''Parka decipiens'' is a Devonian fossil believed to be an
early land plant, and is the only species described in the genus ''Parka''. It bears at least a passing resemblance to the alga ''
Coleochaete
''Coleochaete'' is a genus of parenchymatous charophyte green algae in the order Coleochaetales. They are haploid, reproduce both sexually and asexually, and have true multicellular organisation, with plasmodesmata communicating between adjacen ...
'',
but the significance of this similarity is yet to be established.
Description
The fossils of ''Parka decipiens'' seem small circular, elliptic or irregular patches reaching a diameter of , with a reticulate structure showing small coaly discs. These discs contain a mass of what could be spores.
The enigmatic plant Parka decipiens
/ref> Ultrastructural examination of these spores has shown that they lack the y-shaped trilete mark, a Y-like scar, that is characteristic of Silurian and Devonian pteridophytes.
References
Devonian plants
Charophyta
{{devonian-plant-stub