Upper Wenlock miospores and cryptospores derived from a Silurian volcanic island in the Prague Basin (Barrandian area, Bohemia)

Abstract. Highly-diversified assemblages of dispersed trilete miospores and cryptospores belonging to the Artemopyra brevicosla-Hispanaediscus verrucous Assemblage Zone were recovered from upper Wenlock (Silurian) tuffitic shales and limestones in the Prague Basin (Bohemia). The fact that the numerous sporomorphs have only been found in the region of the Svatý Jan Volcanic Centre supports previous sedimentological evidence that this volcanic elevation was emerged during the uppermost Wenlock. Twenty-nine sporomorph forms were determined. One new genus, Rugosisporites gen. nov., and three new species, Rugosisporiies kozlicus sp. nov., Synorisporites maculosus sp. nov. and Artemopyra rugaticosta sp. nov. are described. The comparison with other coeval assemblages is discussed.