The Early Jurassic male ginkgoalean inflorescence Stachyopitys preslii Schenk and its in situ pollen

An early Liassic male inflorescence of Stachyopitys preslii with in situ pollen is described from a clay lens in the sandpit Küfner near Pechgraben, Bavaria, Germany. These male inflorescences have been known since the 19th century and are rather common in the early Liassic floras of Bavaria, but in situ pollen was hitherto unknown. Stachyopitys preslii is always found in association with the leaves and the female fructifications of Schmeissneria microstachys. The in situ pollen proved to be monosulcate, a pollen type commonly occurring in the Cycadophyta and Ginkgophyta. This strengthens the possible attribution of the parent plant of S. preslii (Schmeissneria microstachys) to the Ginkgoales.