CLASSIFICATION OF UPPERMOST ORDOVICIAN TO LOWER DEVONIAN TUBULAR AND FILAMENTOUS MACERALS FROM THE ANGLO-WELSH BASIN

Dispersed tubes and filaments from the uppermost Ordovician, Silurian and Lower Devonian of the Anglo‐Welsh Basin of Great Britain are described and classified using the artificial Anteturma system instituted for spores. The new Anteturma Trichomiformis is erected containing two new Turmae, Tubiformis and Filiformis. Within Tubiformis, the Infraturma Laevimurali, Endomurali and Extramurali are described, each containing a single genus with four, two and one species respectively. Within Filiformis, the Infraturma Ornatimurali is erected, based on a monospecific genus. Two assemblages of tubes and filaments are recognized. The older is found in uppermost Ordovician through to middle Silurian strata and is typified by a low diversity of smooth‐walled tubes. The younger ranges from the middle Silurian at least to the Lower Devonian and is typified by various smooth‐walled tubes, tubes with internal and external thickenings, and filaments. The majority of tubes and filaments are considered derived from the Nematophytales Lang. Copyright © 1991, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved