Lagenella martini from the Triassic of Austria - Exine structure and relationships with other striate palynomorphs

Dispersed pollen grains of Lagenella martini from the Upper Triassic of Austria were studied by means of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Pollen grains are medium-sized, monosulcate, finely striate with differently directed striations on distal and proximal surfaces. The aperture is usually broadly open with rounded ends. The ectexine is composed of a thick tectum, granular infratectum, and thin foot layer. The endexine shows fine lamellation in its outer part. Reported association of Lagenella martini with Stachyotaxus reproductive structures needs a more detailed investigation of the morphology and ultrastructure of the found pollen to make reliable conclusions. A comparison with known fossil and modern non-saccate striate pollen has shown that the studied pollen grains share a number of characters with some gymnosperms and angiosperms with most similarity to Vittatina-like pollen.