A new member of Sphenopsida,Neolobatannularia gen. nov. from Late Triassic of western Liaoning,China

A new genus Neolobatannularia Sun et Li gen. nov. with the type species Neolobatannularia liaoningensis Sun et Li sp. nov. from the Upper Triassic Yangcaogou Formation of Beipiao, Liaoning, China, is described in this paper. The new taxon is attributed to Equisetales of Sphenopsida based on its branch with internodes, node and leaves borne in whorls on nodes. It is a new member of the Mesozoic Sphenopsida. Although the new taxon shares some morphological characters with the genus Lobatannularia Kawasaki, a genus widely distributed in the Permian Cathaysia flora in East Asia, and the genus Lobatannulariopsis Yang from the Late Triassic of southwestern China, its unique branching pattern is markedly distinguished from the two known genera. Some Triassic known species of Lobatannularia may belong to the present new genus Neolobatannularia.