sandstone, 
Canning Basin (both Lower Cretaceous), Western 
Australia. 
Description 
Fragmentary, broadly elliptical pinnate fronds. 
Rachis stout (1-2.5 mm wide). Pinnules 
subopposite to alternate, linear, straight or arched 
distally, inserted on adaxial surface of rachis at 
30°-65°, up to 3 mm wide, 40 mm long (Figures 
7I,J). Pinnule bases rounded, apices pointed acute 
or truncate. Pinnules aligned in a common plane or 
slightly imbricate. Several veins enter base of 
pinnules, diverge slightly, pass straight to apical 
margin, no anastomoses. 
Comments 
Ptilophyllum acutifolium is distinguished from 
other bennettitalean fronds in the collection by its 
very narrow and elongate pinnules which may be 
straight or gently falcate. This species is common 
within the Broome Sandstone and Nanutarra 
Formation and was identified by White (1961a) as 
Zamites sp. Ptilophyllum acutifolium is widely 
recorded from the Indian Early Cretaceous (Morris 
in Grant 1840; Feistmantel 1877a, b, c, 1879; Sahni 
and Rao 1933; Bose and Kasat 1972; Sukh-Dev and 
Zeba-Bano 1980; Baksi and Naskar 1981; Bose and 
Banerji 1984). South American Jurassic and Early 
Cretaceous fronds have also been assigned to this 
species (Arrondo and Petriella 1980; Longobucco et 
al. 1985) although both the Australian and South 
American forms tend to have longer pinnules than 
the Indian examples. 
Ptilophyllum cutchense Morris, (in Grant) 
emend. Bose and Kasat 1972 
Figures 6E,H,I; 7C,D 
1944 Ptilophyllum pecten (Phillips); Walkom; p. 204; 
plate II, figure 6. 
1961 Ptilophyllum pecten (Phillips); White; p. 302- 
305; plate 6, figure 3D; plate 8, figure 1. [1961a]. 
1961 Otozamites bengalensis Oldham and Morris; 
White; p. 305; plate 7, figure 5. [1961a]. 
1993 Otozamites bengalensis; McLoughlin and 
Guppy; p. 14; figures 13, 14. 
Lectotype 
V20191 (9943), British Museum (Natural 
History); Rajmahal Series equivalents (?Lower 
Cretaceous); Kutch, India. Selected by Bose and 
Kasat (1972). 
Material 
WAM P.64.6, WAM P.64.7, WAM P.64.8, WAM 
P.64.13, WAM P.70.46, WAM P.86.57, WAM 
P.86.172, WAM P.88.4, WAM P.88.7, WAM P.88.11, 
WAM P.89.169, UWA16684, UWA118836. 
Distribution 
Broome Sandstone, Canning Basin; Leederville 
and Bullsbrook Formations, Perth Basin (all 
Neocomian-Barremian). 
