Edwardsiphyton

Edwardsiphyton; Temporal range: Middle Ordovician to Middle Ordovician PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	A pair of recurveed capsules in apex of Edwardsiphyton ovatum, from Douglas Lake Member of Lenoir Limestone, at Douglas Dam, Tennessee[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Bryophyta
Class:	Bryopsida
Order:	Pottiales
Family:	Pottiaceae
Genus:	Edwardsiphyton Retallack (2019)
Type species
	Edwaardsiphyton ovatum; Retallack (2019)

Edwardsiphyton ("Edwards' plant") is a genus of moss fossil from the Middle Ordovician (Darriwilian, 460 million years old) Douglas Lake Member of the Lenoir Limestone from Douglas Dam Tennessee[1] The genus was named in honor of Dianne Edwards, and the epithet refers to the shape of the capsules.

Intepretative sketch of Edwardsiphyton ovatum

Capsule of Edwardsiphyton ovatum

Spore of Edwardsiphyton ovatum

Description

Edwardisphyton has narrow acutely pointed leaves and recurved capsules. Spores are small and verrucate.

Edwardsiphyton is similar to modern mosses such as Dicranum.

Retallack, G.J. (2019). "Ordovician land plants and fungi from Douglas Dam, Tennessee". The Palaeobotanist. 68: 1–33.

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